Israeli Analyst: Operation Iron Sword a Total Failure, Hamas Still Standing

Israeli Political Affairs Expert Says Netanyahu and Military Leaders Failed to Achieve Any Strategic Objective in Gaza, Left Hamas Intact, and Inflicted Mass Civilian Casualties Without Justification

Occupied Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Raviv Drucker, a respected Israeli political analyst from Channel 13, issued a scathing critique of the Israeli government’s military campaign known as “Operation Iron Swords.”

Speaking in a televised segment, Drucker laid bare what he described as the fundamental failures of the operation, from strategic miscalculations to the staggering human and political costs incurred without achieving any of the stated objectives.

Drucker pointed out that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military leadership had promised a decisive blow to Hamas — an operation that would, in their words, bring an end to the threat from Gaza. But months into the offensive, the facts on the ground tell a very different story.

“They entered this operation, and 20 Israelis were killed. But in reality, the issue with Hamas remains unresolved. The enemy has not been eliminated, and we don't know what was actually achieved,” Drucker said.

Gaza in Ruins, Questions Without Answers

While Israeli officials presented the operation as a necessary and effective act of national security, Drucker was blunt in describing what was actually achieved: widespread destruction and mass civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

He emphasized that there is no reliable or transparent assessment of how many of the thousands of Palestinians killed were members of armed groups and how many were innocent civilians.

“What was clearly achieved was massive destruction in the Gaza Strip,” he stated. “But there is no clarity on how many were affiliated with Hamas and how many were civilians.”

This ambiguity, Drucker suggested, speaks volumes about the moral and strategic ambiguity of the operation itself — an ambiguity that cannot be hidden behind official narratives or patriotic slogans.

No Progress on Hostage Negotiations

Another central claim made by Israeli officials at the start of the campaign was that military pressure would strengthen their position in potential negotiations for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. But Drucker said that even this objective had not materialized — and in fact, Hamas’s position seems more defiant than ever.

“The claim was that we would create better conditions for a swap. Yet Hamas’s current stance — no to displacement, no to disarmament, no to surrender, yes to stopping the war — shows otherwise.”

He noted that despite the extensive bombardments, Hamas remains entrenched in its positions and is dictating its terms rather than conceding under pressure.

“Someone Must Be Held Responsible”

In perhaps his most forceful remarks, Drucker called for accountability at the highest levels of government and military command. “Before moving to the next phase,” he said, “someone must take responsibility for dragging us into this operation, Iron Swords, which in my view is one of the most cynical and costly operations we have seen.”

He questioned whether any real lessons had been learned from previous military failures and whether those in power were capable of offering a strategy that prioritizes long-term security over short-term theatrics.

Israeli Forces Still Under Fire in Gaza

Drucker’s comments come amid ongoing reports of Israeli military casualties in Gaza. On June 25, the Israeli occupation forces confirmed that seven soldiers — including an officer — were killed in a deadly ambush staged by Palestinian Resistance fighters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

These losses are part of a broader pattern of sustained Palestinian resistance, particularly in southern areas, where fighters continue to use asymmetrical and guerrilla tactics to inflict heavy casualties and challenge Israeli maneuverability on the ground.

Despite months of brutal aerial and ground assaults, “Israel” has failed to neutralize this resistance or ensure safety for its ground forces.

Ongoing Assault on Gaza's Civilian Population

Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its devastating war on Gaza, described by many human rights observers as genocidal in nature. Airstrikes and shelling persist across the Gaza Strip, with dozens of Palestinians being killed daily — particularly around humanitarian aid distribution points where desperate civilians gather in hopes of receiving food and medicine.

Civilian infrastructure — including hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters — has been repeatedly targeted, pushing the enclave to the brink of total collapse. International condemnation has grown, but Tel Aviv remains defiant, insisting that the war is necessary for its security.

A War Without Strategy, A Crisis Without End

Drucker’s critique underscores a growing sense of unease even within Israeli media and political circles: that “Operation Iron Swords” was launched without a clear endgame, without coherent goals, and without concern for the long-term consequences.

As Hamas continues to fight back, and the civilian death toll in Gaza soars, the question remains: what has really been gained — and at what cost? (PW)

Source: Al-Mayadeen