The Gaza conflict and Israel's internal breakdown

Sep 18, 2024 - 14:22

"Israel requires additional troops to sustain the war in Gaza."
 
This was the leading headline from Bloomberg, capturing the critical situation facing the Israeli regime in Gaza.
As the Israelis turn increasingly to their reserve forces to prolong the war on Gaza, the deepening social fissures within Israeli society are becoming ever more apparent.
According to this report, approximately 350,000 Israelis have been compelled to leave behind their families and means of livelihood, deployed to the northern front due to a severe shortage of military personnel.
This unfolding scenario is further complicated by the fact that Orthodox Jews remain exempt from military service.
Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of the Israeli armed forces, has repeatedly underscored the urgent need for the inclusion of the Orthodox community within the army ranks.However, the hardline factions within Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition government vehemently oppose their participation.

As the war on Gaza drags on, families of soldiers who have been deployed in Gaza for nearly a year are now calling for greater parity within the conscription system.

 

The longer this conflict persists, the sharper these rifts within Israeli society will become.