Israel’s Assault on Gaza: A Devastating Impact on Lives, Yet Victory Remains Elusive

After 15 months of relentless bombardment in Gaza, the ongoing conflict has revealed significant failures on Israel’s part, despite its extensive military capabilities and Western support. Analysts emphasize that Israel has not achieved its key objectives since the war commenced on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

According to experts Sami Orabi and Ameer Makhoul, this lack of success highlights a deeper crisis within Israel’s military and political strategies. The events of October 7 marked a colossal strategic, military, and intelligence failure for Israel—one that it has attempted to rectify through its military actions. However, these actions have often exacerbated the existing weaknesses rather than reinforcing them.

“Israel was forced to sign an agreement with the movement it said it came to destroy, eradicate, and root out,” states Orabi, a political analyst based in Ramallah. “This means the image shattered on October 7 has not been restored up until this moment.”

Despite these setbacks, one stark reality cannot be ignored: Israel has succeeded in destroying life in Gaza. This devastation will present immense challenges for Palestinians in Gaza, including Hamas, as they seek to navigate the aftermath.

No Clear Winners

When evaluating the war and its implications, the profound human cost and widespread destruction in Gaza cannot be overlooked. Orabi notes, “The discussion about success and failure should be cautious and reserved to a large extent, as it must take into account the human cost paid inside Gaza.” He adds, “We can say that the occupation has not been able to achieve some of its goals, but we cannot overlook the massive destruction and the severe human cost it imposed on the Palestinians inside Gaza.”

Makhoul, a writer and activist based in Haifa, reinforces this sentiment: “Considering this, there is no clear winner of the war. The Palestinian people paid an extremely heavy price that cannot be described as ‘victory’ or paid for the sake of victory.” He continues, “On the other hand, Israel cannot claim any form of victory. On the contrary, there is an internal feeling within Israel that it has been defeated.”

Strategic Failures

Israel has failed to achieve major strategic or military victories. Most of the goals outlined after the surprise Hamas-led assault, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, remain unmet. These objectives included:

• Eliminating Hamas’ military wing
• Toppling its government
• Releasing all 240 Israeli captives held in Gaza

Moreover, analysts highlight additional unannounced objectives that have also failed, such as:

• Restoring deterrence
• Expelling Palestinians from Gaza
• Occupying parts of the enclave

Orabi elaborates, “The Israeli occupation failed to displace Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip, enforce settlement, impose long-term military occupation, eliminate Hamas, or find an alternative to its rule.”

Long-term Ramifications

Makhoul goes further, asserting that Israel’s military failures have led to strategic losses, including the collapse of political alliances and a damaged international reputation. The alliances formed with Arab nations during the first Trump administration have rapidly deteriorated, leaving Israel with fewer regional and international allies.

“Israel’s strategic weight has significantly declined on both the Arab and global levels,” Makhoul asserts. His analysis indicates that the perception of Israel is undergoing a profound shift, with the West’s previously unwavering support now facing scrutiny and increasing calls for accountability.

Makhoul points out that the Palestinian issue has regained significant traction on the international agenda, especially in light of Israel’s alleged violations of international law. He states, “The Palestinian issue is now in a very strong strategic position on the global stage,” citing the International Court of Justice’s preliminary ruling that Israel was plausibly committing genocide in Gaza.

In the aftermath of the conflict, Hamas will confront severe challenges. It will need to justify the war to the Palestinian people, facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza, and rebuild its capabilities. Orabi highlights the daunting task ahead: “The reconstruction process will be a major challenge. We have thousands of orphaned children, children who survived while their entire families were wiped out, sometimes a seven-year-old child responsible for a one- or two-year-old sibling, and so on.”

He adds, “In addition, there are many wounded. There are major social questions to address.”

In conclusion, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has highlighted the complexities and human costs of war. As analysts suggest, neither side can claim victory amid the devastation and loss of life that has characterized this protracted struggle.

(Source: Middle East Eye)