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Gaza ceasefire at last: how Israel’s ‘first defeat’ will shape the country’s future
Unlike previous military campaigns in Gaza, there is no significant strand of Israeli society claiming victory, and a political crisis long-brewing has now reached crisis point, argues RAMZY BAROUD
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, September 2, 2024

THE headline in the Times of Israel says it all: “For the first time, Israel just lost a war.” Regardless of the reasoning behind this statement, which the article divides into 14 points, it suggests a shattering and unprecedented event in the 76-year history of the state of Israel. 

The consequences of this realisation will have far-reaching effects on Israelis, affecting both this generation and the next. These repercussions will penetrate all sectors of Israeli society, from the political elite to the collective identity of ordinary Israelis.

Interestingly, and tellingly, the article attributes Israel’s defeat solely to the outcome of the Gaza war, confined to the geographical area of the Gaza Strip. Not a single point addresses the ongoing crisis within Israel itself. Nor does it explore the psychological impact of what is being labelled as Israel’s first-ever defeat.

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