The IDF has been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip for 15 months, but it remains far from defeating the enemy. It seems that the picture of victory grows more distant as we continue to trudge along without purpose and without a goal.
The difficulties and even failures of the first weeks and months of the war in Gaza could have been attributed to the terrible blow we suffered at the hands of Hamas on October 7. The surprise attack, which we did not anticipate and for which we were not prepared, led to a loss of composure and system collapse in both political and military ranks, making it difficult to make decisions regarding the war's objectives and how to conduct it.
After all, Hamas was still at the height of its power, while Israel found itself fighting on seven fronts and under tremendous international pressure. Many, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even harbored fears that the IDF would not be able to meet the challenge and that fighting in Gaza would claim casualties at a level the public could not withstand.
That's why we became entangled in a prolonged war lasting many months without clear goals and objectives, and without a comprehensive operational plan detailing what needed to be done from beginning to end. Instead, we witnessed a random collection of operations that mostly lacked continuity and connection between them, and that did not lead to a decisive victory in the war – first fighting in Gaza City, then in Khan Younis, and then in Rafah, and so on.
But it seems that everything begins and ends with the fact that the war's objectives were initially defined in a general and vague manner, without specifying how the IDF should achieve them on the ground. Eliminating Hamas' military capabilities is an empty slogan and not a coherent military action plan with tangible goals to achieve. Is the IDF required to eliminate all Hamas terrorists?
After all, we are now reporting that Hamas is easily recruiting teenagers and young men to replace the fighters we've killed. Or perhaps it's about eliminating Hamas' rocket capability? But they continue to launch rockets almost daily toward Gaza border communities.
The sporadic rocket fire has returned in force, and our response is press releases about evacuating Gazans from rocket launch areas, so they can return to these areas after a day or two. Thus, we are engaged in a prolonged war where the IDF captures territory and then evacuates it in order to recapture it again. The war fluctuates between periods of high intensity and low-grade conflict interspersed with ceasefires, only to repeat the cycle.
One might have expected or even hoped that Israel would come to its senses, learn from past failures, and adopt a different approach, especially an updated goal of conquering Gaza or at least large areas of it, or alternatively – advancing a political arrangement that would ensure Hamas's removal from Gaza or even a deal to release all our hostages. But none of this is happening, and we continue to move along a path without exit that doesn't bring us closer to our goal.
In history books, the war of the last 15 months will be remembered as a failed war – first because of the way it broke out, but also and especially because of the way it has been managed since, primarily by the political echelon, which seemingly doesn't want to decide and win the war and bring it to an end, but rather prefers a never-ending war.
There is currently no reason for this. The military leadership has changed, and they cannot be accused of lacking fighting spirit, the Trump administration gives us a free hand to act as we see fit, and even Arab countries have long concluded that it's better for everyone if Hamas is defeated, so they too give Israel the green light to act in Gaza. But Israel is still stuck in place, avoiding making decisions and lacking vision and a plan of action.
And in the end, when the Americans see that we are unable to decide and win, and are also afraid to make decisions, they will decide for us according to their own interests, and then we will only have ourselves to blame.
Enough with the foot-dragging and endless trudging through the sands of Gaza, enough with the hesitation and fear of making decisions – it's time to change course and break out of the cycle we've been in for 15 long months. This is how we will win and also bring back our hostages held by Hamas.
