The Wars Before the War
05 March 2026Imprint: Ithaka
Synopsis
A startling, unsparing exposé by whistleblower military insiders which reveals the dark history leading up to Israel's most recent war in Gaza.
In December 2008, when Israeli forces launched Operation Cast Lead, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip thought they knew what to expect. But it was unlike any previous incursion: the scale of forces deployed, the extent of firepower, and the resulting death and destruction were unprecedented. This was the start of a new era in Israel's approach to Gaza. Incursions would be conducted as all-out wars, involving artillery fire and missiles, navy and air force, and high-end intelligence. Yet this form of conventional warfare was used against a small, densely populated area, with no proper military, and largely controlled by Israel itself.
How did Israel arrive at this radical shift in strategy? And how has it shaped the most recent war being fought in Gaza? In The Wars Before the War, Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli veterans dedicated to exposing the truth of their country's actions, traces its evolution and shows how the Gaza Strip is treated as an independent hostile state with an enemy army and as a conventional battlefield free of civilians.
Drawing on soldiers' testimonies, Palestinian accounts, and military publications, The Wars Before the War offers a high-resolution view of how and why Israel has wreaked havoc on Gaza. Gripping and revelatory, The Wars Before the War is essential reading for all those concerned about the future of Palestine and Israel.
In December 2008, when Israeli forces launched Operation Cast Lead, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip thought they knew what to expect. But it was unlike any previous incursion: the scale of forces deployed, the extent of firepower, and the resulting death and destruction were unprecedented. This was the start of a new era in Israel's approach to Gaza. Incursions would be conducted as all-out wars, involving artillery fire and missiles, navy and air force, and high-end intelligence. Yet this form of conventional warfare was used against a small, densely populated area, with no proper military, and largely controlled by Israel itself.
How did Israel arrive at this radical shift in strategy? And how has it shaped the most recent war being fought in Gaza? In The Wars Before the War, Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli veterans dedicated to exposing the truth of their country's actions, traces its evolution and shows how the Gaza Strip is treated as an independent hostile state with an enemy army and as a conventional battlefield free of civilians.
Drawing on soldiers' testimonies, Palestinian accounts, and military publications, The Wars Before the War offers a high-resolution view of how and why Israel has wreaked havoc on Gaza. Gripping and revelatory, The Wars Before the War is essential reading for all those concerned about the future of Palestine and Israel.
Details
05 March 2026288 pages
9781785127724Imprint: Ithaka
