On the evening of September 15, Israeli army tanks drove into Gaza City, and a large-scale ground offensive began. Netanyahu originally intended to completely destroy Hamas and "take over" Gaza through this operation, but it didn't take long before he had to admit an embarrassing reality: Israel was falling into an unprecedented isolation. The war is on, the target is ahead, but the path is becoming more and more dangerous.
The day the tanks entered the city.
On the evening of 15 September, the air was full of tension, smoke continued above Gaza City, and the day-to-day airstrikes had filled the city. The streets were heated by heavy thunderstorms, and the tanks moved among the ruins, and the turbines followed them, clearing the obstacles and paving the way for the infantry.This is a large-scale offensive, targeting directly at the core of Gaza City.
Prior to this, the Israeli army had launched three consecutive rounds of air strikes, bombing the periphery of the city into scorched earth. Residential buildings collapsed, roads were blown out of big craters, and communication signals were intermittent. According to United Nations statistics, about 300,000 residents evacuated in a hurry, but the number left behind is still huge. As tanks pulled in, guns rose one after another, and the city became a huge battlefield. The Israeli military claims to destroy Hamas’s underground networks and command facilities.
The street battle is the most complicated scene. Tanks open the way, the back soldiers gradually advance. Hamas militants attack in the dark, using underground channels and ruins to counter-attack. The intensity of the battle rapidly escalates, and explosive sounds come from different streets. Drones revolve in the low sky, returning the picture in real time. For the Israeli army, this is not just a military operation, but also an adventure.
Netanyahu’s goal is clear: take over Gaza, destroy Hamas, and solve the conflict completely. He believes that this can re-establish Israel’s deterrence and stabilize domestic uncertainty. In recent months, there have been continued protests in Israeli society, hostage families have demanded exchange of prisoners, and the economy is concerned about external sanctions. Launching this ground offensive was Netanyahu’s “hard response.”
The United States, Europe and Arab nations have repeatedly warned against escalating military operations, and the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. The International Court of Justice also ordered Israel to stop military operations in Rafah and other places. All these put Israel in a passive position.Although the tanks have moved into Gaza City, Netanyahu knows that the eyes of the outside world are on him.
Isolated in the shadow.
The international community reacted swiftly and violently after the images of tanks entering Gaza. The European media raised awareness, calling Israel a “great underworld.” Norway, Ireland, Spain and other countries recognized the State of Palestine as early as 2024 and now strongly condemn it. The UN Secretary-General said this is a new challenge to international law. The atmosphere of diplomatic isolation puts Netanyahu under unprecedented pressure.
Netanyahu continued to emphasize publicly that “the set goals must be achieved,” but had to admit privately that Israel had been pushed to the edge of isolation.The United States, despite appearingly still providing support, was divided in the domestic public opinion, and more and more members of Congress demanded restrictions on military aid. The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant has made it even harder for Israel’s senior officials to leave the country.The isolation is not just a diplomatic warrant, but a concrete reality.
In the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, tens of thousands of people marched to demand an immediate ceasefire from the government. Hostage families took photos and shouted “bring them home” slogans. Protesters blocked major roads and the business community issued warnings that the war was shocking the economy. Strikes, parades and petitions followed up, pushing Netanyahu’s government to the tip of the wind.
Netanyahu's sense of isolation comes not only from diplomacy and society, but also from the war itself. The fighting in Gaza City did not advance as quickly as planned, armed resistance was more tenacious than expected, and urban street fighting slowed down tanks. The logistics supply became a problem, and front commanders continued to complain of too much pressure. Military adventures did not change for quick victories, but instead left the battle scene stuck, and the number of casualties continued to increase.
In this context, Netanyahu proposed to intensify “external influence actions” in an attempt to mitigate isolation through propaganda and diplomacy. He stressed that Israel still has the ability to persuade its allies to insist that this is a “war on terrorism”. But the external question has not weakened, but has become stronger due to civilian casualties and humanitarian crises. The directives of the International Court of Justice and the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, like an invisible fence, trapped Israel in isolation.
The pressure of isolation turned this war into a gamble. The tanks have entered the city, and there is no way to retreat; The accusations from the outside world are getting louder and louder, and the endurance is constantly being tested. Netanyahu is riding on the back of the tiger, and can neither easily stop nor easily win. The shadow of isolation is becoming heavier and heavier, turning this seemingly gigantic offensive into a dangerous situation.
Protest Storm and Domestic Dilemma
In the streets of Tel Aviv in mid-September, the crowd carried photos of hostages and filled the whole square. The slogans continued to revolve: “Take them home!” This was one of the largest protests in Israel, not a one-off outbreak, but a day-long insistence. Participants include hostage families, retired soldiers, college students and businessmen. They come from different classes, but they point to the same problem: the government's war strategy has gone astray.
In Jerusalem, the gates of the parliament were also crowded with protesters. Some people simply set tents on the streets and shouted the sign of "fire-stilling". Police had to take action to maintain order, and the crowd formed a confrontation. The social atmosphere was increasingly tense. The pressure on the hostage families was heavy, they thought the government was too emphasizing military action but ignored the safety of hostages. Each airstrike and ground attack could put the lives of loved ones at risk.
Business organizations have warned that the ongoing war has caused international investors to evacuate, currency devaluation, and stock market turmoil. Strikes have spread, from airports to ports, to public transportation, and many industries have been affected. Trade union leaders have cried out publicly that the government must “take responsibility” and can’t let war crush the national economy anymore.
Some commanders warned that the streets advanced slowly, the pressure on the supply line was huge, and the continued expansion of the operation could be unsuccessful. The contradiction between the military and the government has not been made public, but the leaked information has already explained the problem: this battle is not as "quick victory" as Netanyahu imagined. On the contrary, the longer it drags on, the greater the pressure on society and the military.
Within parliament, the opposition seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, questioning the government for "dragging the country into isolation". Some lawmakers called for a reassessment of the strategy, and some even raised the voice of an early general election. Political struggle and war are intertwined, putting the government in a dilemma. Netanyahu's domestic support rate continues to decline, and more and more people are beginning to wonder: For whom is this war fought?
The entire Israeli society seems to be entangled in a giant whirlwind: protests, economic crises, political conflict, and military pressure are intertwined, putting the country on the edge of tension. For Netanyahu, this is no longer just a question of war, but a question of political life and death.The domestic protest storm has become another mountain on his shoulders.
The higher the diplomatic wall.
As tanks roared into Gaza City, the walls on the diplomatic front were quietly strengthened. The UN General Assembly voted again in New York, overwhelmingly demanding an immediate ceasefire.149 countries supported it, and only a few countries opposed it or abstained. When the results were announced, there was thunderous applause from the audience, a scene that undoubtedly highlighted Israel's isolation. Although Netanyahu insists on actions, he knows very well in his heart that the international environment is deteriorating rapidly.
As early as the beginning of the year, the International Court of Justice issued interim measures to prevent genocide. In May, it also explicitly called for the cessation of military operations in Rafah. Today, the Israeli army has chosen to expand its ground offensive in Gaza City, which is tantamount to directly contradicting the international legal framework. This confrontational attitude has caused Israel to almost lose its position on the legal front. The judge’s order did not stop fire, but pushed Israel to the target of the global public opinion.
Europe’s attitude has also slowly shifted. Starting in 2024, Norway, Ireland and Spain have recognized the State of Palestine, and more European countries have submitted similar bills to parliament. There has been debate within the EU whether to impose sanctions on some Israeli officials. Even without unified action, this discussion itself is a signal, meaning that the traditional ally system has begun to break. The sense of isolation is no longer theory but reality.
The United States remains Israel’s core supporter, but the differences inside the White House are growing.The anti-war march in the streets has also increased, with media commenting outright that Israel is dragging the United States into a “unpopular war”.Netanyahu felt pressure and began to intensify “external influence actions” in an attempt to restore an image on the international stage.
In the Arab world, Israel’s actions have provoked a stronger rebellious reaction. Multi-governments have severely condemned the stagnation of diplomatic mediation. Qatar has made it clear that ceasefire negotiations cannot be advanced in the context of point-of-point strikes. Diplomatic pressure between Egypt and Jordan is also increasing, and the border situation is once more tense. Israel originally hoped to quickly end the fighting through military action, but has made the regional diplomatic environment worse.
The wave of resistance in sports and culture has also emerged. Groups in some European countries have called for resistance actions to ban Israel from participating in international events, music festivals and academic conferences. Though these initiatives do not immediately change the battle scene, the image of Israel has rapidly declined on the global stage. Isolation is not only political and legal, but also spread to the social level.
Over time, a layer of walls has been erected that has caught Israel in it. While the tanks have pushed the front, they have not broken the siege of the international community. Isolation is becoming a fact, making Netanyahu hard to ride. The plan to take over Gaza has not yet been completed, and the double pressure of diplomacy and domestic affairs has put him deep in trouble.