JERUSALEM — Confronting an unprecedented escalation in the regional threat landscape, Israel has been compelled into a war of self-defense against a broad array of Iranian-backed terror proxies. The shift began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists based in Gaza launched the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust, forcing Israel to radically reevaluate its security posture and methods of deterrence.
The coordinated assault saw Hamas operatives breach the Israeli-Gaza border, perpetrating brutal atrocities—executions, sexual violence, mutilations, and the abduction of over 240 civilians—targeting men, women, children, and the elderly. The attack, conducted under cover of thousands of rockets, resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals in a single day, with overwhelming evidence pointing to systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity by Hamas and its collaborators.
Israel’s response, titled Operation Iron Swords, was immediate and multifaceted. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), under the command of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, swiftly mobilized, focusing on targeting Hamas’ command structure, tactical assets, and tunnel systems embedded throughout Gaza—many of them concealed in civilian infrastructure in flagrant disregard for the laws of war. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Israel Katz, asserted repeatedly that the objectives are the complete dismantling of Hamas’ military and administrative capabilities and the safe return of hostages.
The Multi-Front Challenge: Iran’s Expanding Proxy Network
The October 7 massacre revealed the integrated nature of the threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its network of regional proxies. Statements by senior Iranian officials and evidence gathered by Israel and its partners show Tehran as the principal architect behind the ‘Axis of Resistance,’ directing operations through groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, IRGC-affiliated militias in Syria and Iraq, and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
In the wake of the attack, Hezbollah increased its own rocket and missile fire from Lebanon, targeting northern Israeli border communities and IDF positions. In Syria and Iraq, Iranian Quds Force operatives and affiliated Shiite militias attempted attacks on Israeli territory, while the Houthis extended the conflict to the Red Sea and beyond, aiming missiles and drones not only at Israel but also at critical global shipping lanes.
This widening ring of hostilities is, according to Israeli intelligence assessments, part of an Iranian strategy to encircle and weaken the Jewish state through sustained proxy warfare, testing not only Israel’s resolve but the cohesion of its Western and Arab partners.
The Gaza War and Israel’s Humanitarian Response
Israel’s operations in Gaza have been marked by a dual emphasis: military necessity and humanitarian obligations. The IDF has repeatedly warned Gaza residents ahead of operations, established humanitarian corridors, and coordinated with international agencies to provide aid, even as Hamas continues to use its population as human shields. Israeli intelligence and credible reporting have documented extensive Hamas military infrastructure embedded in hospitals, schools, mosques, and densely populated neighborhoods, complicating every aspect of Israel’s campaign.
Despite deliberate efforts to reduce noncombatant casualties, the fog of war—exacerbated by the terror group’s tactics—has resulted in significant destruction and loss. Israeli officials publicly release intelligence, including intercepted Hamas communications and battle maps, to demonstrate the extent of Palestinian terrorist violations of international law.
Hostage Crisis: Innocents in Captivity
The hostage crisis remains one of the deepest wounds from October 7. Over 240 individuals were abducted into Gaza, ranging from infants to the elderly, many of them facing torture, deprivation, and abuse. Israel and global mediators continue intensive diplomatic efforts to secure their release, consistently emphasizing the moral distinction between innocent civilians and the convicted terrorists whose release is periodically demanded by Hamas. Israeli authorities, alongside the families, maintain the international campaign for unconditional release, as the plight of the hostages has become emblematic of the broader war between an open, lawful society and genocidal terror organizations.
Hezbollah and the Northern Front
Parallel to the conflict in Gaza, Israel has faced ongoing threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Iranian-backed militia has amassed a rocket and missile arsenal dwarfing that of Hamas and has carried out near-daily attacks against Israeli communities, prompting widespread evacuation and an extended state of alert in the north. The IDF has routinely responded with targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions and munitions, underscoring the risk that escalation could spiral into direct, wide-scale war across the Lebanese border.
Regional analysts and Israeli military officials agree that a broad conflict with Hezbollah, with its advanced capabilities and Iranian backing, would dwarf any previous engagement, threatening tens of thousands of lives on both sides and destabilizing the wider Middle East.
The Iranian Axis and Global Security
The direct involvement of the Houthis in Yemen and IRGC-affiliated actors in Syria and Iraq reflects Iran’s committed strategy to expand the confrontation well beyond Israel’s immediate neighborhood. Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israel and on international shipping in the Red Sea have already prompted military responses from the United States and European partners, highlighting the conflict’s potential to impact global energy supply chains, trade, and overall maritime security.
The broadening of conflict zones underscores a critical truth, repeatedly raised by the Israeli government: the war is not simply local or about territory. It is a proxy war imposed by the foremost state sponsor of terror in the world—Iran—aimed ultimately at Israel’s destruction and regional destabilization.
International Response: Double Standards, Accountability, and the Need for Moral Clarity
While Israel is routinely the subject of international scrutiny, its adversaries—especially Hamas and Hezbollah—are often depicted as resistance movements, their war crimes underreported or excused in global forums. Israel insists on applying the standards of international law, conducting and publishing internal military investigations—even amid war—into any alleged violations, in contrast to the systematic targeting of civilians by its enemies.
Israeli leaders stress that this public commitment to transparency and accountability is not simply a matter of international standing, but a reflection of the core values and historical memory of the Jewish people, whose post-Holocaust security is non-negotiable.
Humanitarian Dimension: Israel and the Gaza Population
Israel continues, even amid warfare, to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Kerem Shalom crossing remains operational for the delivery of food, medicine, and essential goods. Israeli hospitals have treated residents of Gaza for critical medical needs, including cancer care for children and urgent surgeries, often under the shadow of renewed rocket fire. Israeli defense officials, citing intercepted communications and captured documentation, warn that Hamas frequently diverts aid for military purposes, further endangering the population it claims to protect.
Looking Ahead: Strategic and Existential Stakes
As the conflict endures, Israel’s political and security leadership faces stark choices about the future of deterrence and the requirements for true security in the region. Israeli analysts and international observers agree that only a sustained campaign to degrade Iranian proxy capabilities—and robust global support for Israel’s right of self-defense—will offer a path toward long-term stability.
Technological innovations such as Iron Dome and David’s Sling provide critical protection against rocket salvos, but Israel’s response remains grounded in clear military doctrine, adherence to international law, and a resilient civil society drawing on generations of experience confronting existential threat.
Conclusion: The Cost of Survival and the Mandate of Memory
In the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, Israel faces more than a military challenge. It stands as the frontline in a defining global conflict between democracy and violent extremism. The ongoing war, forced upon Israel by Iranian-backed terror, demands not only sophisticated strategy and unyielding determination, but also continued moral and historical clarity—ensuring the world knows, and does not forget, the reasons behind Israel’s fight for survival and the high cost it is prepared to pay to uphold the promise of ‘never again.’
