The October 7 attacks on Israel by Palestinian terror groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have drawn comparisons to major historical events like 9/11 and Pearl Harbor. The death toll in Israel is already higher than that of 9/11, and the element of surprise is arguably greater than at Pearl Harbor. These attacks have the potential to escalate into a broader conflict in the region and raise questions about Israel’s shadow conflict with Iran.
While some commentators dismiss the role of Iran in Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, it cannot be ignored. Hamas has received cash and political support from countries like Turkey and Qatar, but only Iran provides significant military and political support and openly pledges to destroy Israel. Iran’s involvement extends beyond material support, as it coordinates with other anti-Israel forces in the region through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its external operations wing, the Quds Force.
It is too early to determine whether Iran had a direct role in planning the October 7 attacks, but there are indications of coordination between Hamas and IRGC officials. Iranian leaders have expressed support for the attacks and have made it clear that they stand against Israel. Hezbollah, Iran’s key ally, has also backed the Hamas attacks but has limited its own involvement to a disputed territory rather than launching a full-scale conflict.
These attacks come as the Middle East has been moving towards diplomatic reconciliation, with countries like Syria and Iran restoring ties with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent speech made it clear that Iran remains staunchly opposed to Israel and predicts its eventual destruction. Palestinian leaders have also issued warnings to Arab countries seeking normalization with Israel, echoing Iran’s sentiments.
The Israeli government now faces a dilemma. Its long-held belief that it can ignore or manage the conflict with the Palestinians has proven to be a costly mistake. While Iran’s support for Palestinian violence remains a concern, it is Israel’s continued occupation and subjugation of Palestinians that allows this issue to persist. Aligning with Iran and resorting to terror will not bring positive outcomes for Palestinians. As long as Palestinians do not seek coexistence, the conflict will continue to fester. Israel and its people are not going anywhere, and a new strategy based on mutual coexistence is essential.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
