20 Soldiers in 30 Days: Is the Cost of Israel’s Gaza Campaign Too High? 

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, now in its 20th month, continues to exact a heavy toll, with near-daily soldier casualties in fierce fighting in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya. As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) push to dismantle Hamas and secure the region, the mounting losses, coupled with the absence of live hostage rescues since the war’s early days, have sparked growing debate: Is the fight still worth it? What are we even still doing there?!

A Brutal Toll in Northern Gaza

Since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, Israel’s ground operations in Gaza have been relentless. The IDF has focused heavily on northern Gaza, particularly Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, where Hamas fighters remain entrenched.

According to IDF data, 891 soldiers have been killed since the war began, with 558 deaths in 2024 alone, many in these northern flashpoints. In one incident on January 11, 2025, four soldiers, Sgt. Maj. Alexander Fedorenko, Staff Sgt. Danila Diakov, Sgt. Yahav Maayan, and Sgt. Eliav Astuker, were killed by an explosive device in Beit Hanoun. Another four died in a tunnel explosion near the same town in late 2023, highlighting the persistent danger of urban warfare and booby-trapped terrain.

Jabaliya, a densely packed refugee camp, has been equally deadly. The area’s tunnel networks, dubbed the “Gaza metro” by Israeli officials, allow Hamas to stage ambushes and evade detection, making every advance costly. In October 2024, the IDF’s 162nd Division led a major operation in Jabaliya, eliminating thousands of suspected militants but sustaining heavy losses.

The human cost extends beyond combat deaths. In 2024, 21 soldiers died by suicide, with reservists hit hardest, reflecting the psychological strain of prolonged conflict. Another 5,569 have been wounded, 815 seriously, though advanced medical evacuations have saved hundreds.

No Live Hostages Rescued

The war’s original goals, destroying Hamas and freeing hostages, remain elusive. Of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, 2023, 148 have been returned alive, mostly during cease-fires in November 2023 and January–March 2025. Eight were rescued by the IDF, but none of these rescues involved live hostages recovered from Gaza’s battle zones like Beit Hanoun or Jabaliya.

The bodies of 56 hostages have been retrieved, including two in Khan Younis in June 2025, identified as Yair Yaakov and Aviv Atzili. 53 hostages remain, with only about 20 believed to be alive.

Hamas has conditioned further releases on a permanent cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal, demands Israel has rejected. A Palestinian official cited a proposed deal for a 70-day truce and partial withdrawal in exchange for 10 hostages, but Israeli officials reportedly dismissed it. The failure to secure live hostages through military operations has fueled frustration, with families and former hostages urging renewed negotiations.

The Strategic Debate

The IDF’s Operation Gideon’s Chariots has secured 70-75% of Gaza’s territory, but senior commanders warned political leaders that further advances risk hostage lives. Meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on June 30, the IDF General Staff pressed for clear directives, proposing either a military administration in Gaza or continued siege and attrition tactics. Without a viable alternative to Hamas governance or a hostage deal, the military seeks guidance to avoid a stalemate.

Critics question the campaign’s efficacy. A post on X called the war a “strategic folly,” arguing that Hamas cannot be eliminated militarily alone and that no live hostages have been freed through force. The IDF faces tough opposition in Jabaliya, where Hamas has tracked and ambushed Israeli forces.

Is It Worth It?

The near-daily loss of soldiers in Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, combined with the failure to rescue live hostages, has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s strategy. Netanyahu insists on “absolute victory,” but the high cost, 20 soldiers killed in June 2025 alone, matching the number of living hostages, raises doubts. Public protests, like the March 19, 2025, march to Netanyahu’s residence, reflect fears that continued fighting endangers captives.

As the IDF awaits political direction, the question looms: Can Israel achieve its goals without sacrificing more lives and further isolating Gaza’s civilians? For now, the war grinds on, with no clear end in sight.

Sources: Israel Hayom, AP News, FDD’s Long War Journal, The New York Times, BBC News, NPR, NBC News, The Guardian