Oct. 7 has changed everything, 'Israel's' existence in doubt: WSJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Wall Street Journal
8 Apr 2024 06:37

A piece published in WSJ says the world turned upside down for "Israel", as it witnessed a fundamental shock that overturned its sense of security.

Protesters shout slogans during a rally in support of Gaza, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, April 7, 2024. (AP)

A piece published in The Wall Street Journal said that October 7, 2023, is considered a date that changed everything for "Israel", making it more internationally isolated than ever before.

Titled "In Six Months, Everything Has Changed for Israel", the piece highlighted that among the factors that the Israeli occupation entity has experienced since October 7 are the eagerly awaited normalization agreements that are now in limbo.

It mentioned that "Israel" now finds itself openly debating with its ally, the United States, adding that the war on Gaza has reignited debate over the Palestinian cause.

According to the report, October 7 had economic impacts on "Israel" due to paralysis on both the southern and northern fronts as a result of the ongoing war.

The piece suggested that the world turned upside down for "Israel", as it witnessed a fundamental shock that overturned its sense of security and confidence in its military strength.

Israeli historian Benny Morris was quoted as saying that "Israel's" existence has become subject to doubt for the first time since its establishment.

The report noted a decline in global sympathy for "Israel" after images of its massacres in Gaza spread, showing a large number of civilian Palestinian casualties and vast areas of the Strip turned into rubble.

It also addressed parallel fronts that are causing concern for "Israel", namely the occupied West Bank and the northern front with the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah, amid an anticipated Iranian retaliation following Israeli air strikes that targeted Iran's consulate in Damascus.

Amid all this, according to the report, "Israel" has not achieved any of its military objectives, namely retrieving all captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza and eliminating Hamas, as the Palestinian Resistance group has shown no signs of surrender.

This comes at a time when Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is escalating his rhetoric about the ongoing war. Earlier, he said that "Israel" is "one step away from victory," after news broke out that almost all Israeli occupation forces combat units withdrew from the southern Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu vowed that his government will not agree to a truce until the Palestinian Resistance releases all Israeli captives.

"We are one step away from victory," he said. "But the price we paid is painful and heartbreaking."

"There will be no ceasefire without the return of hostages. It just won't happen," the Israeli premier reiterated.

In the same context, his Security Minister Yoav Gallant mentioned that Israeli forces withdrew from Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday "to prepare for future missions, including... in Rafah."

Gallant claimed that Israeli troops were pulled out after months of violent warfare because "Hamas ceased to exist as a military framework" in Khan Younis.