A Year After the Massacre

Supporting Israel Right to Defend

One year ago, a Hamas-led force of armed terrorists streamed across Israel’s border with Gaza. Bent on killing as many Jews as possible, the militants left 1,195 civilians and security force members dead and took 250 people hostage. (They still hold 101 of them.) Not only did they commit the horrible act, many wore Go Pro cameras, determined to savor and share every moment of brutality.

October 7 shocked and wounded Israel in much the same way 9/11 did to America, where 2,958 people were killed in three attacks. When comparing populations—Israel’s 9.5 million to the U.S.’s 345 million—their loss was, proportionally, far worse.

Much of the world, especially the U.S., rushed to Israel’s side, condemning the massacre. We rightly supported Israel’s decision to retaliate, backing up our words with weapons deliveries. American warships deployed to the region to help defend Israel from rocket attacks by Hamas’s primary backer, Iran.

In the past year, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has invaded Hamas-controlled Gaza, dismantled much of the militia’s infrastructure, and killed an estimated 17,000 Hamas fighters. Tragically, about 23,000 civilians, caught in the crossfire, have also died. This civilian death toll has sparked global debate. Like many, I am concerned about the tragic impact on civilians. Israel must carry out more precise attacks and allow more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. And, importantly, Egypt and Jordan need to be held to account for their refusal to allow civilians into their territory for refuge.

Nevertheless, I maintain that Hamas bears primary responsibility for this war. On October 7, Israel and Hamas were in a state of relative peace, and American negotiators were secretly working with Iran and other regional powers. They were on the verge of finalizing a deal that would have created a Palestinian state. Hamas shattered this future with an attack designed to provoke Israel into a response, hoping to trap the IDF in the quagmire of urban warfare. Now, we face more fighting, an Israeli occupation, and increasing tension throughout the Middle East.

Recently, Israel has targeted Hezbollah, another terrorist militia, in Lebanon. Just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel, marking the second direct attack. Fortunately, for the second time, Israeli and American anti-missile systems intercepted nearly all of them.

On the first anniversary of October 7, how should we assess the situation in the Middle East? First and foremost, we must acknowledge that Hamas initiated this conflict by slaughtering 1,195 Israelis. We also need to recognize Israel’s position in a hostile region. With the Houthis in Yemen also firing on them, Israel is under assault from three sides. What options does its leadership have? History has taught them that massive retaliation is often necessary. Who are we to second-guess that?

Inevitably, this warfare has brought the region closer to catastrophe. Iran is nearing the development of nuclear weapons. In this context, Israel is pursuing a decisive strategy to secure its long-term safety. Israeli officials are now contemplating war against Iran, which continues to fund and arm their enemies.

After 9/11, when we were attacked, our leaders made similar choices, invading Iraq and Afghanistan. Although these operations were far larger, they offer lessons for Israel. We underestimated our enemies and became bogged down in both countries. Clearly, the best option for Israel is to inflict as much damage as possible on its adversaries in the shortest amount of time. But that is far easier said than done.

In the time between now and the second anniversary of October 7, we will witness the full extent of Israel’s security challenges. Meanwhile, we must continue our moral and material support. Justice, and an eventual peace—a peace achieved through strength—demand nothing less. Easier said than done.