Last weekend, Israel committed a tragic error in the field. According to Israel's own account, a precision munition launched by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) hit a designated Hamas target in the congested Gaza city of Rafah, only to see shrapnel ignite a fuel tank close to a constellation of tents where Palestinian refugees were staying. The result was a bloodbath; 45 people, including women and children, died from the large blaze. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a man loathe to admit fault, had to concede that a "tragic mishap" occurred. The global response was one of anger and disbelief.

This specific incident was a microcosm of the entire war in Gaza, which will enter its eight month in a few weeks. Ultimately, civilians pay the dearest price. The second biggest-loser is Israel, whose international reputation has taken a big hit, even if the war itself was justified after Hamas' barbaric assault on Oct. 7. Even former President Donald Trump, who gave Netanyahu pretty much everything he asked for (recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, for instance) said Israel is losing the public relations battle.

Yet the gory death toll last weekend is nothing compared to what Israel will face in Gaza over the long-term. The territory is for all intents and purposes flattened. The World Bank and the United Nations estimate that damage to........

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