Middle East & Africa | An assessment of the IDF in Gaza

The IDF is accused of military and moral failures in Gaza

Its generals botched the strategy, and discipline among troops has broken down

An Israeli soldier operates in the Gaza Strip
Photograph: Reuters
|JERUSALEM

In the early hours of April 7th the Israel Defence Forces’ (idf) 98th Division withdrew from Khan Younis, the second-largest city in Gaza, exactly six months after Hamas’s attack of October 7th. Israel had the sympathy and broad support of much of the West when it sent its army to war with Hamas. Half a year later, much of Gaza lies in ruins. Over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gazan health ministry. The uprooted civilian population faces famine. Israel has lost the battle for global public opinion. Even its closest allies, including America, are considering whether to limit arms shipments.

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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Harsh judgments”

From the April 13th 2024 edition

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