Political fiasco and Hamas attack: images of Netanyahu’s failure and division in Israel
Since the deadly Hamas attack on October 7 in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been directly blamed and is facing a real political crisis. Already weakened by an unpopular judicial reform, he is now accused of having ignored the terrorist threat and of having strengthened the movement controlling the Gaza Strip, to the detriment of the Palestinian Authority. Criticism comes from all sides, and some experts believe that Netanyahu could pay the political price for this resounding failure.
The Hamas attack caused a real national trauma in Israel. Palestinian fighters sowed terror and death for several hours, killing more than 1,200 people and kidnapping dozens more. Israeli reprisals in the Gaza Strip have left more than 1,350 dead, with a human toll that continues to rise.
This attack exposed the flaws in Netanyahu’s security policy and increased the anger of the Israelis. Many accuse him of having underestimated the threat from Hamas and of not having taken the necessary measures to prevent such an attack. Some even go so far as to say that his government is the worst Israel has ever seen and that it has undermined national security.
It must be said that Netanyahu’s position was already precarious before this attack. Accused of corruption, he is suspected of having regained power in order to escape legal prosecution and to control the country’s judicial system. His justice reform, aimed at subjecting the Supreme Court to the authority of Parliament, sparked strong protests and deeply divided the country. Thousands of people took to the streets to defend the foundations of the rule of law and Israeli democracy.
This deep division within the Israeli population is also attributed to Netanyahu. His government, the most right-wing in Israeli history, relied on controversial figures, which reinforced tensions and divisions within society. The slowness of the military response to the Hamas attack is notably attributed to these internal divisions.
Faced with growing anger, Netanyahu initially chose to keep a low profile, but he quickly toughened his tone. In a solemn speech, he promised blood and tears to the opposing camp, saying that any member of Hamas was a dead man.
Six days after the attack, many questions remain unanswered about the failings of Israeli intelligence services. But one thing is certain: this Hamas attack highlighted Netanyahu’s failure and accentuated the division of the country. His political position is more weakened than ever, and he could well pay the price for this resounding failure.
In conclusion, the Hamas attack in Israel exposed the flaws in Netanyahu’s security policy and exacerbated the division within the country. Accused of having ignored the terrorist threat and of having strengthened Hamas, the Prime Minister is facing a major political crisis. His government is criticized from all sides, and it is very likely that he will suffer the consequences in the future.