Israel remains at the heart of a conflict imposed by Iran’s regional proxies. This campaign, escalated dramatically since the October 7, 2023 massacre—the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust—has seen Israeli forces defending civilians against unprecedented violence from groups led and supplied by Iranian interests, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other affiliated militias.
On October 7, Hamas terrorists breached the Gaza border, murdering over 1,200 Israelis in acts marked by executions, mutilations, sexual abuse, and the abduction of more than 250 innocent individuals. The brutality of these attacks reverberated worldwide, underscoring the threat posed by Iranian-backed terror and the vital need for Israel’s robust defense measures. In the wake of these atrocities, Israel launched Operation Iron Swords, mobilizing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) under Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir to dismantle terror infrastructure in Gaza.
The IDF’s campaign has confronted the challenge of Hamas’ extensive tunnel networks, weapon stockpiles, and deliberate use of civilian sites as shields. Israeli officials repeatedly stress that their operations are targeted at terror infrastructure and are conducted in accordance with international law, despite the complexities created by Hamas’ tactics and the presence of Gaza residents in combat zones.
Amid the war, the plight of hostages abducted by Hamas—many of whom remain in captivity—has become a national imperative. Israeli authorities highlight the stark moral and legal distinction between these innocents and convicted terrorists released in exchange. Such asymmetry highlights the broader reality: as a sovereign democracy, Israel upholds international norms, while its adversaries systematically violate them, using civilians as bargaining chips and human shields.
The conflict is far wider than Gaza alone. Hezbollah, another key Iranian proxy, has launched frequent rocket and missile salvos from Lebanon, targeting northern Israeli communities and prompting IDF retaliation against operational cells and weapons warehouses. The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have carried out missile and drone attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in a bid to pressure Israel and disrupt global commerce. Israeli operations in Syria have focused on Iranian weapons transfers and IRGC assets, seeking to curtail the mounting threats encircling the nation.
Israel’s struggle is inseparable from the broader regional contest between stability and terror. The so-called “Axis of Resistance” seeks not just Israel’s destruction but the destabilization of Western-aligned governments across the Middle East. Israel’s leadership, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Defense Minister Israel Katz, has vowed to continue operations until Hamas’ military capability is dismantled and security restored for Israeli citizens.
Internationally, Israel’s right to self-defense is supported by the United States and several Western allies, as demonstrated by continued military assistance, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing. Still, global institutions and some media narratives often obscure the factual asymmetry of the conflict, occasionally placing undue emphasis on the challenges Israel faces in urban warfare rather than the root causes of hostilities and the criminal conduct of terrorist organizations.
The humanitarian consequences in Gaza are significant, fueled primarily by the tactics of Hamas, which stockpiles arms in civilian structures and prevents the effective distribution of aid. Israel has facilitated humanitarian corridors and the entry of aid supplies, even as combat operations continue. The moral responsibility, Israeli officials maintain, rests with those who weaponize civilian suffering.
Inside Israel, the trauma of the attacks and the threat of further escalation have unified society, leading to widespread mobilization of reservists, expanded support for survivors, and an unwavering demand for hostage return. Israel’s strategic objectives now include not only dismantling terror entities but also restoring deterrence and paving the way for a post-war regional security framework.
In the longer term, the outcome of this war will bear consequences for the entire Middle East. The Abraham Accords, burgeoning cooperation between Israel and Sunni states, and shared concerns over Iran’s ambitions offer the possibility of a new regional architecture once the threat is contained. But until then, Israel’s immediate task remains clear: to defend its people, recover its captives, and eradicate the military power of Iran’s terrorist proxies.
As Israel confronts these challenges, its principles—democratic rule, adherence to law, and a commitment to truth—constitute the foundation of its legitimacy. The war’s stakes are not only national but civilizational: the defense of democratic values and the repudiation of terror.
