New Delhi: Two years after Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023 assault ignited the Gaza inferno, Israel stands as a military colossus — yet perilously isolated.
The paradox is stark: a nation that has crushed foes with unyielding force now grapples with a diplomatic wilderness, where global outrage over civilian tolls threatens to erode its bedrock Western support.
On the battlefield, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have delivered devastating blows. Hamas fighters lie in the thousands, its infamous ‘Metro’ tunnel labyrinth in ruins, and Iran-backed proxies like Hezbollah are crippled. According to a recent Wall Street Journal analysis, Israel emerges as the Middle East’s unchallenged hegemon, its deterrence power amplified. “No repeat of October 7 will be tolerated,” affirm defence experts, hailing this as a short-term triumph that safeguards borders.
However, the shadow of victory remains significant. Over 69,000 Palestinian deaths and a humanitarian catastrophe have flipped international sentiment. At the UN Security Council, ceasefire bids pile up, forcing the US to veto repeatedly — standing alone against 14 nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decries Gaza as a “killing field” trapping civilians in endless death spirals.
Western allies waver.
Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez accuses Israel of “genocidal erasure” of a defenceless populace. France’s Emmanuel Macron slammed August’s Gaza expansion as a “looming catastrophe” fuelling “total devastation”, post his nation’s Palestinian state recognition. Britain’s Keir Starmer, after September’s nod to Palestine, condemned aid blockades and disproportionate force as “unforgivable”, stoking extremism. Even Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns that such actions erode “Western values”, insisting self-defence can’t justify slaughter.
This backlash imperils Israel’s lifeline: US arms, intel, and diplomatic shields. With anti-Israel tides rising in American and European streets, experts warn of a perceptual shift — from victim to aggressor. “Militarily, Hamas is beaten; morally, Israel is losing the war for hearts and minds,” notes one analyst. This could pose a significant threat if the leadership changes or public pressure increases.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces home-front fires too: hostage families’ fury, army brass rifts, and societal rifts imperil his grip. Amid stalled Egypt-brokered hostage-ceasefire talks, Israel’s crossroads demands a pivot — from raw might to nuanced diplomacy. In Gaza’s ashes, the real battle is for relevance: lose the West, and even titans fall.