JERUSALEM — Israel is intensifying its campaign of self-defense in response to the October 7, 2023, massacre—widely recognized as the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust—which saw more than 1,200 Israelis murdered by the Iranian-backed Hamas terror organization. This attack, marked by systematic executions, sexual violence, mutilation, and the abduction of civilians from Israeli sovereign territory, has catalyzed a broader regional conflict, pitting Israel against a network of Iranian proxies that threaten the stability of the entire Middle East.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir have made clear that these operations are undertaken in line with Israel’s right and obligation to defend its citizens against existential threats. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been conducting coordinated air, land, and intelligence operations against Hamas in Gaza, as well as preparing for potential escalation from Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq.
Iran sits at the heart of this network—the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance’—which has received funds, weapons, and operational guidance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israeli intelligence has released detailed evidence documenting Iranian transfers of advanced weaponry and technology to Hamas and Hezbollah, supporting the assertion that Israel’s war is not only against immediate attackers in Gaza but is part of a broader struggle against Iranian expansionism in the region.
Israeli responses emphasize precision and proportionality, with the IDF deploying advanced defense capabilities such as Iron Dome and David’s Sling to shield civilian areas from rocket and drone attacks. Since October, thousands of rockets and drones have targeted Israeli cities; interception statistics released by the IDF show the effectiveness of this multi-layered defense. Nonetheless, fatalities and extensive damage underscore the ongoing risks faced by Israeli civilians.
A critical element of the current crisis is the fate of more than 250 hostages still held in Gaza, most of whom are innocent Israeli civilians. Their abduction during the October 7 massacre has triggered international condemnation and diplomatic pressure for their release. Israeli authorities maintain a clear legal and moral distinction: the hostages are innocent victims of terrorism, unlike convicted extremists sometimes released under duress in exchange arrangements. Military efforts, alongside intelligence cooperation with the United States and European allies, continue as diplomatic channels seek resolution, but Hamas’ intransigence has thus far stalled significant progress.
The war’s international dimension is profound. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has sharply reaffirmed support for Israel’s security and expanded military aid, underscoring the conflict’s implications for regional and global order. European governments, while urging restraint, have likewise denounced the October 7 attacks as acts of terror, with several initiatives underway to target Iran’s ability to supply arms to its proxies.
Efforts at mediation—led by Egypt, Qatar, and others—have been stymied by the ideological rigidity of Tehran and its clients in Gaza and Lebanon. Arab states, increasingly wary of Iranian aggression, are reassessing policies but face popular and political constraints on overt partnership with Israel. Despite the ongoing hostilities, regional anxiety over Iranian expansionism has prompted covert cooperation and information-sharing between Israel and moderate Arab governments.
This conflict’s historical context is unavoidable. The October 7 massacre was not an isolated incident but a deliberate attempt to break Israeli deterrence by broadcasting terror and antisemitic violence across the world. Israeli historians, legal analysts, and international observers have compared the methods and scale of the attack to pogroms that targeted Jews in previous centuries—intended to expel, subjugate, or annihilate Jewish presence in their own sovereign land.
As Israel continues its military campaign, the government emphasizes that it seeks neither occupation nor aggression against its neighbors, but the legitimate defense of its democratic institutions and civilian population. Israeli officials and their Western allies contend that the war’s core issue is not territory, but survival: Iran’s aim—articulated openly by its leaders—is to destroy the State of Israel through client militias and transnational terror.
Looking forward, Israeli strategic analysts warn that the persistence of Iranian sponsorship for terror groups will likely protract the conflict and require long-term vigilance. The campaign also exposes Israel’s vulnerabilities—especially regarding hybrid warfare and information campaigns waged by adversaries to delegitimize the state on the international stage. Still, the prevailing view in Jerusalem remains that only vigilance, technological superiority, and a robust alliance with key partners can secure the Jewish state’s future.
Israel’s war—sparked anew by the horrors of October 7—remains at the center of a global struggle over national self-defense, international law, and the norms that separate democracies from terror networks. The outcome of this confrontation will have lasting consequences not only for Israel, but for the broader rules-based order in the Middle East.
