The Mirage of Netanyahu’s “Absolute Victory” / Israelis Fear the Emergence of Another “Yahya Sinwar”
Zionist circles believe that the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which could have been reached long ago, represents a major political defeat for Netanyahu and has altered Israel’s political landscape.
According to the Sedaye Sama News Agency, The Israeli political scene reacted with mixed responses after Donald Trump announced the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel; the right-wing faction was divided into supporters and opponents, while the opposition quickly expressed unconditional support.
Some far-right politicians opposed the agreement, seeing it as the end of their ideological dominance, yet most parties considered it a historic moment that reshaped Israel’s political direction.
The agreement is linked not only to the end of the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages but also to broader changes in Israel’s political landscape.
Previously, Israeli leaders had planned to compensate for the October 7, 2023 defeat through measures like annexing more territory and promoting the “Greater Israel” project, but the ceasefire halted these plans.
Netanyahu and his far-right allies, including Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Israel Katz, had pursued a “perpetual war” strategy that made a ceasefire seem impossible.
However, Trump, despite his extensive support for the far-right, was compelled to push for the ceasefire and explicitly told Netanyahu that Israel could no longer confront the world.
Members of the Israeli cabinet, especially from the right, only partially accepted the agreement, mainly the part about releasing Israeli hostages, while internal divisions within Likud delayed approval.
Some ministers and far-right parties, such as the Religious Zionism Party and Otzma Yehudit, threatened to leave the cabinet and considered the release of Palestinian prisoners a “major disgrace.”
The opposition, led by Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, welcomed the agreement as a moment of hope for the return of Israeli hostages, and Avigdor Lieberman also emphasized the return of all abducted citizens.
Netanyahu, at a deeper level, remains dissatisfied, knowing that if the agreement continues, it will weaken the ideological foundations of the far-right and that his promotion of its benefits will have limited impact.
Israeli analysts, including Baruch Kara and Nidao Eyal, cite two main reasons for Netanyahu’s shift: the threat of the International Criminal Court and the likelihood of early elections, which caused international isolation and internal pressure.
Ultimately, despite Israel’s military gains in Gaza and heavy blows to Hamas, these achievements translated into a major political defeat, while Hamas secured a significant political and international victory; analysts warn that the cabinet must be held accountable for the damages and delays in reaching the ceasefire and should establish an official investigation commission.
