• Israeli activist sentenced for 30 days and lauded with solidarity as he walked into trial
• Israeli war weariness kicking in both within government and civilian institutions
Tal Mitnick, an Israeli teenager of just 18 years was arrested after refusing to serve in the IDF. Military service in Israel is compulsory for both males and females aged 18 and above. Men are expected to serve a minimum of at least 32 months whilst women are expected to serve 24. Around 80% of the Israelis are militarily trained and Israel being an occupational state with a relative young population; majority are capable of action if called upon. What must be noted however, is that the public opinion of Palestine amongst Israelis has changed dramatically since October the 7nth with majority of Israeli media including left wing leaning news outlet Haaretz, who was more willing to denounce the Israeli government and injustices against Palestinians before October the 7nth, have become totally pro genocidal and anti-Palestinian. Yet amid these genocidal tendencies amongst the corporate media and the thousands of anti-Palestinian Israelis who have been armed by former security minister Ben Gvir, there lies rare outliers such as Tal Mitnick.
Former right-wing security minister Ben Gvir handing out rifles to Israeli civilians at a time when most media are throwing anti-Palestinian sentiment. Ben Gvir himself was later sacked for suggesting nuking Gaza.
It’s very rare to find someone after October 7th publicly announcing that they’re choosing not to join the IDF. Tal Mitnick was the first known to do so. However, what’s interesting is that Tal Mitnick was lauded with solidarity and praise by supporters as he entered the Tel HasShomer military base to be sentenced. What’s even more interesting is that the mainstream Israeli media actually chose to cover Mitnick’s story when they would likely have chosen not to if it were early on back in October. This shows that there has been a small shift in Israeli vigour and devotion from calls of continuous genocide to a few inches of empathy towards the calling of a ceasefire. The shift may currently be small and insignificant, but it demonstrates the effect of the elongation of the ground invasion because of the efforts of the Palestinian resistance.
Is Israel starting to feel war weariness?
After Netanyahu announced the ground invasion of Gaza could take another few months, the shooting of three Israeli hostages within Gaza by the IDF and the claim that 20 Israeli captives were killed by Israeli bombardment beg one to wonder: is the appetite for the Gaza genocide in decline? Only three days ago, families of the captives held by the Palestinian resistance heckled Prime Minister Netanyahu during a speech in parliament, and only yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu cancelled a meeting with his war cabinet that was meant to discuss the post-war plans of Gaza. For the Israeli government, pressure is building and support is waning. On the frontlines, the picture is also very bleak for Israel, as not a single Palestinian resistance leader has been killed and not a single Israeli captive has been freed. Support on an international scale is well down below its peak, with more and more senators of the US calling for a ceasefire.
It’s possible for Netanyahu to salvage what legitimacy he has left in the eyes of his supporters; he is left with no choice but to accept a ceasefire to demonstrate he has the capabilities and success of bringing the Israeli captives home. Although this would not suit well with Netanyahu’s right-wing base, it is far better for his PR than allowing all the remaining Israeli captives to be killed by the IDF. The fact that Netanyahu was not even able to host a meeting with his war cabinet to discuss the post-Gaza situation may show how uncertain Netanyahu is of an all-out victory against the Palestinian resistance. As the IDF death count rises to 168 with multiple high-ranking officers killed, it may even be possible that Netanyahu is left to face a new front in his battle for political survival: the front of the IDF.
