Leftist politician and former National Security Council Deputy Head Eran Etzion took to X to criticise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the ongoing Middle East conflict, marking 300 days since the war with Hamas began.

Etzion's post claimed that Israel possesses a "severe, multi-dimensional strategic disadvantage" despite recent targeted actions including the assassination of Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, which the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) recently confirmed.

He accused Netanyahu of escalating the conflict to force Iran's direct involvement, aiming to compel US intervention, while claiming that the Prime Minister possessed a “lack of control” over the war's outcome.

“All the warmongers in the government, media, networks, and public need to answer one question: What is the realistic end state of the regional war you are encouraging?” Etzion wrote.

“What does the agreement that will end the war with Lebanon look like? What does the agreement that will end the war with Iran look like? You don't even have a convincing answer for "the day after" in Gaza, which is the simplest, smallest, and weakest of all these arenas...”

Etzion elaborated on the international context of the ongoing war, noting the weakened state of the American administration, Europe's focus on the Ukraine war, and Russia and China's interests in expanding global power through the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He pointed out Iran's strategic positioning within the Russian-Chinese-North Korean axis and its effective "Ring of Fire" proxy model.

Speaking on the tension with Iran, Etzion wrote: “Israel cannot "decide" Iran on its own. It is far beyond our capabilities in numbers.” The former NSC deputy claimed that “Although the recent incident in Tehran embarrassed Iran, it is not a strategic game-changer;” referring to the recent assassination of Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device that was secretly smuggled into his guesthouse in Tehran and not by an airstrike.

Aligned with the newly-launched Democrats political party, the left-leaning Etzion made no secret of his desire for Israel to enter new elections in an attempt to vote out what he considers an incompetent leader.

“The government is managed by a clearly unfit individual who knowingly endangers national security,” Etzion wrote of Netanyahu. “The government is composed of messianic figures, shirkers, corrupt individuals, cowards, and opportunists.”

Etzion’s criticism poses a major challenge for Israel’s prime minister. While he enjoyed some American and Israeli public approval following his address to the US Congress, he continues to face mounting pressure from opposition political party supporters and certain families of hostage members, all while facing a multi-front war.

With high-profile figures, including the former NSC deputy head, amplifying calls for new elections, Netanyahu is now facing the most challenging phase of his nearly 40-year political career.