Netanyahu deflects blame as Gaza war drags with no clear military goal

Al Mayadeen

15-07-2025

The Israeli newspaper Maariv has acknowledged that the Israeli occupation forces are 'bogged down' in Gaza without a defined goal, while military leadership reportedly avoids confronting the political echelon with the harsh realities of the war.
According to Maariv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu absolved himself of responsibility for the failures of October 7 during a US media interview, instead shifting blame onto the Israeli occupation forces and intelligence community. The paper described this move as a dangerous red line crossed by the current Israeli government.
The article further warned that the controversial conscription law is expected to pass, threatening to deepen social divisions within Israeli society. One segment, those affiliated with religious schools and communities in Bnei Brak, Elad, Mea Shearim, Safad, and Tiberias, will remain exempt and protected, while the rest of the population will be sent to fight in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, Khan Younis, Nablus, Jenin, and even in Lebanon and Syria.
Maariv noted with irony that the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim), who are widely exempt from service yet receive broad support, have now become the "new heroes of Israel."
The report acknowledged that 893 Israeli soldiers have been killed so far in what it described as an endless war with no longer any declared objective. It cited voices within the occupation forces calling for a ceasefire and the release of approximately 50 captives, recognizing that the military campaign had failed to achieve a decisive blow against Hamas and that the issue has now shifted into the political realm.
The grim assessment followed the incident on Monday in which a tank from the 401st Armored Brigade was struck during an operation in Jabalia, northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers: Sergeant Shahem Menachem, Corporal Shlomo Yakir Sharam, and Corporal Yuli Faktor. A fourth soldier was critically wounded.
Despite the Merkava 4 tank being considered one of the most advanced and fortified in the world, the cause of the damage, whether it was a missile or an underground explosive, remained undetermined as of Tuesday morning, the paper reported.
In a similar tone, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that despite repeated claims by Israeli officials that Hamas is nearing defeat, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. 'Hamas has not collapsed,' the outlet stated, noting that talk of its imminent surrender remains unsubstantiated.
Maariv previously conceded that the transformative goals behind the Israeli operation Operation Gideon's Chariots in Gaza remain far from being realized.
Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and former Israeli security minister, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of deliberately extending the war in Gaza to satisfy far-right members of his cabinet.
Lieberman stated that Netanyahu is trying to appease Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir by continuing the aggression on the besieged Strip despite growing military consensus that the war has achieved its strategic goals.
'As long as the Chief of Staff says the operation in Gaza has fulfilled its objectives, what are we still doing there?' Lieberman asked.
His remarks follow a statement made earlier by Israeli occupation forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who indicated that the war objectives in Gaza had been exhausted, signaling a potential shift in military posture.
The growing divide between political and military leadership has added further strain to the Israeli war cabinet, where far-right influence continues to shape key decisions despite opposition from within the establishment.
Meanwhile, tensions within Netanyahu's government escalated after IOF Chief Halevi warned that expanding military operations in Gaza could jeopardize the lives of Israeli captives still held in the Strip. His caution triggered a wave of backlash from far-right ministers, including Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who have long rejected any constraints on the army's actions in Gaza.
A senior Palestinian official speaking to Al Mayadeen revealed that the issue of Israeli withdrawal continues to stall progress in the Doha negotiations. 'The withdrawal point is still unresolved, and it is directly linked to the aid mechanism, and vice versa,' the official said.
On the diplomatic front, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-hour overnight meeting with the Qatari delegation at the White House to advance discussions on a Gaza ceasefire. The talks follow a second meeting in 24 hours between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu.