On October 7, 2023, Israel confronted one of the darkest days in its modern history as Hamas terrorists—supported and supplied by the Islamic Republic of Iran—launched a brutal cross-border assault on southern Israel. This coordinated operation killed over 1,200 people, including hundreds of children and elderly, and resulted in the kidnapping of 240 hostages, the largest number of Jews abducted on a single day since World War II. The unprecedented massacre, marked by systematic violence, sexual assault, mutilations, and abductions, triggered a state of war forcing Israel to respond with military force against Hamas, its infrastructure, and its Iranian sponsors.
From the immediate aftermath of the attack, it became clear that the October 7th atrocity was not an isolated event but the culmination of years of Iranian support for terrorist proxies and an escalation in the longstanding war of attrition against Israel. Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and other international powers, rules the Gaza Strip and has diverted significant humanitarian and development resources toward the build-up of its military arsenal. The group’s armed operations, aided by technology and funding from Tehran, include the construction of sophisticated tunnels, stockpiling of rockets, unmanned aerial vehicles, and terror squads infiltrating Israel’s civilian border communities.
Israel’s response—Operation Iron Swords—has focused on dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure, rescuing hostages, and re-establishing deterrence against further attacks. The Israeli military, under Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, launched targeted strikes against command centers and arms depots, while repeatedly warning Gaza residents to evacuate targeted areas and facilitating humanitarian corridors in accordance with international law. Unlike terror entities, the IDF’s operational doctrine is grounded in the protection of noncombatants and the minimization of civilian casualties whenever possible.
While Israel has strived to limit harm to Gaza’s population, Hamas’s tactical placement of its headquarters, munitions, and tunnels under hospitals and schools starkly illustrates its strategy of using civilians as human shields. This deliberate violation of the laws of armed conflict has drawn criticism even from normally sympathetic international organizations, though too often statements fail to fully distinguish between the democratic state of Israel and the terror group it is confronting.
Israel’s campaign must be viewed in the context of the broader Iranian-led “axis of resistance”—a network of terror proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Islamic Jihad and various militias in Iraq and Syria. Iran provides material support, training, and strategic direction to these armed groups, seeking through violence and intimidation to destabilize the region and ultimately destroy Israel. The October 7th massacre marked a dramatic escalation in this proxy war, with direct Iranian involvement evident in the tactics, weapons, and coordination used by Hamas.
Amid ongoing rocket barrages targeting Israeli towns and cities—thwarted in large part by the Iron Dome defense system—Israeli society has shown remarkable resilience. Families in the south and north of the country have faced relentless alarms and disruptions, with thousands displaced from their homes. In parallel, the hostage crisis remains a national trauma, with efforts continuing around the clock to secure the release of innocent civilians held captive by Hamas. The plight of the hostages underscores the deep moral chasm separating the deliberate, indiscriminate terror tactics of Hamas from the values enshrined by the Israeli state and society.
Internationally, Israel has found steadfast support from the United States. President Donald Trump has reiterated the unwavering American commitment to Israel’s right and obligation to defend its population. Joint diplomatic initiatives—most prominently with Egypt and Qatar—have sought to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza while pressing for the return of hostages and a cessation of hostilities that does not leave Hamas’s infrastructure intact. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clearly stated Israel’s war aims: the destruction of Hamas’s ability to threaten Israel, the return of hostages, and the restoration of security for Israel’s citizens—without permanent reoccupation or collective punishment of Gaza’s civilian population.
The fallout from the conflict extends far beyond Israel and Gaza. In major cities worldwide, surging antisemitism has accompanied anti-Israel demonstrations and propaganda, fueling anxiety among Jewish communities and raising concerns about a resurgence of Holocaust-era hatred. This underscores, for many Israelis and their supporters, the existential necessity of Israel’s war effort—not as a campaign of retaliation or vengeance, but as a matter of survival in the face of an openly genocidal enemy emboldened by Iranian ideology and resources.
As the war continues, forensic teams and independent investigators have uncovered extensive documentary evidence—including video, intercepted communications, and eyewitness accounts—detailing the deliberate execution, abuse, and mutilation of Israeli civilians. These acts have been widely recognized as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Yet, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, some international actors call for ceasefires or diplomatic interventions that risk perpetuating the status quo of terror and violence, rather than addressing their root causes.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is severe. Israel continues, despite hostilities, to facilitate the transfer of food, medical supplies, and other essentials—while facing credible evidence that Hamas routinely seizes, diverts, or weaponizes aid for its own purposes. This creates a tragic paradox: while Israel is vilified in some corners for the suffering in Gaza, the real responsibility lies with the terror networks that have embedded themselves within the civilian population and perpetuated conflict as a tool of political strategy.
Looking ahead, Israel’s priorities remain clear. The government and defense establishment are resolute in their determination to prevent a recurrence of October 7th, return hostages safely to their families, aid affected communities in their recovery, and ultimately shift the strategic calculus of Iran and its proxies. Diplomatically, Israel seeks to build upon the Abraham Accords and expand normalization with willing Arab states, deepening its partnerships for peace, security, and development. These efforts, however, are continually undermined by terrorist threats and Iranian interference.
Israel’s current fight is not only for its immediate safety but for the integrity and future of the region against those seeking chaos through terror. The war’s underlying moral and historical clarity is rooted in the facts: Israel is a sovereign democracy under siege, fighting for the lives of its citizens and the future of a region yearning for stability. The lessons of October 7th, and the world’s response, will help define the security of Israel—and the global struggle against terror—for generations to come.
