Since last year, the Israeli military and particularly the political echelons “have become more promiscuous” with how many human casualties they can tolerate, Daniel Seidemann, a specialist on Israeli-Palestinian relations, tells Al Jazeera.

“Any military operation requires proportionality. What we witnessed in Gaza and Lebanon and engagement with Unifil, it goes well beyond any reasonable interpretation of what proportionality is. These are unnecessary casualties,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that a ceasefire is desperately needed.

“But my government is not interested in a diplomatic solution, my prime minister has a vested interest in prolonging the war.”