Senior Israeli military officials suspect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may seek to escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip in an attempt to disrupt or delay the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections, Israeli media reported.
Israeli daily Maariv cited assessments within the upper ranks of the Israeli army that Netanyahu does not want the current conflicts to come to an end and could seek renewed escalation in Gaza as the election approaches.
According to the report, senior military officials are increasingly concerned that political considerations could influence decisions on further military action.
Officers have made clear that the army does not intend to be drawn into another conflict without a clear security necessity, saying: “We will not enter a new and unnecessary war.”
The reported concerns come amid growing debate in Israel over Netanyahu’s handling of the country’s multiple fronts and accusations from opposition figures that he is using security issues for political purposes ahead of the election.
