Israeli Generals Warn: Netanyahu’s Gaza War Has Become a Dangerous Political Gamble
Ex-IDF operations chief compares Gaza war to Vietnam, accusing Netanyahu of prolonging a failed campaign for personal political gain.
Watan-Israeli observers are accusing the occupation government of continuing a political war on Gaza, warning of the dangers of getting entangled in a costly and perilous war of attrition.
Reserve General Yisrael Ziv, former head of the IDF operations division, argues that the “seven-front war” has collapsed and been privatized: the Americans took Iran, the Houthis, and negotiations with Saudi Arabia; Turkey took Syria; and Israel was left with Jabal al-Arab and a new, unnecessary “Bar-Lev Line” made up of a chain of forward outposts. In Lebanon, Israel is constrained and monitored by the U.S.
Ziv adds in a lengthy article published on Channel 12’s website:“Meanwhile, Israel is keeping a war in its own backyard—Gaza. A war that could have ended long ago and brought back the hostages.”
Vietnam Parallels and Deep Denial
To emphasize the risks in Gaza, Ziv recalls the U.S. experience in Vietnam:“During the Vietnam War, Americans believed in their military superiority. One step at a time, the empire went from being ‘one step away from victory’ to sinking in a swamp. It eventually withdrew in disgrace after 18 years of bloodshed and humiliation.”
According to Ziv, the same “blindness of power” recurs throughout history—and Israel is no exception. “We got stuck in Lebanon for 18 years, and we’ve been entangled in Gaza for 40 years, even after the ‘Disengagement Plan.’ Security in the West Bank hasn’t defeated ‘terrorism’ in 58 years. The cognitive dissonance inside the irrational government overwhelms any real strategic achievement, fueling frustration and deepening the disconnect from reality, which is becoming a rupture.”
Ziv continues drawing global lessons:“Though our situation is different, we are in a similar and deep state of denial. The frightening part is that it’s happening with eyes wide open. We are living a delusion—that continuing the war will bring absolute victory over Hamas. That’s false. Hamas, as a functioning organization, has already been subdued. What remains is a radical group of militants focused on hiding, surviving, and occasional attacks. No further large-scale military operations by brigades or battalions will achieve decisive victory. Only long-term precision efforts may yield partial results. Meanwhile, no Israeli government is capable of making the necessary political decision.”
Messianic Trends and Netanyahu’s Motives
Ziv criticizes extremist elements in the cabinet:“With Bezalel Smotrich as a war minister—despite having no understanding of power or limits—Israel’s war is entangled in messianic and mystical-political beliefs. Smotrich exploits Netanyahu’s weakness, pushing him toward a war that benefits Smotrich, even if it strengthens his rivals.”
He adds:“Netanyahu could have turned war achievements into regional diplomatic progress, but he’s trapped in petty, ruthless personal politics. He continues a ‘guaranteed war’ with no real enemy fighting back, using the hostage issue as a pretext.”
Ziv notes this is the longest war in Israel’s history—against its weakest enemy.
“He misleads the public with a fake war while maintaining divisions that keep him in power. If forced to pursue national unity, he’ll lose key issues like hostage recovery, universal draft law, and an independent inquiry.”
Against Whom Is the War Being Fought?
Ziv, known for his direct criticism, declares:“This war has reached the point of absurdity. The October 7 catastrophe didn’t reveal a super-powerful Hamas. Ironically, those who thought Hamas was weak were right—we just failed to believe they’d act. The attack happened due to total negligence by our forces, who left border towns as easy targets to militants arriving in pick-up trucks and donkey carts, wielding axes. Their success was our failure.”
Ziv believes Hamas wreaked havoc in just seven hours but didn’t become a giant enemy justifying an endless war:
“This war should’ve ended months ago. Certainly not dragged on for years.”
Netanyahu’s Political Exploitation
Ziv sees Netanyahu’s renewed push for war, despite Hamas’s inactivity, as politically driven:“This is Netanyahu’s second Gaza war. We already dismantled their military infrastructure, destroyed three-quarters of Gaza, and killed 20,000 militants.”
Ziv explains:“We’re entering another war with no goal—except to let Netanyahu declare a victory point for personal gain. It’s unjustified and lacks national consensus.”
Trump’s Visit May Force Change
Netanyahu is trying to frame the war as an “independence war” to boost election prospects, downplaying the hostage issue—the only point of national unity. Ziv says this strategy strengthens Hamas, allowing it to pose as a heroic force Israel couldn’t defeat.
He criticizes IDF Chief Herzi Halevi as well:“To pursue this war, Netanyahu recruits Eyal Zamir, who naively believes he’ll succeed where others failed, rather than focusing on rebuilding a worn-down army. He’s dragging an entire nation into a goal-less, open-ended war that will exhaust all gains without any victory.”
Ziv concludes:“Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia may lead to a shift, especially if Riyadh demands an end to the war. If that happens, Netanyahu won’t dare defy Trump and may be forced to end the war—ironically, based on Hamas’s terms, not on any achievement from the bloodshed.”
Warnings of Consequences
Several Israeli analysts echo Ziv’s warnings, notably Haaretz military analyst Amos Harel, who says expanding the occupation will lead to another disaster: hostage deaths, long-term entanglement, heavy casualties among soldiers, civilians, and no Hamas defeat.
Harel accuses Netanyahu of catering to the far-right while army leadership hopes for U.S. intervention. Meanwhile, families of the hostages accuse the government of choosing territorial revenge over rescuing their loved ones.
