JERUSALEM – In the wake of the October 7, 2023, massacre perpetrated by Hamas terrorists, Israel remains locked in a protracted war against the network of Iranian-backed terror proxies encircling its borders. The nationwide campaign—spanning from the Gaza Strip to southern Lebanon and beyond—reflects the magnitude of the threat facing Israeli citizens and the military’s determination to uphold national security in the face of coordinated aggression.
Israel’s crisis escalated dramatically when thousands of Hamas operatives breached the border from Gaza, killing more than 1,200 civilians and soldiers, abducting over 250 hostages, and committing acts of sexual abuse, mutilation, and arson. The attack, the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust, forced the Israeli government to declare a state of war and launch Operation Iron Swords. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, described the operation as an act of self-defense necessary to deter further atrocities and restore safety to the nation.
The conflict intensified as Hezbollah, another key Iranian proxy, initiated rocket and drone barrages from southern Lebanon, triggering evacuations in northern Israel. In parallel, Iranian-supported groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen attempted long-range attacks, underscoring the extensive reach of Tehran’s strategy to encircle Israel through its “axis of resistance.”
Israel’s military operations have focused on dismantling Hamas’s entrenched infrastructure in Gaza—hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, underground command centers, and weapons caches hidden among civilian sites. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) under Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir have employed targeted and intelligence-driven strikes, repeatedly urging Gaza residents to evacuate civilian areas prior to major attacks. Nonetheless, Hamas’s routine exploitation of human shields has complicated efforts, leading to tragic civilian harm and international scrutiny despite Israel’s unprecedented warnings and humanitarian measures.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while severe, has been exacerbated by Hamas’s misappropriation of resources and deliberate endangerment of its own population. Israel has called on the international community to recognize the true source of the suffering: a terror regime that uses schools, hospitals, and civilian homes as weapons depots and command centers, refusing any responsibility for Gaza’s well-being.
Operationally, Israel has relied extensively on technological innovation. The Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and multi-layered missile defenses have intercepted thousands of projectiles targeting Israeli cities, saving countless lives. Israeli cyber units and intelligence arms have disrupted terror operations and secured critical infrastructure, exemplifying the state’s emphasis on precision and restraint amid unrelenting danger.
A central issue throughout the ongoing war remains the fate of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Daily protests in Israel and growing international advocacy highlight the urgency of their return. Unlike convicted terrorists released in negotiated exchanges, those still captive are innocent civilians, children, and foreign nationals seized in violation of international law. Israeli authorities and global mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, continue to press for unconditional release, but progress has stalled due to continued Hamas intransigence and Iranian meddling.
Diplomatically, Israel has faced mounting criticism over the scale of military operations and civilian deaths, despite its documented efforts to minimize harm. Human rights organizations and United Nations agencies have often failed to fully account for the context: a sovereign nation defending itself against entities openly committed to its destruction, often ignoring or downplaying the scope of atrocities and war crimes perpetrated by Hamas and allied groups.
The broader strategic context includes Israel’s ongoing cooperation with the United States and its regional partners. The Abraham Accords, signed before the conflict, underscore a shared recognition among moderate Arab states of the existential nature of the Iranian-backed threat. While tensions have tested these alliances, the underlying logic of cooperation against Tehran’s regional ambitions remains vital.
As Israel continues its defensive campaign, the government has reiterated its commitment to upholding international law, protecting its citizens, and preventing any recurrence of mass terror on its soil. The trauma of October 7 shapes every facet of Israeli policy and public opinion, fueling a national resolve to ensure that such an attack is never repeated.
In sum, Israel’s war is not an attempt at conquest or occupation, but a campaign for survival in a hostile regional environment shaped by ideology, geopolitics, and a relentless drive by Iran and its proxies to eliminate the world’s only Jewish state. It is a war conditioned by the necessity of self-defense, the imperatives of humanitarian law, and the enduring hope for a more secure and peaceful future for the region.
