As Israel’s military campaign in Gaza intensifies, a growing wave of dissent is emerging within the country, reflecting increasing frustration and unease over the conduct and consequences of the war. Once largely united in response to the Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, voices critical of the government’s strategy are now gaining traction, sparking debates over the morality and future direction of the conflict.
Yair Golan, a prominent left-wing politician and former deputy commander of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), provoked significant controversy on Monday when he stated bluntly: “Israel is on the way to becoming a pariah state, like South Africa was, if we don’t return to acting like a sane country. A sane state does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby, and does not set itself the goal of depopulating the population,” during a widely listened-to Israeli public radio programme. His comments were swiftly condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “blood libel.”
Yet criticism has intensified. Moshe “Bogi” Ya’alon, former Israeli defence minister and IDF chief of staff, wrote on social media that the civilian casualties “are not a ‘hobby’ but a government policy, whose ultimate goal is to hold on to power. And it is leading us to destruction.”
These voices of dissent stand in stark contrast to the mood just 19 months ago, when Hamas militants infiltrated Israel in a deadly attack. At that time, such criticism from within Israel seemed nearly unthinkable.
Today, Gaza lies devastated by a renewed Israeli offensive. Despite Israel’s recent agreement to ease an 11-week blockade, aid entering Gaza remains minimal. The humanitarian crisis deepens, with the World Health Organization warning that Gaza’s health system is “stretched beyond breaking point.”
Polling by Israel’s Channel 12 indicates a shift in public opinion: 61% of Israelis now favour ending the war and securing the release of hostages, while only 25% support expanding military operations or occupying Gaza. Former Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin observes, “The overwhelming majority of all the hostage families think that the war has to end, and there has to be an agreement.”
Meanwhile, thousands of Israeli reservists from various military branches have publicly urged Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government to halt the fighting and focus on negotiating a deal to bring home hostages.
Yet divisions remain deep. At the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, some Israelis maintain hardline views. Gideon Hashavit, part of a group protesting the entry of aid to Gaza, insisted, “They’re not innocent people. They make their choice, they chose a terrorist organisation.”
Amidst growing unrest, anti-war protests have gained momentum. On Sunday, roughly 500 demonstrators, many wearing T-shirts reading “Stop the horrors in Gaza” and carrying photos of Palestinian children killed by Israeli strikes, marched from Sderot towards the Gaza border. Led by Standing Together, a coalition of Jewish and Palestinian Israeli activists, the group sought to block a road and demand a ceasefire. Their leader, Alon-Lee Green, was arrested along with eight others during the demonstration.
From house arrest, Green told the BBC, “I think it’s obvious that you can see an awakening within the Israeli public. You can see that more and more people are taking a position.” Fellow activist Uri Weltmann noted a growing awareness that “continuing the war is not only harmful to the Palestinian civilian population, but also risks the lives of hostages, risks the lives of soldiers, risks the lives of all of us.”
Internationally, mounting criticism has led to diplomatic repercussions. On Tuesday, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Israeli settler groups and suspended trade deal talks with Israel, calling the military escalation “morally unjustifiable.” Foreign Secretary David Lammy summoned Israel’s ambassador in London to express concern.
The European Union is reviewing its 25-year-old association agreement with Israel, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirming that a “strong majority” of member states support revisiting the accord.
On Monday, the UK, France, and Canada jointly condemned Israel’s military actions in a sharply worded statement, warning of “further concrete actions” if humanitarian conditions in Gaza do not improve.
For many Israelis, the mood is indeed shifting. As Weltmann puts it, “The mood is changing… the wind is starting to blow in the other direction.”