Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will bring a proposal to Sunday’s cabinet meeting to officially rename the Gaza war “War of Rebirth,” symbolizing Israel’s national revival after Hamas’s October 7 massacre.
In a symbolic move marking the first cabinet meeting since the war’s end, the Israeli government is set to vote on renaming the “Swords of Iron” war to the “War of Rebirth” (Milhemet HaHitkansut), according to a Ynet report published Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, together with Defense Minister Israel Katz, has championed the new title for over a year, arguing that it captures both the unprecedented scale of the October 7 onslaught and the historic resurgence of Israel’s unity and strength that followed.
The draft resolution, already circulated among ministers, reads:
“The war that began on October 7, 2023, initiated by a murderous assault from the Gaza Strip and developed into a conflict across seven fronts, and whose temporary name was ‘Swords of Iron,’ shall henceforth be called ‘War of Rebirth.’”
From Tragedy to Transformation
The explanatory notes to the proposal emphasize that the October 7 Simchat Torah massacre — in which Hamas terrorists invaded from Gaza and murdered Israeli civilians of all ages — marked a national trauma that reshaped the country’s security and spirit.
“In the war that began on that date,” the document continues, “the IDF and Israel’s security forces operated across seven different fronts — Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, and Iraq. It is now proposed that the official name of the war be ‘War of Rebirth,’ reflecting the manner in which it began, its expansion into a campaign across seven fronts, and its significance as a milestone in the rebirth of the State of Israel.”
The phrase “Swords of Iron” was originally chosen as a temporary operational title when the war erupted. In practice, however, the term “War of Rebirth” has already appeared in recent months on government websites and IDF communications, signaling the shift toward a more enduring national narrative.
Netanyahu’s Vision: A National Renewal
For Netanyahu and Katz, the renaming is not mere semantics. It signifies what they call “Israel’s renewal through resilience” — the idea that, from the ashes of the Hamas atrocities, Israel has undergone a collective awakening in identity, military readiness, and national unity.
A senior government source said the prime minister views the title as “a declaration that Israel’s spirit and sovereignty were reborn through struggle.”
Opposition Criticism
Not everyone welcomed the move. Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the decision, posting on social media:
“You want ‘rebirth’? Start with something simple: apologize.”
Lapid’s remarks appeared to target Netanyahu personally, reflecting ongoing divisions over wartime decision-making and accountability.
Historical and Emotional Weight
The proposed name, “War of Rebirth,” echoes biblical and Zionist motifs of renewal, survival, and moral restoration after catastrophe. Analysts say the rebranding marks the government’s effort to frame October 7 not only as a tragedy but as a defining moment of resurgence — a rebirth of national unity and purpose.
If approved by the cabinet on Sunday, the new designation will replace “Swords of Iron” in all official government, military, and archival documents, ensuring that future generations remember the conflict as both a test and a turning point in Israel’s modern history.
