The War That Broke Israel: How Gaza is Tearing a Nation Apart and Threatening Netanyahu’s Fall
As soldiers refuse to serve and the public loses faith, Israel’s war against Hamas is no longer just about Gaza—it’s about the soul of the nation.
By Tonga Independent Foreign Correspondent Published: May 20,2025
A Military in Revolt
In the 21st century, with humanitarian law, digital diplomacy, and instantaneous communication, the scale of suffering in Gaza is staggering. But beyond the rubble, a quieter disaster is unfolding within Israel: the collapse of unity among its own soldiers.
Eran Tamir, a decorated reservist, publicly refused his latest call-up. In an open letter, he decried the war as a “moral low point” and a “deception.” He had previously raced home from the US to serve after the October 2023 Hamas attacks, but now believes continued military action is harming Israel more than helping.
He is not alone. From elite pilots to intelligence officers and military doctors, dissent is spreading. Entire reserve units are reporting record-low attendance. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), historically a unifying national institution, is quietly unraveling.
A War Without Purpose
Initially, the war felt justified. Hamas had slaughtered civilians and taken hostages. But as months turned into a year and a half, the goals of the war became increasingly murky. A leaked government document revealed that “hostage recovery” ranked last among six stated war priorities. First: permanent military control over Gaza.
Even commanders who once believed in the mission now question it. One reservist, known as Nir, said: “I have no reason to serve besides camaraderie now. I’m ashamed of my government—of what this country has become.”
The Home Front Fractures
Fueling this growing resentment is a deep inequality in sacrifice. While secular Israelis deploy for the fifth or sixth time, many ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) remain exempt from service. Netanyahu’s coalition, dependent on ultra-Orthodox support, has long defended these exemptions.
But the military is running out of soldiers. Of 19,000 draft notices sent to Haredi men since July, fewer than 300 enlisted. Meanwhile, 41% of reservists have lost their jobs due to repeated deployments. Families are breaking. “We’re the only ones sacrificing,” said the wife of one paratrooper. “He’s going only because of his friends, not out of belief in the war.”
Netanyahu’s Political Endgame
Polls show most Israelis no longer believe the war serves their national interest. More than half now believe Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict for personal survival. Corruption trials loom. Scandals surround his advisors. And his political coalition is held together by far-right partners demanding permanent occupation of Gaza.
Ending the war would likely collapse his government. Continuing it, however, is tearing the country apart.
A Nation at a Crossroads
Eighteen months on, Gaza lies in ruins. The Israeli public is exhausted. The moral fabric of the military is fraying. As Uri Arad, a former combat navigator, put it: “The war has eroded Israeli morals, its standing in the world, and fractured Israeli society.”
The question Israelis must confront—and the world must ask—is simple, yet profound:
What kind of society have we become?
This article draws upon original reporting by Ruth Margalit in her piece “The Israeli Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in Gaza,” published by The New Yorker on May 14, 2025.
