Invading Gaza will cost Israel more than just lives

In an address to soldiers on Saturday, Israel’s chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi outlined the aims of the country’s looming ground incursion into Gaza. ‘Our task is to destroy Hamas activists and their infrastructure’. But, he added, this will not be ‘an easy task’. 

That’s an understatement, to say the least. Despite the bravado and masochism expressed by Israeli generals, the war has so far caused the death of more than 1,400 Israeli civilians and troops and the kidnapping of 222 hostages (among them 30 children). Another 200 are missing. The ground invasion of Gaza will likely be even more costly in terms of lives lost.

But there’s another cost that Israel must consider in the event of a prolonged war: the economy. Israel is not used to fighting long wars. (Since 2007, Israel and Hamas have engaged in five major campaigns and dozens of smaller violent clashes; each round ended with a ceasefire).