After nearly two years of war on Gaza and the surrounding region, Israel has demonstrated overwhelming superiority in both military and intelligence capabilities, backed by near-total support from the United States. This power allowed it to inflict substantial damage on its enemies—but not to declare a decisive or clear victory.
Crushing Superiority, Yet No Triumph
From the first moments of the war, Israel’s leadership aimed to erase the psychological shock and strategic failure it suffered during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023. Its propaganda sought to overwrite that day’s humiliation with new military campaigns designed to reshape the regional map, reviving the old Zionist vision of a “New Middle East.”
Internally, Israel’s sense of existential threat deepened, pushing its army and intelligence services to adopt a new doctrine: no longer merely deterring threats, but annihilating them before they emerge, and with maximum brutality. This shift gave rise to a deliberate policy of collective punishment against Gaza’s civilians—what many international observers have rightly called genocide.
Tens of thousands have been martyred, with many more wounded or permanently displaced. Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, and the Palestinian resistance has sustained serious human and material losses. Israel imposed an all-encompassing blockade, engineered a starvation campaign, and forcibly displaced much of the population, hoping to pave the way for a mass expulsion plan, under the cover of U.S. diplomatic protection.
Wider Fronts: Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and Syria
- In Lebanon, Israel launched a devastating war against Hezbollah, using assassination campaigns and high-profile airstrikes to kill senior political and military figures, including former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, whose symbolic and strategic weight had long frustrated Israel.
- Hundreds of air raids targeted Hezbollah’s strategic missiles, followed by an unfavourable ceasefire agreement that gave Israel free rein to bomb and assassinate within Lebanon. Pressure was ramped up on the Lebanese public to demand Hezbollah’s disarmament, particularly south of the Litani River.
- In Iran, Israel conducted coordinated attacks during the “12-Day War,” including assassinations, airspace violations, and U.S.-assisted strikes on nuclear sites and air defence systems.
- In Yemen, Israel repeatedly bombed vital targets such as Hudaydah Port, attempting to cripple its strategic capabilities, while continuing aerial strikes and attempted assassinations.
- In Syria, despite the absence of direct threats, Israel unilaterally nullified the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, occupied new territory, seized water resources, and struck near the presidential palace. It openly threatened President Ahmad Shar’a, declared support for sectarian minorities, and warned of national fragmentation.
An Apparent Victory—But Not a Real One
At first glance, all this destruction gives the impression that Israel has soundly defeated its enemies and redrawn the map of the region by sheer force. That is precisely the illusion Israeli propaganda seeks to promote, for both domestic morale and international perception.
But the truth is far more complex.
Gaza: Still Resisting
Despite unimaginable losses, Gaza remains the epicentre of resistance. The blockade is total, international support is scarce, and yet Al-Qassam Brigades continue to fight. They have adapted militarily, structurally, and tactically—conducting operations, inflicting losses on Israeli forces, and even attempting to capture more soldiers.
Crucially, the resistance still holds Israeli prisoners, a powerful negotiating card that proves it remains unbroken and forces Israel to engage with it, not eliminate it.
Lebanon: No Surrender
Despite suffering losses, Hezbollah has not surrendered. While it showed surprising flexibility regarding its arms south of the Litani, it remains far from disarmament. Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun insists on internal dialogue, not confrontation.
Hezbollah’s current Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, declared that the group has recovered much of its capability and is ready to escalate if necessary.
Iran: Strategic Patience
Iran absorbed the initial blow and launched a counter-strategy of attrition, targeting sensitive Israeli infrastructure. Its missiles imposed new deterrence equations that forced Netanyahu to seek a ceasefire after the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Reports suggest Iran’s nuclear project was not fully destroyed, and with political will, could resume with even greater speed.
Yemen: Resilience Amid Silence
Ironically, the least targeted front—Yemen—is the most active today. The Houthis continue to speak with escalating boldness, threatening to escalate attacks against Israel in response to the deliberate starvation of Gaza’s population.
So Why No Israeli Victory?
Israel’s military dominance—built by decades of U.S. support—enables it to destroy cities, assassinate leaders, and infiltrate enemy systems. But none of that has led to a true victory.
Israel now attempts to frame the scale of destruction it caused as proof of victory. Some in the international community echo this view—whether out of ignorance, humanitarian despair, or political bias.
But that framing is false.
This is not to downplay the martyrdom, suffering, or displacement of Palestinians. Nor is it to dismiss Israel’s capacity for destruction. Rather, it is to highlight that military damage is only one factor in evaluating war outcomes, and not always the most important.
History is full of nations and resistance movements that suffered greater losses but emerged victorious. For resistance movements fighting foreign occupation, this truth applies even more.
Moreover, Israel’s excessive violence—especially against civilians—is not accidental. It is meant to manipulate perception, to build a deceptive narrative of success.
Even now, the war is far from over. Its outcomes remain unresolved, and its fuse remains lit. Netanyahu and his extremist coalition have openly expressed intentions for further aggression.
Final Reflections
The more one side shows willingness to negotiate or pause the fighting, the more aggressive Israel becomes. This has been true in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
And despite all efforts to bury it, the events of October 7, 2023, remain alive. Their impact has not faded, and their long-term consequences are still unfolding.
Whether we are in the final moments of this round of war—or just the start of a new chapter—one thing is clear:
Now is not the time to retreat or compromise.
To allow Israel’s humanitarian crimes to be reframed as strategic victories would be an unforgivable mistake. The priority today must be to strengthen resistance, build leverage, and escalate international pressure on Israel, not the other way around.
