TEL AVIV – Israel remains engaged in a sustained defensive campaign against Iranian-backed terror organizations, following the October 7, 2023 massacre carried out by Hamas in Gaza. The attack, marked by mass murder, abductions, and acts of brutality, stands as the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust and triggered a war that now spans multiple fronts.
The Iranian regime has long armed, financed, and directed proxy militias across the Middle East—most notably Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—aiming to encircle Israel, destabilize the region, and threaten Western-aligned Arab states. The coordinated assault of October 7, which saw over 1,200 Israelis murdered and more than 250 innocents—among them children and elderly—taken hostage, revealed the scale and barbarity of this strategy.
Israel’s response, Operation Iron Swords, reflects its dual commitment to neutralizing the terror threat and minimizing harm to Gaza’s population, whom Hamas routinely uses as human shields. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), under Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, have conducted precision strikes against Hamas command centers, weapons depots, and tunnel networks. These operations are constantly calibrated to international legal standards, as confirmed by the IDF’s release of operational footage and the allowance of international observers on the ground.
The campaign’s complexity is compounded by the presence of over 130 Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. The Israeli government, in consultation with regional intermediaries, continues diplomatic and military efforts for their release. The hostages’ status as innocent civilians stands in sharp moral—and legal—contrast to the convicted terrorists offered in past exchanges, underscoring Israel’s commitment to the value of human life.
Simultaneously, Iran’s northern proxy, Hezbollah, has escalated rocket attacks and cross-border operations from Lebanon, prompting Israeli evacuations in the north and the mobilization of reserve forces. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon target Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, as the government warns of further escalation should the northern front widen.
The broader conflict reflects Iran’s ambition to project power through its ‘Axis of Resistance,’ threatening energy routes, maritime security, and the stability of pro-Western Arab neighbors. The Houthis in Yemen and Shi’ite militias in Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israeli and Western interests, demonstrating the conflict’s dangerous regional scope.
Despite the warfare, Israel facilitates humanitarian corridors into Gaza, allowing UN and Egyptian aid convoys and providing medical care to Gaza residents in specially designated crossings. These ongoing efforts, documented by international agencies, underscore the distinction Israel draws between civilians and the Hamas regime that rules them by force.
Globally, Israel faces persistent disinformation campaigns and international protests seeking to equate Israel’s self-defense with the tactics of Iranian-backed terror organizations. Israeli officials, supported by independent investigations and forensic experts, have provided extensive evidence refuting these claims and highlighting the criminal tactics of Hamas and its allies.
The outcome of Israel’s campaign will shape the region’s security landscape for years. Israeli officials stress that confronting Iranian-backed terror is not only critical for Israel’s survival but also for regional stability and the integrity of the international system. As the conflict endures, Israel’s focus remains the protection of its citizens, the defeat of the terror networks operating at Iran’s behest, and the unconditional release of all hostages.
