For nearly two years since the Gaza war erupted, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, once cautious despite his strong rhetoric, has shed all inhibitions. His decision to deploy the military into Gaza City marks a clear departure from his previous approach, indicating a willingness to operate without bounds.
This aggressive campaign, justified by Netanyahu as essential to dismantle Hamas, is paradoxically fueling global outrage and deepening Israel’s isolation. It has already caused significant Palestinian casualties and triggered a massive exodus southward, placing the lives of an estimated 20 Israeli hostages in extreme peril. Any hopes for a cease-fire have evaporated, and even the military’s top brass has voiced concerns about the strategy.
Netanyahu’s stance in the face of these grave consequences is unwavering: ‘Bring it on.’
Just this week, he invoked the image of Israel as a ‘super Sparta,’ referencing the ancient Greek military powerhouse as a model for the nation. During an economic conference, he elaborated, suggesting that Israel might need to embrace ‘autarky’ – economic self-sufficiency – to brave the impending international isolation.
Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., sharply commented, ‘He’s lost it. There are no more red lines.’
Despite facing condemnation from the distraught families of hostages, widespread street protests, and severe criticism from estranged European allies over the bombardment of Gaza that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s defiance only grows stronger.
This month, Netanyahu explicitly declared, ‘there will be no Palestinian state.’ While this stance has been a cornerstone of his political career, his recent pronouncements are starker. This declaration directly challenges nations like France, Britain, Canada, and Australia, who plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly.
However, it would be misguided to interpret Netanyahu’s increasingly bold and unyielding rhetoric as a sign of his impending political collapse.
With nearly 18 years in office, making him the nation’s longest-serving leader, Netanyahu has repeatedly demonstrated his shrewd, adaptable, and often ruthless leadership. His dedicated base, chanting ‘Only Bibi!’, views him as an irreplaceable figure.
To his loyalists, he is the indispensable ‘King,’ the sole leader capable of confronting Israel’s adversaries across multiple fronts. His decisive actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon and his efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program, even through brief military engagements, have fostered a perception of an ascendant, even imperial, Israel in the region.
Ironically, his seemingly weakest adversary has proven to be his most formidable. Netanyahu seems convinced that Hamas can be vanquished solely through military force, yet he has consistently been compelled to revise his strategy.
Conversely, his opponents, who rally with chants of ‘Anything but Bibi,’ see him as a symbol of the erosion of Israeli democracy.
In this critical period for Israel, Netanyahu benefits from one crucial factor: the almost unwavering support of former President Trump. Trump’s influence, steering global politics towards more authoritarian tendencies, has unleashed a more uninhibited Netanyahu. He feels emboldened, secure in the knowledge that this American administration will always stand by him.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a vocal critic of Netanyahu, stated, ‘Trump is the only individual with the leverage to influence Bibi’s decisions. He possesses the power to avert immense loss of life.’
Yet, it remains uncertain if Trump would ever choose to directly challenge Netanyahu on these matters.
Daniella Weiss, a leading figure in the settler movement, which has gained significant momentum and expanded its West Bank settlements following the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack that claimed around 1,200 lives, praised Netanyahu, saying, ‘He is a true leader, unmatched by many in history.’
Despite his strong nationalist and religious backing, Netanyahu is widely disliked. Many suspect him of prioritizing his political survival over national interests, deliberately prolonging a Gaza war that, according to critics, should have concluded much earlier.
Liberal factions within Israel, resilient against the rising right-wing influence, view him as eroding the state’s foundational values and core Jewish ethics. They point to a relentless military campaign that continues to cause widespread Palestinian civilian deaths without a clear, achievable goal, while Israeli hostages endure over 700 days in captivity.
Olmert condemned Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza as ‘outrageously brutal.’ He questioned how top ministers could declare all Gazans to be Hamas and then confine them to camps, asserting, ‘We are fighting for the very soul of Israel.’
While a recent Channel 12 poll showed Netanyahu’s Likud party leading with 24 seats, it also suggested that his far-right government would not secure enough seats in the 120-member Knesset to reform a coalition. However, with elections over a year away, Netanyahu still has many political cards to play.
During a two-day visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week, there was no public criticism from the U.S., even following Israel’s recent attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders in Qatar, a key American ally. Rubio reiterated the U.S. stance, stating they were not pursuing a deal with Hamas, which he described as ‘a terrorist group, a barbaric group, whose stated mission is the destruction of the Jewish state.’
Trump’s desire seems to be an immediate end to the Gaza war, with all hostages released and Hamas defeated, though the exact definition of ‘defeated’ remains vague. It’s unclear if he advocates for a two-state peace, a long-standing position of previous U.S. administrations, but his statements largely imply otherwise.
With presidential statements often unpredictable, impatient, yet consistently supportive of Israel, Netanyahu finds himself with considerable diplomatic leeway.
Just two months prior, Netanyahu appeared to be seriously considering a deal with Hamas. This potential agreement would have involved the release of 10 living Israeli hostages in exchange for numerous Palestinian prisoners and a 60-day cease-fire, allowing for negotiations to end the conflict.
However, after a meeting with Trump in Washington, his resolve shifted. He then proceeded with plans for the assault on Gaza City, prolonging the war and intensifying the suffering of Palestinians in the region.
This decision seemed purely driven by self-preservation. The conclusion of the war presents numerous threats to Netanyahu: the potential collapse of his coalition due to objections from right-wing ministers, a full inquiry into the Oct. 7 intelligence failure, a complete review of Israel’s wartime conduct, and the loss of immunity from his ongoing legal challenges.
A nation embroiled in conflict, presented by Netanyahu as facing existential threats, plays directly into his tactical strengths. Ultimately, many outraged supporters and the families of hostages believe his personal survival takes precedence over their loved ones’ fate.
Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, heartbreakingly declared on Tuesday, ‘My Matan is being sacrificed on Netanyahu’s altar.’
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security, publicly endorsed Netanyahu’s decision to enter Gaza City, proclaiming on social media, ‘The decisive moment has come,’ accompanied by emojis suggesting fire and obliteration.
Netanyahu, for his part, asserted this week, ‘Life is more important than the law.’
Netanyahu has unequivocally gambled everything on building a legacy of triumph, hoping it will overshadow his accountability for the Oct. 7, 2023, debacle – the gravest defeat in Israel’s history. This path, though marked by Israeli military dominance in the region, has been protracted, divisive, devastating for Palestinians, and deeply scarring for Israel itself.