Heavy losses, no victory: Israel's strategic collapse in Gaza

According to Al Jazeera, the Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv quoted Avi Ashkenazi, a military analyst for the Zionist regime, as saying that after 628 days of war in Gaza and leaving behind more than 1,900 dead, Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet has suffered a heavy defeat.

Ashkenazi emphasized: “We are not pursuing any clear objective in this Gaza war and have effectively entered a deadlock. Israel is not achieving victory in Gaza but is sinking deeper into its quagmire.”

Referring to the heavy casualties suffered by the Israeli army in recent days, he added: “In this month alone, 20 of our soldiers have been killed. The Israeli army was not prepared for a two-year-long war against Gaza and was inadequately equipped to confront Hamas’s military capabilities, its underground tunnel networks, and the resilience of the people of Gaza.”

Ashkenazi also pointed to the equipment shortages within the Israeli army, saying: “We are facing a lack of modern equipment and in some cases have been forced to use weapons dating back to the 1950s.”

He concluded by referring to a recent incident in southern Gaza: “The recent ambush by Palestinian forces in Khan Younis, which resulted in the deaths of seven Israeli soldiers, reflects this bitter reality.”

According to Israeli media, the continued military presence in the Gaza Strip is not only unnecessary but also highly dangerous.

In this regard, Gershon Baskin—one of the key architects of the so-called “Gilad Shalit exchange deal”—stated that Hamas would seek to inflict maximum casualties as long as Israeli forces remain in Gaza.

He further stressed: “The human cost of this war is extremely high and unjustifiable. Israel is killing around 100 people in Gaza every day—most of them civilians—while the people of Gaza are simply fighting to survive.”

Baskin believes that the current war in Gaza is more about preserving Netanyahu’s political survival than achieving military objectives.

Referring to Israel’s recent attack on Iran, he said: “The war against Iran briefly boosted Netanyahu’s morale, but it won’t last, and his failures will soon become evident.”

He also sarcastically criticized Netanyahu’s political performance, noting: “The people will not forget what happened on October 7 and who was in power at that time.”

He added: “We have seen Israel’s complete dependency on the United States—just as Trump ordered Netanyahu to halt the attack on Iran, and he obeyed immediately. Trump could do the same regarding Gaza.”

In conclusion, Baskin commented on the prospect of a prisoner exchange: “Hamas is ready to agree to a deal for the release of all Israeli hostages—on the condition that the war comes to an end.”