Wanakumbi.
Siku kumi zilizopita, kiongozi mkuu wa kila siku wa Israeli, Yedioth Ahronoth, alichapisha habari zilizopatikana kutoka kwa idara ya urekebishaji ya wizara ya ulinzi. Mkuu wa idara hiyo, Limor Luria, aliripotiwa kusema kuwa zaidi ya wanajeshi 2,000 wa IDF wameandikishwa kuwa walemavu tangu mzozo huo uanze - huku 58% ya wale wote iliowatibu wakiuguza majeraha mabaya ya mikono na miguu - na kupendekeza idadi ya waliojeruhiwa ni kubwa zaidi kuliko takwimu rasmi. Wakati huo huo, gazeti la Times of Israel limeripoti idadi ya wanajeshi wa IDF waliojeruhiwa, Polisi wa Israel na vikosi vingine vya usalama kuwa 6,125. Pia kumekuwa na idadi ya marafiki wa ajali za moto, na karatasi hiyo hiyo ikiripoti vifo 20 kati ya 105 vilivyotokana na moto au ajali hizo wakati wa mapigano.
Kwa ujumla, IDF bado inafuata fundisho lililosomwa vyema la Dahiya la nguvu kubwa katika kukabiliana na vita visivyo vya kawaida, na kusababisha uharibifu mkubwa wa kijamii na kiuchumi, kudhoofisha nia ya waasi kupigana huku wakizuia vitisho vya usalama wa Israeli siku zijazo. Lakini inaenda vibaya. Ukosoaji unatoka sehemu zisizotarajiwa, ikiwa ni pamoja na waziri wa zamani wa ulinzi wa Uingereza, Ben Wallace, ambaye ameonya juu ya athari iliyodumu kwa miaka 50. Hata utawala wa Biden unakuwa na wasiwasi sana kwa kile kinachotokea, bado Benjamin Netanyahu na baraza la mawaziri la vita wameazimia kuendelea kwa muda mrefu kama wanaweza.
========================
Ten days ago, Israel’s leading daily, Yedioth Ahronoth, published information obtained from the ministry of defence’s rehabilitation department. The head of the department, Limor Luria, was reported as saying that more than 2,000 IDF soldiers had been registered as disabled since the conflict began – with 58% of all those it had treated suffering from severe injuries to their hands and feet – suggesting a far higher casualty toll than the official figure. Meanwhile, the Times of Israel has reported the number of injured IDF soldiers, Israel Police and other security forces as 6,125. There have also been a number of friendly fire casualties, with the same paper reporting 20 out of 105 deaths due to such fire or accidents during fighting.
Overall, the IDF is still following the well-rehearsed Dahiya doctrine of massive force in responding to irregular war, causing extensive social and economic damage, undermining the will of the insurgents to fight while deterring future threats to Israel’s security. But it is going badly wrong. Criticism is coming from unexpected quarters, including from the former UK defence minister, Ben Wallace, who has warned of an impact lasting 50 years. Even the Biden administration is becoming thoroughly uneasy at what is unfolding, yet Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet are determined to continue for as long as they can.
The official narrative has been that Hamas is weakened, but in reality the IDF’s doctrine of massive force is failing, says academic Paul Rogers