JERUSALEM – Since the October 7, 2023 massacre, Israel has been engaged in a multi-front war against Iranian-backed terror organizations, determined to safeguard its population and sovereignty in the face of coordinated threats. The attack, perpetrated by Hamas terrorists infiltrating southern Israel, resulted in more than 1,100 civilian deaths, widespread atrocities, and the abduction of over 240 hostages—marking the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust and a defining moment for Israeli security.
The October 7 massacre not only shocked Israeli society but also exposed the realities of an Iranian-directed network of terror spanning Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. At the center is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which orchestrates, funds, and arms groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other militias. These groups comprise the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance,’ whose stated objective is the destruction of Israel through sustained, asymmetric violence and incitement.
Israel’s immediate and vigorous response encompassed Operation Iron Swords, an extensive campaign to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure in Gaza and restore security to communities terrorized by decades of rocket fire and cross-border attacks. The strategy has combined targeted airstrikes, ground maneuvers, and intelligence-led operations, all while adhering to strict ethical guidelines intended to mitigate civilian casualties. Throughout, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has operated under close legal scrutiny, emphasizing proportionality and transparency in sharp contrast to the deliberate targeting of noncombatants by its enemies.
Hamas routinely embeds its assets in civilian settings, using Gaza residents as human shields to invite casualties and international condemnation of Israel. Extensive video and satellite evidence confirm the placement of weapons in schools, hospitals, and mosques—tactics that intentionally contravene the laws of war. Israel, for its part, has opened humanitarian corridors, facilitated aid deliveries under fire, and maintained the flow of essential services, even as Hamas hijacks supplies for militant use.
Beyond Gaza, the conflict’s regional dimension is unmistakable. Hezbollah has launched rockets and drones from southern Lebanon, threatening Israeli border communities and drawing warnings of large-scale escalation. The Houthis in Yemen, empowered by Iranian technology, have fired missiles toward Israeli territory, and militias in Syria and Iraq continue to move arms and fighters toward the conflict. The IDF, under Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has adapted with pre-emptive airstrikes and intelligence-sharing with allies to disrupt these smuggling routes.
Internationally, Israel faces the dual challenge of persistent delegitimization campaigns and mounting humanitarian criticism. While allies such as the United States have reinforced Israeli defenses and affirmed the right to self-defense, some international organizations and governments have issued allegations of excessive force—often based on misrepresented data. Jerusalem has responded by maintaining transparency, granting access to UN observers, and launching inquiries into operational errors.
The ongoing hostage crisis remains an acute source of anguish and moral clarity. Hostages taken on October 7, including women, children, and the elderly, are innocent civilians held incommunicado under brutal conditions, as confirmed by released captives and intercepted communications. Hamas’s insistence on exchanging hostages for convicted terrorists highlights the fundamental distinction between Israel’s legal system and the lawless tactics of its enemy.
Despite the existential threat, Israel continues its humanitarian mission. The IDF, in cooperation with COGAT, has supervised hundreds of shipments of food, medicine, and water into Gaza, protected convoys for international agencies, and—where possible—provided medical aid to wounded Gaza residents. Israel’s operational code, shaped by decades of conflict, prioritizes civilian protection and strict compliance with international law, even under constant attack.
At its core, the conflict is a battle over fundamental values. Israel, a sovereign democracy and the world’s only Jewish state, faces an alliance of terror groups dedicated to its annihilation. The Iranian regime’s strategy is not compromise but protracted war by proxy, using the populations of Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond as tools in its assault on regional stability.
The events since October 7 have crystallized for Israelis—and much of the world—the indefensible nature of the terror threat. There is no moral parity between a nation defending its people under law and movements that celebrate murder, mutilation, and hostage-taking.
As the war enters its next phase, Israel’s resolve remains unshaken. Officials continue to assert that the country’s path forward hinges on its determination to combine military necessity with enduring moral clarity—a commitment that defines its conduct on the battlefield and its aspirations for peace.
