As the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues into its fourth month, there is growing anger among Israelis towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s failure to free the remaining hostages. Israeli protesters have called for Netanyahu’s resignation, and family members of the hostages stormed the Israeli parliament demanding a deal for their release. Israeli public opinion has shifted, with initial strong support for the war now fraying due to concerns about the safety of the hostages and doubts about Israel’s ability to defeat Hamas.
Dov Waxman, a scholar of Israeli politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggests that Netanyahu does not want to end the war. Netanyahu is widely unpopular in Israel and is seen as responsible for the failures that led to Hamas’ attack in October 2023. To regain domestic support, Netanyahu needs to continue the war and achieve a “total victory” over Hamas. If he fails, his Likud party is likely to lose the next election. Netanyahu’s political pressure influences his response to the war, as he must appease far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties in his government by maintaining government subsidies, welfare benefits, and the religious status quo.
The focus of most Israelis in relation to the war is the fate of the hostages and Israeli military casualties. The families of the hostages have ensured that their plight is not forgotten, and the deaths of Israeli soldiers in Gaza receive significant attention. However, the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza receives little coverage in the Israeli media, and many Israelis are unaware of the situation. The pressure from the families of the hostages has a significant impact, as there is empathy for their situation and a belief that the state has a moral obligation to bring its citizens home.
It is unlikely that the military can free the hostages due to their location in underground tunnels and the difficulty of reaching them without being killed by their captors. The only feasible option is to strike a deal with Hamas, but Netanyahu is hesitant to accept the terms demanded by Hamas, particularly ending the war. While Netanyahu and his defense minister believe that increasing military pressure on Hamas will make them more likely to accept a deal, others argue that Israel should make a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war without defeating Hamas.
