Netanyahu Feared High Casualties, Hamas Hostage Tactics Early in War

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed significant apprehension regarding a ground operation in Gaza during the initial weeks of the war following the October 7th attacks, fearing "thousands of casualties." He also voiced concerns within the war cabinet that Hamas would place hostages on rooftops, using them as human shields, and that public opinion was not yet prepared for the potential costs of such a maneuver. Ultimately, pressure from the military and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant persuaded Netanyahu to approve the ground offensive.

In separate discussions, Netanyahu also conveyed his alarm over potential Hezbollah attacks, stating that "all the buildings behind me here will be destroyed." He described the damage from Hezbollah's fire as potentially equivalent to an atomic bomb, suggesting that while an Iranian nuclear weapon would kill 200,000, Israel would endure, but the feeling from Hezbollah's attacks would be similarly devastating.

These statements were made in the early stages after October 7th. The report contrasts these expressed fears with a narrative that Netanyahu's team is attempting to promote, suggesting he was decisive and in control from the outset. The article notes that Netanyahu later signed decisions that altered the regional balance of power, but his initial deep concerns about Hezbollah might explain the prior restraint before October 7th and potentially the avoidance of proactive measures on October 11th.