More than a year into its deadliest and most protracted military campaign in Gaza, Israel finds itself grappling with something even more destabilizing than rockets or tunnels: a crisis of self.
What began as a response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2024, has evolved into the longest war in Israel’s 76-year history—and one that is fracturing the country from within while isolating it abroad. Once united by trauma and defiance, Israeli society is now split over the war’s aims, its moral cost, and what kind of nation it wants to be when the dust settles.
A Nation Fractured
In Tel Aviv cafes and Jerusalem synagogues, in kibbutzim near the Gaza border and high-tech offices in Herzliya, Israelis are asking hard questions: Is this war winnable? At what human price? And who are we becoming?
Mass protests have returned to the streets—not just by left-wing activists, but by bereaved families, reservists, and even former security officials. Tens of thousands have signed petitions demanding a ceasefire or humanitarian corridors. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition insists that “total victory” over Hamas is non-negotiable—even as international support wanes.
Global Isolation Mounts
Israel’s diplomatic position has eroded dramatically. Key allies—including the U.S., Germany, and even longtime supporters in Africa and Latin America—have grown increasingly critical of the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, now estimated at over 45,000 dead by international monitors.
The International Criminal Court is weighing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. South Africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice remains active. And in July 2025, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to grant Palestine expanded rights—a symbolic but stinging rebuke.
“Israel is no longer seen as David—it’s increasingly cast as Goliath,” said one European diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Key Indicators of Israel’s Shifting Landscape
| Area | Pre-War (2023) | Current (Oct 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Support for War | 86% | 49% |
| U.S. Congressional Backing | Bipartisan consensus | Deepening Democratic dissent |
| Netanyahu Approval Rating | 42% | 28% |
| Israeli Reservists Refusing Call-Ups | Rare | Over 2,000 documented cases |
The Identity Question
At its core, the Gaza war has forced Israelis to confront a paradox: How can a nation founded as a refuge from persecution now be accused of inflicting mass suffering?
For many secular Israelis, the war has amplified fears that the country is being steered by messianic, ultra-Orthodox, and nationalist forces with little regard for liberal democratic values. For religious Zionists, however, this is a sacred battle for survival—and compromise is betrayal.
“We used to argue about peace,” said historian Anita Shapira. “Now we’re arguing about who we even are.”
[INTERNAL_LINK:Israeli-Palestinian Conflict] analysts warn that without a clear political horizon—like a revived two-state solution—the war risks becoming an open-ended occupation by another name.
What Comes Next?
With over 100 hostages still unaccounted for and Hamas still active in parts of Gaza, pressure is mounting for a negotiated endgame. But Netanyahu, facing corruption trials and reliant on far-right partners, shows no sign of pivoting.
Meanwhile, a quiet but growing movement of Israelis and Palestinians is building grassroots dialogue—even as bombs fall. They may be a minority, but they represent a flicker of hope that the war’s legacy won’t be only destruction, but also redefinition.
Sources
The New York Times: “Amid the Gaza War, Israel Is More Divided and Isolated Than Ever”
