According to the English section of webangah news Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, Israel’s Ministry of Finance is currently conducting a broad audit to assess the costs of military operations, including expenses related to the occupation of Gaza.
Israeli media report that neither the cabinet nor the Knesset have formally discussed the enormous costs associated with occupying Gaza. This expense places a heavy burden on Israel’s budget and economy. However,senior officials from both the Ministry of Finance and former high-ranking military financial officers acknowledge substantial spending required to sustain expanded warfare and control over Gaza. Simultaneously occurring, Israel’s cabinet approved this plan without debating its financial implications, focusing primarily on concerns about potential casualties among soldiers.
Channel 12 news estimates that if Israel’s planned military operation lasts less than three months-the timeline set by cabinet decision-the cost will be around 45 billion shekels. A simple calculation suggests that calling up reserve forces alone would cost approximately 7.5 billion shekels per month.
Besides mobilizing new troops in Gaza, additional expenses for ammunition, fuel, and other supplies are projected at between 12 to 15 billion shekels monthly. These figures are separate from Operation Gideon-related expenditures which have already reached at least 25 billion shekels.
The Unresolved Budget Crisis for Israel
Financial analysts in Israel emphasize that these estimates cover only costs directly tied to occupying Gaza City-they do not include expenses related to administering military governance there. The Israeli Ministry of Defence calculates annual governance costs for controlling Gaza at around 20 billion shekels. Consequently, experts writing in Yedioth Ahronoth view this occupation decision as a major fiscal challenge-especially amid delays in drafting Israel’s 2026 budget-and warn it could cause serious damage to the Israeli economy.
Senior officials from both finance and security agencies estimate mobilizing approximately 250,000 reservists will cost roughly 350 million shekels daily just for ammunition and equipment usage. According to their calculations, monthly operational expenses could reach between 10 and 11 billion shekels-with total spending projected between 30 and 50 billion shekels by year-end 2025.
These figures combined with governance costs may push total expenditures into an astronomical range between 120 and 180 billion shekels-likely forcing heavy tax increases alongside deep cuts across various government ministries’ services.
The Most Costly Cabinet Resolution
Economic analyst Hagai Amit warned in The Marker newspaper about severe economic consequences should Israel proceed with fully occupying hamas-held gaza Strip territory. He noted this cabinet decision ranks among the most expensive fiscal choices made during this war so far-and could impose an immense economic load on Israel’s treasury. According to Amit, while Operation Gideon’s two-month cost hovered near 25 billion shekels paid by taxpayers, fully controlling all five expected brigades throughout an estimated five-month campaign would likely double those amounts.
Journalist Gadi Leor from Yedioth Ahronoth similarly predicts full occupation would deal yet another major blow to Tel Aviv’s economy-costing taxpayers an estimated 120–180 billion shekels annually.
if deployed as planned, these war-related expenses are expected not only to reduce Israel’s credit rating but also significantly increase tax burdens on citizens while forcing cutbacks in essential public services such as healthcare, welfare programs, and education-all amid rising pressure on reserve soldiers and their families.
The cumulative expense for prior Israeli wars already stands near 300 billion shekels-all ultimately borne by settlers within Israeli controlled areas.
دیدگاهتان را بنویسید