US Expert Counts 14 Reasons Why Israel Lost The War
US lawyer David K Rees has outlined a damning critique of Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas, labelling the peace deal a clear victory for Hamas and a significant loss for Israel. Writing in *The Times of Israel*, Rees asserted, “The peace deal Israel just cut with Hamas was clearly a win for Hamas and a loss for Israel. No wonder people in Gaza are cheering.”
Rees provided 14 reasons to substantiate his claim, highlighting Hamas’ gains. “Hamas turned world opinion against Israel,” he said, adding that the group successfully negotiated the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences. Rees also noted, “It really pays to take hostages,” pointing to the ongoing hostage negotiations as evidence of Hamas’ leverage.
Further, he argued that while Israel achieved limited military objectives, Hamas has rebuilt its fighting force, boasting 12,000 soldiers in Gaza. “Israel is weaker now than it was on October 6, 2023,” he stated, referring to the day before Hamas’ deadly assault.
Rees criticised Israel’s economic and strategic losses, noting that its national debt has surged, and its economic activity has decreased by over 20%. “The cost to Israel of this war has been enormous,” he wrote, adding that over 400 Israeli soldiers have died in the conflict.
He highlighted the irony of the situation, saying, “While much of Gaza has been destroyed, the world is about to provide huge sums to rebuild it. A significant amount of these sums will indirectly wind up in Hamas’ coffers.” Rees also accused Hamas of exploiting international aid, as it did in the past, to strengthen its military infrastructure.
“Israel has failed in its objectives as stated at the beginning of the war, which included the total elimination of Hamas in Gaza,” Rees remarked. He warned that Hamas is likely to rebuild its system of tunnels, of which 40% still remain, and continue its hostilities.
Rees concluded with a scathing assessment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, stating, “Netanyahu will go down as the first Prime Minister of Israel ever to lose a war.”
David K Rees, a former US lawyer with over three decades of experience in civil rights and environmental law, made Aliyah inspired by his mother’s legacy as a Jewish refugee. Now retired in Israel, Rees remains committed to activism, reflecting his lifelong dedication to justice and public interest causes.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed the start of the Gaza ceasefire, initially scheduled for 8:30 am (0630 GMT), demanding that Hamas first submit the names of captives to be released. Netanyahu’s office stated, “The Prime Minister instructed the IDF that the ceasefire will not begin until Israel has the list of released abductees that Hamas has pledged to provide.”
Hamas attributed the delay to “technical field reasons” but reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire deal. Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker commented on the intense international pressure on both sides, saying, “It would be very difficult to see how the ceasefire, particularly in the first phase, does not go ahead.”
