Troops reveal weaknesses in Gaza: the reputation of Israel’s super army is crumbling

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is one of the twenty largest armies in the world, known for its strength and combat experience and celebrated by its people. In the eyes of the Israelis, their army is the best in the world. However, since the outbreak of the Gaza war, more and more problems with the legendary institution have come to light.

A strong army is central to the immigration country. Due to Israel’s geographical location, well-trained troops are essential to ensure security in the country. Until October 7, 2023, it was thought that the 76-year-old institute would succeed.

The image crumbles

But after Hamas’s attack on Israel, the image of the super army began to crumble. Cuts on equipment have put troops at a disadvantage in the fight against Hamas, Spiegel writes in new research. The army was not prepared for a specific war of aggression. The morning before the attack, the troops were seriously undermanned, even though Israeli soldiers warned of suspicious developments long before the Hamas attack on Israel.

According to military experts, the IDF has long lacked a clear political goal. Due to the large number of reservists, the Israeli army is generally prepared to act hard and quickly against an enemy, writes military expert Raphael S. Cohen in a new publication by the American think tank Rand Corporation. However, the troops continued to cut back financially, making the entire structure inefficient. The elite units are considered particularly well trained, but reportedly lack the basic tools.

Weapons are largely imported from the US, with more than 250 transport aircraft and more than 20 ships transporting equipment and ammunition into the country. Military historian Shlomo Brom explains: “People became dependent.”

Heavy war of attrition in the tunnels

According to Brom, the commanders could have prepared for Hamas to hide in civilian facilities. “We should have known in advance how to effectively evacuate the civilian population and then relocate them elsewhere,” the “Spiegel” quoted him as saying. Hamas’ winding tunnel system under the coastal strip further contributed to the severe war of attrition. The IDF had no plans for the tunnels and had to fight through them ‘blindly’, as it were. The teams must advance slowly and use sensors to measure where larger tunnels are located. They often have little time, says Ido Hadad, officer in a pioneer unit, for ‘Spiegel’. “The terrorists often only appear for a few seconds to attack us. Then they disappear back into their tunnels.”

It is still unclear what will happen to the Gaza Strip when the war is over. This leads to great uncertainty within the military apparatus: for what purpose exactly are the soldiers fighting? Chief of the General Staff Herzl Halevi warned this week that the territorial gains already achieved would be at risk if a concrete political plan for Gaza was not quickly drawn up. This lack of planning is considered extremely dangerous by those who know the IDF.

Source: Blick