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Prominent Israeli journalist and author Ben Dror Yemini has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for leading Israel into what he calls an “unprecedented collapse.”
In a column published by Israel’s widely read daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Yemini wrote, “The Israeli army is stuck in the Gaza quagmire, while soldiers have become like ducks in a shooting range.”
Quoting an unnamed Israeli soldier, Yemini argued that the continuation of the war is harming Israel politically more than it helps militarily: “Killing more Palestinians won’t improve Israel’s situation. The political damage far outweighs any military gain.”
Yemini noted that despite Israel’s stated goal of eliminating Hamas, the group remains operational and has shifted to guerrilla tactics.
“Hamas has transformed into a guerrilla warfare organization. This has created a dangerous asymmetry—militants remain hidden while Israeli troops are exposed and vulnerable. The situation increasingly plays in Hamas’s favor,” he wrote.
Yemini blamed Netanyahu and his coalition for dragging Israel into a dangerous political and military impasse.
He described their strategy as directionless and warned that it is eroding both domestic morale and international support.
He added that Hamas, likened to a “multi-tentacled octopus,” continues to operate underground with resilience.
In contrast to Israel’s military-focused strategy, Yemini highlighted a plan proposed by Egypt that envisions a comprehensive post-war recovery for Gaza. The initiative, estimated to cost $53 billion over five years, includes:
Yemini described the proposal as “a roadmap to transform Gaza into a new ‘pearl of the Mediterranean,’ without forced migration.”
Despite its humanitarian and diplomatic scope, both Israel and the United States reportedly oppose the Egyptian initiative.
Instead, they continue to back a version of former President Donald Trump’s controversial plan, which calls for the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, particularly Egypt and Jordan.
This alternative has been rejected by Egypt, Jordan, most Arab states, and several international organizations due to concerns over sovereignty, human rights, and regional destabilization.
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