War on Gaza, the view from Israel
Al JazeeraPublic support for Israel’s war aims may be faltering, but not necessarily for the reasons many might expect. “I believe the Israeli public’s support for the war might be flagging,” Shai Parnes said by phone from Jerusalem, “but probably not for the reasons you’re thinking.” War fatigue for a people divided Parnes, spokesperson for the Israeli NGO B’Tselem, which documents human rights abuses in Palestine, spoke over a shaky connection about a consistent ache in Israeli society over the absence of the captives taken to Gaza on October 7, the economic cost of the war and the toll on reservists who have interrupted their jobs or studies several times to wage war on a besieged enclave that is mostly rubble now. Last week, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told Kan public radio he was expecting seven more months of war if Israel were to destroy Hamas and the smaller Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Gaza. “Public confidence in Israel’s war aims may be lessening, but people are still struggling to see an alternative to the fighting,” War without end? “At first sight, Israel’s war aims – to destroy Hamas both as a military and governmental force and to return the hostages – were straightforward,” Lurie-Pardes said.