Israeli Minister Doubts Netanyahu's Ability to Achieve 'Decisive Victory' in Gaza

Israeli Minister Doubts Netanyahu's Ability to Achieve 'Decisive Victory' in Gaza

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that he has "lost confidence in Benjamin Netanyahu's ability to achieve a ‘decisive victory’" in Gaza. This comes days after Israel's security cabinet agreed to expand its military offensive in the devastated enclave.

In a fiery three-minute video, Smotrich, an ultranationalist and a core member of the ruling coalition, accused Netanyahu of “backtracking” after previously promising to “go all out” but now leaving open the possibility of a “ceasefire for hostages” deal with Hamas.

Smotrich said he would remain in the cabinet as long as he believed the government was working towards a “decisive victory,” but now he has “lost confidence in the prime minister’s ability and willingness to lead (the Israeli military) to achieve this goal.”

Netanyahu, a veteran prime minister, has faced pressure from his far-right allies throughout the Gaza war, including Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who have demanded tougher policies. While Saturday’s statement was the sharpest expression yet from the finance minister, he did not explicitly threaten to resign or bring down Netanyahu’s government.

Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed criticism of his war plans at a press conference, saying that “contrary to some of the statements, this is the best way to end the war, and the fastest way.”

While Smotrich tried to attack Netanyahu from a right-wing position, Netanyahu’s decision to expand the offensive against Hamas in Gaza has been sharply criticised both domestically and internationally as a reckless move.

After a marathon meeting that lasted until the early hours of last Friday, Netanyahu’s security cabinet ordered the Israeli military to begin preparations to “take over Gaza City.” The cabinet indicated that civilians sheltering in the city, formerly the enclave’s largest population center, would be forced to leave.

However, expanding the military offensive may be delayed until early October to allow time to call up reservists, forcibly evacuate hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and build the necessary infrastructure for humanitarian aid. Netanyahu insisted on Sunday that “the timeline we have set for the operation is fairly tight.”

Smotrich, who participated in the consultations, described the plan as amounting to “launching a military operation not to solve the problem, but to pressure Hamas to reach a partial agreement on the hostages.”

“This is not the way to win a war,” Smotrich added, also referring to a more radical alternative plan – though he did not detail it – but said it would bring about a “lightning military victory.”

Smotrich and his far-right allies have publicly supported a full reoccupation of the entire Gaza Strip, the “voluntary emigration” of the area’s 2 million residents to unspecified foreign countries, and the rebuilding of Israeli settlements throughout the enclave.

Zvi Sukkot, a lawmaker from Smotrich’s Religious Zionist party, told Israeli Army Radio on Sunday morning that the party might reconsider whether to remain in Netanyahu’s government and push for early elections.

“If it’s going to end up with soldiers being sent to fight, but the end result isn’t clear, then I don’t see any point in continuing in the government,” Sukkot said.

Netanyahu’s ruling coalition consists of his Likud party, two far-right parties, and two ultra-Orthodox factions. The latter have suspended their participation in government affairs due to disagreements over conscription.

Despite the coalition’s struggles, political analysts remain skeptical that early elections will be held in the coming months. The ruling coalition trails the opposition parties in polls, and the Religious Zionist party might not even cross the election threshold to enter the next Knesset. Elections are scheduled for the fall of 2026.

Other Voices of Opposition

Senior Israeli military leaders oppose Netanyahu’s plan, fearing that the already exhausted military after a 22-month war would be overstretched, and that it would endanger the 50 Israeli hostages held by Hamas – 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.

Netanyahu on Sunday vaguely criticised the military’s proposed more limited alternative plan, saying that “the option of just fighting a war of attrition from defensive positions has not worked, it will not rescue [the hostages], and it will put us in a long conflict that cannot be ended.”

On the other hand, government opponents stressed that expanding the war would damage Israel’s international standing and increase the burden on Israeli taxpayers.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid warned on Sunday that the “fantasy of conquering the Gaza Strip” would lead to new taxes, cuts in social welfare, and higher debt repayment costs.

“We could have improved the education of Israeli children, but we will pay for the education of Gaza children,” Lapid wrote on X.

Nine Western countries, including Britain, Germany, and France, and the European Union issued a joint statement on Saturday rejecting the Israeli security cabinet’s decision, warning that the move could exacerbate the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza, endanger Israeli hostages, and potentially violate international law.

Analysis: This internal disagreement within the Israeli government highlights the complexity of the situation in Gaza. While Netanyahu insists on achieving a decisive victory, some believe that this goal is unrealistic or that the cost is too high. Disagreements over military strategy and humanitarian implications increase the pressure on the Israeli government and affect its international image. The focus should be on finding sustainable solutions that ensure the safety of everyone and reduce the suffering of civilians.