Israel’s military might has flattened Gaza, but not Hamas.
The resistance remains alive, its ideology more entrenched than ever among
Palestinians who have nothing left to lose. Israel’s massive bombardment of
homes, hospitals, and schools has not eradicated militancy — it has multiplied
it.
The claim of “self-defense” now rings hollow in a world that
has seen unarmed civilians buried under rubble and children starved by
blockades. The war has exposed not strength, but Israel’s insecurity and moral
bankruptcy.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, clinging to power through fear and
militarism, has turned Israel into a pariah. Once viewed as a “democracy under
threat,” Israel is now increasingly seen as an occupying force addicted to
impunity.
Western governments still offer rhetorical support, but
their streets tell a different story — millions protesting against Israel’s
brutality and questioning their leaders’ complicity.
The regional fallout is equally severe. The Abraham Accords
lie in political ruins, Arab regimes have distanced themselves, and Iran’s
proxies have gained renewed legitimacy. Instead of isolating Hamas, Israel has
isolated itself. The Arab world, once divided, now finds a common cause again —
Palestine.
Economically, the war has drained Israel’s resources, scared
away investors, and dented its global tech-driven image. The cost of perpetual
war is beginning to show on Israel’s economy and psyche alike.
Two years on, Israel has neither peace nor security — only
international condemnation and deep moral scars. Its military triumphs have
yielded strategic emptiness.
Gaza lies in ruins, but Israel’s reputation lies beside it —
shattered and unredeemable. In the long run, a state cannot bomb its way to
legitimacy.
Israel’s real existential dilemma is not Hamas, but its own
refusal to accept that lasting security can only be built on justice, not
occupation.
