Exhausted, divided, and isolated; Inside Israel’s post-war collapse

After the ceasefire between Gaza and Israel, one of the main questions is what two years of war have brought for the Zionists. Roger Cohen, a senior Jewish correspondent at the American newspaper The New York Times, who has traveled directly to Israel, wrote a report titled “Israel at War with Itself” examining the state of Israeli society.

Empty Kibbutzim

Roger Cohen wrote about the return of displaced Zionists:

“In the kibbutzim (Zionist settlements), time has stopped. Out of 384 residents in one kibbutz near the Gaza border, only a handful have returned. The entire society is still gripped by fear — the very fear that the Jewish state was originally created to prevent. Israelis say that every conversation among them ends with the topic of October 7. The big question for the kibbutz leader is whether to demolish the burned and destroyed houses or preserve them as memorials.”

The New York Times described the October 7 operation as “the greatest failure in Israel’s 77-year history”, writing: “Israelis see themselves as mentally and physically exhausted. Not only have 295,000 reservists been called up again and again, but about 83,000 Israelis emigrated in 2024 — 50 percent more than the previous year.”

Lack of trust in Netanyahu

According to The New York Times, critics believe that Netanyahu has placed his own interests above those of his people, doing everything possible to delay the formation of a commission to investigate the October 7 disaster. The report adds that Netanyahu has polarized Israelis and angered the world.

Gadi Shamni, a retired Israeli general, stated: “Bibi [Netanyahu] has done terrible things not only to the Palestinians but also to us. He has abandoned our core values — the sanctity of life and ethics in warfare.”

According to Cohen, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have repeatedly taken to the streets, demanding that the Israeli cabinet recognize their suffering and prioritize the release of hostages. Many have been protesting Netanyahu for nearly three years — first against his efforts to weaken the Supreme Court and establish unlimited power, and second against his neglect of the hostages.

One Israeli told The New York Times reporter: “We are disgusted. We are desperate. We see Netanyahu’s cabinet as our enemy. He prolonged the war only to survive politically. My son is a prisoner. I don’t want to live in a place whose borders are not recognized. I want to live in a normal place.”

Rising violence and the absence of victory

Physical violence and confrontations have become visible across Israeli cities. For instance, Gordon Beach, a seaside area in Tel Aviv established in 1956, posted a notice asking visitors:

“Please refrain from any form of physical or verbal aggression.”

The New York Times added: “After Netanyahu’s attacks on Hezbollah and strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, Arab neighbors now speak of Israel as an empire. But within Israel, there is no sense of victory from its supposed regional military superiority.”

Part of Donald Trump’s plan is designed to allow Netanyahu to claim victory over Hamas. However, Trump’s idea of marginalizing the Palestinian people and placing them under foreign trusteeship is a humiliating proposal, unlikely to succeed.

Israel, isolated in the World

Israel’s isolation and the growing hostility toward it have reached such an extent that Donald Trump said about a month ago: “Maybe Israel will win the war, but it’s losing global public opinion.”

The New York Times wrote: “Israel has become isolated — as was evident last month when Netanyahu was forced to describe his so-called wartime achievements in an almost empty hall of the United Nations General Assembly. Representatives from countries around the world walked out.”

Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, commented on Israel’s isolation: “After the Holocaust, expressing hatred toward Jews was socially unacceptable. But that era is over — the world has reverted to its original state.”

The Goals failed to achieve

According to multiple reports, particularly Netanyahu’s own statements documented by The Times of Israel, the Israeli prime minister had several key objectives in the Gaza war:

1.     The release of hostages

2.     The complete destruction of Hamas

3.     The occupation of all of Gaza

4.     The forced displacement of the Palestinian population

However, despite killing more than 100,000 Palestinians, Israel achieved none of these goals. Even with its highly advanced intelligence and security systems, it failed to locate its own captives within the tiny geography of Gaza — the simplest of its wartime objectives. Eventually, it was forced to seek a negotiated agreement for their release.

The other goals were clearly not achieved either. The most obvious evidence is that Israel was compelled to negotiate and make concessions to Hamas