The Independent newspaper argued in its editorial that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading Israel towards a bloody dead end. It said that the massive demonstrations that Israel witnessed in recent days show the extent of opposition to the way it managed this cruel war in Gaza and its military consequences.

It commented, saying that the killing of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 232 others led to the world “practically” standing with Israel, and all Israelis “practically” supporting Netanyahu’s government, and the latter even called on his rival, Benny Gantz, to join the war government.

It said that the people were united by grief to defend themselves against what she described as “the worst anti-Semitic crime since World War II!” And as a divisive man, he received support at home to bring the prisoners and neutralize Hamas.

This is no longer the case. The massive demonstrations in Israel, in which thousands of Israelis participated, calling for Netanyahu’s removal from the position of prime minister, reveal the extent of the opposition to him and his cruel war in Gaza.

Opinion polls in Israel reflect the despair expressed by the demonstrators regarding the way the war was being conducted. The Prime Minister is unpopular. More than 32,000 Palestinians were killed and 74,000 wounded, a large number of them children and women, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

The conflict also harmed regional stability and Israel's security, isolating it internationally. And more than this, according to the point of view of the demonstrators, who are the families of the prisoners who are still in Gaza, many of whom died, and some of whom were killed by fire from the same forces that were sent to rescue them. This is an intolerable situation, and it does not seem that Netanyahu can solve it. Despite starving Palestinian civilians, children orphaned by war, hospitals reduced to charred ruins, destitution and tens of thousands who have died, Netanyahu is losing the war. Only a small number of Hamas leaders were killed, creating a new generation of oppressed Palestinians in Gaza, ready for a new round of fighting. Netanyahu was able to alienate Israel's most important and strongest ally, the United States.

It is fair to say that anger against the Israeli government in the West and the Islamic world is not unprecedented. The shocking defeat of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the municipal elections stems from dissatisfaction with his policy towards Israel.

When the President of the United States and the Israeli Prime Minister are talking little, it is time for the people of Israel to understand the damage Netanyahu has done to their country. A large number of Western leaders are discussing reducing support for Israel in order to feel comfortable.

The newspaper said that if Netanyahu left a will for his successor, if the worst happened to him (after he underwent surgery that required complete anesthesia), it would be to continue the campaign against Rafah.

Always stubborn, Netanyahu pits himself against not only Hamas, but against innocent civilians in Gaza, Western public opinion, and now his own citizens.

Hamas itself will not believe that, after six months of attacks, it has lured Netanyahu into its trap, and it does not care, as the newspaper claims, about the well-being of its people like Netanyahu, and this is another Palestinian tragedy.

However, Netanyahu seems unable to understand the basic truth, and the fact that it will not surrender to him no matter how many Palestinians die. Hamas is interested in instability and creating chaos to serve its interests. Unfortunately, it succeeded in this, and it has new allies in Yemen, the Houthi gangs, which forced maritime navigation to divert from the Suez Canal. Hamas sabotaged diplomatic efforts to normalize relations between Israel and its neighbors from Morocco to the United Arab Emirates. Currently, the Abraham Accords are dead, and Netanyahu's dream of a regional economic bloc has faded with them.

America is concerned about the return of Iranian influence and the terrorist activities it supports in the region, as well as its close relationship with Russia. Western countries are discussing ways to push Israel towards a ceasefire that is in its interest, even if they make concessions to Hamas and its sustainability. The newspaper claims that “Hamas” does not want to stop the war that serves its geopolitical interests. Once again, Netanyahu makes it easier for the extremist group to reject his conditions.

America now refuses to use its veto automatically to protect an ally that it believes is out of control. Israel must, for the first time, answer charges of genocide before the International Court of Justice. The Israelis now rose up against their government.

The newspaper believes that the fact that the conflict has not spread to the West Bank and Lebanon saves Netanyahu and his people from a dangerous expansion of the war.

Tactically, Netanyahu is leading his people towards a bloody dead end. The deep problem is that he has no vision for forming a framework for peaceful coexistence with the Palestinians, and he rejects the two-state solution. There are no easy answers to conflicts in the Middle East. But Netanyahu's lack of interest in a solution is unusual, which is why he should not lead Israel.