New Book Details Israeli Victories Since Oct. 7 Attack

A new book, "In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel's Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis," by Yonah Jeremy Bob and Elliot Kaufman, details a series of Israeli military achievements since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, while also examining critiques of various U.S. politicians' statements regarding the conflict.

Published in September 2026, the book highlights Israel's "total victory" war aims, which included the return of hostages, the elimination of Hamas, and the prevention of future attacks. The authors aim to remind readers of the successes Israel has achieved, even as the conflict has evolved over nearly three years.

Military Operations and Achievements

The book recounts significant Israeli actions, including a two-day operation in December 2024 that reportedly destroyed 70 percent of Syria's strategic military capabilities, following the toppling of Bashar Assad's regime. This operation is said to have eliminated chemical weapons, air-defense batteries, aircraft, drones, and other military assets, with a Syrian rebel commander suggesting it would take decades to rebuild.

In Gaza, the book details the deaths of key Hamas figures, including leader Yahya Sinwar, his brother Mohammed Sinwar, military chief Mohammed Deif, and political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh. In Lebanon, Israel reportedly killed Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr and overall leader Hassan Nasrallah, along with approximately twenty other commanders. The book cites Israeli defense forces as reporting the deaths of 3,851 Hezbollah terrorists and around 9,000 wounded.

On the Iranian front, the authors describe a joint effort by the U.S. and Israel that significantly impacted Iran's nuclear program and led to the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many of his top military commanders. Specific figures mentioned include IRGC commanders Hossein Salami and Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and IRGC intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi and his deputy.

The book also reports that Israel recovered 168 live hostages and the bodies of 87 deceased hostages from Gaza, accounting for all those believed to have been kidnapped.

Critiques of Political Statements

Beyond military operations, the book compiles statements made by Israeli and American politicians that the authors retrospectively view as questionable. Examples include former Israeli Defense Forces chief of staff Benny Gantz's 2018 prioritization of cyber and intelligence over ground forces, and John Kerry's citation of the Afghan army as a model for Palestinian security forces during his tenure as Secretary of State.

Kamala Harris is quoted as having studied maps prior to Israel's invasion of Rafah, incorrectly claiming there was no civilian evacuation route. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, is noted for a Foreign Affairs essay published just before the Oct. 7 attack, which claimed the Middle East was quieter due to Biden's policies and that crises had been de-escalated.

Authors' Analysis and Debates

The book explores internal discussions within Israel's war cabinet, including differences between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi. These discussions, along with dialogues with the U.S. administrations, are presented as shaping the outcomes of the conflict.

However, the authors' analysis of U.S. and global sentiment receives criticism within the source material. They suggest that widespread destruction in Gaza diminished Israel's global standing, a point with which the reviewer of the book disagrees. The reviewer argues that erosion of standing is more attributable to sophisticated social media campaigns by foreign actors and shifting social trends in the U.S., rather than solely the destruction in Gaza. The reviewer also challenges an author's note that claims Netanyahu harmed Israel's name by prolonging the war, pointing out that Hamas only agreed to disarm and return hostages in October 2025, suggesting that ending the war prematurely might not have served Israel's interests.