The Israeli Army’s Descent into Chaos: A Regime Shattered by War, Suicides, and Desertion
By: M. Sharifi
The Israeli regime was in fact established on strict militaristic principles formulated by David Ben-Gurion in which military service was both a national duty and a in the same time cultural responsibility. However this illusion has crumbled dramatically particularly in the wake of Israel’s war against Gaza initiated under the pretext of the Operation "Al-Aqsa Storm." Desertions and refusals to serve within the Israeli military are now reaching unprecedented levels revealing deep fractures within the army and Israeli society itself.
For over a year the Israeli army has been trapped in a self-imposed quagmire spiraling into a war of attrition. The plummeting willingness among Israelis to serve in this machinery of occupation is no longer deniable. Just days ago 130 Israeli soldiers issued a direct warning to embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline cabinet: if no deal is made to exchange prisoners they will refuse to serve. This open defiance especially in a military culture once defined by rigid obedience marks a new low for the regime. The soldiers’ letter reported by Ha’aretz delivered a scathing indictment of Netanyahu's administration accusing it of sacrificing hostages' lives and prolonging the war to cling to power. These soldiers disillusioned and enraged have refused to don their uniforms until meaningful progress is made in bringing the hostages home.
The long war has led to severe consequences. The Israeli army now faces not only a manpower crisis but also an epidemic of suicides and desertions. The ongoing war has caused an alarming psychological toll on soldiers with multiple reports of suicides among officers unable to bear the psychological strain. This speaks volumes about the demoralization of an army once touted as invincible. Furthermore the outcry from Israeli citizens particularly the families of hostages has ignited public protests lambasting Netanyahu's failures. In a scathing critique even opposition figures accuse the prime minister of prioritizing his political survival over the safety of Israeli citizens and soldiers.
Under the cloak of U.S. support Israel has launched a catastrophic war against Gaza under the guise of targeting Hamas and securing the return of Israeli prisoners. But behind the smokescreen of military objectives lies a devastating reality: thousands of Palestinians overwhelmingly women and children have been slaughtered entire communities decimated. And yet after over a year of bloodshed and destruction the Israeli regime remains utterly incapable of achieving its supposed objectives. The continued inability to destroy Hamas or secure the return of prisoners only highlights the failure of this regime. Instead this war has become a moral and military catastrophe one that exposes Israel’s vulnerabilities for the world to see.
What remains is an illegitimate regime teetering on the brink of collapse its once-mighty military suffering from internal dissent and unprecedented desertions. The war on Gaza has turned into a symbol of the Israeli regime’s unraveling and the repercussions will haunt it for years to come.
