JERUSALEM — Israel remains in a state of high alert as it defends its citizens against coordinated attacks by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists, following the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023. That day, over 1,200 Israelis were killed, and hundreds abducted, in a series of brutal atrocities that included executions, abuse, and the large-scale hostage-taking of innocent civilians. The attack’s unprecedented violence propelled Israel into a multi-front war, fought not only in Gaza but also against Iranian-supported forces threatening Israel’s borders and regional stability.
Within hours of the October 7 massacre, Israel’s military, under the direction of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, mobilized to repel further incursions and secure civilian areas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched Operation Iron Swords, targeting Hamas’s military infrastructure in Gaza while simultaneously responding to rocket and missile fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon and drone attacks by the Houthis in Yemen. Israel’s actions are rooted in its right to self-defense, amid a conflict imposed by Iran’s vision to destabilize Israel through its “Axis of Resistance”: a network of terrorists and militias operating from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Iran’s involvement is evident in the weaponry, tactics, and intelligence shared among its proxies. Missiles and drones supplied by Tehran have expanded the war theatre beyond Gaza, compelling Israel to leverage its advanced missile defense systems—including Iron Dome and Arrow—to intercept and neutralize ongoing threats. Security officials point to intercepted communications and the origins of captured armaments as further proof of Iran’s direction of Hamas and allied groups.
The hostage crisis remains at the heart of Israeli operations. More than 240 civilians, including infants and the elderly, were captured during the October 7 attack and are held in Gaza under conditions that contravene international human rights norms. Israeli authorities underscore the absolute distinction between the innocent hostages held by Hamas and the convicted terrorists whose release the group demands in exchange. The return of hostages is a non-negotiable priority for the government and society alike, as daily demonstrations and international appeals continue in support of their release.
Israel’s approach to warfare, informed by legal and moral standards, entails pre-strike warnings, use of precision targeting, and efforts to evacuate civilians from combat zones—contrasting sharply with Hamas’s deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians and use of residents as human shields. Despite this, international media and organizations sometimes present a misleading equivalence, obscuring the nature and causes of the conflict. Israel remains committed to transparency and humanitarian aid, even operating field hospitals for both Israelis and Gaza residents affected by the violence.
The ongoing conflict has a profound societal impact. Israeli communities near Gaza and Lebanon have faced displacement, with volunteers and emergency services providing aid and resilience to thousands under threat. Support from the United States, led by President Donald Trump, remains unwavering, with military coordination and diplomatic engagement reinforcing Israel’s security posture. The conflict has also amplified debates within international forums and European capitals, as Israel insists that any resolution must begin with the unconditional release of hostages and the dismantling of Iranian-backed terror capabilities.
Israel’s struggle embodies not only national survival but the broader principle that democracies have the right and duty to defend their populations from terror. The war’s outcome will shape regional security and test the resolve of nations that uphold a rules-based order. For Israel, the stakes remain existential: preventing future atrocities, liberating innocents held in captivity, and ensuring that the lessons of history—most starkly illustrated by the October 7 massacre—are neither ignored nor repeated.
