Since the beginning, Tel Aviv has framed its military
operations as “defensive,” aimed at dismantling Hamas. But the scale and
duration of the campaign tell another story — one of collective punishment
rather than defense. Civilian areas, hospitals, and refugee camps have been
repeatedly struck, erasing the line between combatant and non-combatant.
The power imbalance is stark. Israel, equipped with one of
the world’s most advanced militaries, faces a besieged enclave surviving under
blockade. In such a context, claims of Hamas violating ceasefires seem less
credible and more like political cover for ongoing strikes. Each new round of
violence devastates Gaza further while bolstering Israel’s domestic narrative
of self-defense.
Globally, the reaction remains divided. Western powers still
defend Israel’s “right to protect itself,” while UN bodies and human rights
organizations warn of violations of international law. The destruction of
civilian infrastructure, denial of humanitarian aid, and use of starvation as a
weapon have drawn growing condemnation — yet no serious accountability follows.
Ironically, despite the prolonged war, Israel’s strategic
goals remain unfulfilled. Hamas has not been eradicated; instead, its symbolic
strength has grown amid Gaza’s suffering. Meanwhile, Israel’s moral and
diplomatic standing continues to erode.
By insisting that Hamas alone violates the ceasefire, Israel
attempts to retain moral high ground. But after 800 days of devastation, that
claim sounds increasingly hollow. The real question is not whether Hamas still
has the strength to fight — but whether Israel has the courage to stop a war
that has already lost its purpose.
