Frustration Mounts for Israel as Gaza Ceasefire Highlights Unmet War Goals: Analyst

Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza has left the regime grappling with unfulfilled objectives, according to Menachem Klein, a senior lecturer at Bar-Ilan University. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Klein described the mood as frustrated.

“Israel—especially the army and the government—is looking for the victory. And they cannot achieve it,” Klein said.

He emphasized the disparity between the government’s stated war aims and the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas. “There is a huge gap between the war goals that Israel put forward and stuck to all along the war, and the agreement reached with Hamas.”

Klein also noted protests in Jerusalem (al-Quds) where right-wing activists have displayed banners stating, “this is not victory.” These sentiments reflect dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promises over the past 15 months to secure definitive outcomes in Gaza.

On Thursday, Netanyahu’s office announced the completion of a ceasefire deal, brokered by Israeli negotiators in Doha. The agreement, which includes provisions for prisoner exchanges, is expected to receive the security cabinet's approval on Friday. Preparations for the return of Israeli captives are underway.

Netanyahu remains firm on his government’s commitment to all wartime objectives, stating, “Israel remains committed to achieving all wartime objectives, especially the return of all hostages—whether alive or deceased.”

The ceasefire comes amid heavy civilian casualties. Gaza's civil defense reported the deaths of at least 101 Palestinians, including 27 children and 31 women, in intensified air raids since the ceasefire announcement. Eighty-two of these fatalities occurred in Gaza City, with many victims killed during overnight attacks on residential areas.

A journalist’s family was among those targeted, with nine members confirmed dead and four still trapped under rubble. Bombardments and artillery shelling persist despite the approaching ceasefire.

International humanitarian organizations have voiced urgent concerns. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) described the ceasefire as a “necessary respite” but criticized the delay, citing “immense suffering and countless lives lost.”

In a statement, MSF called for sustained humanitarian relief, emphasizing the need for more than temporary measures. “The Israeli bombing must stop, and a massive increase in humanitarian aid is urgently needed,” the organization urged.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza has resulted in 46,788 Palestinian deaths and over 110,000 injuries, underscoring the immense toll of the ongoing war.

Israel has faced numerous allegations of committing crimes against humanity and genocide, particularly concerning its inhumane military actions in the Gaza Strip. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have accused Israeli authorities of deliberately depriving Palestinians in Gaza of essential resources, such as water, which constitutes the crime against humanity of extermination and may amount to acts of genocide.

In December 2024, Amnesty International concluded that Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to genocide, calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.

Similarly, Human Rights Watch reported that Israeli authorities were responsible for the crime against humanity of extermination and acts of genocide due to their conduct in Gaza.

The ICC has taken steps to address these allegations. On November 21, 2024, the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging responsibility for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity, such as murder and persecution, during the Israel-Hamas conflict.