Overview

• The piece recounts Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault that killed 1,195 people and led to roughly 250 hostages, with some still held in Gaza.
• It notes Hezbollah opened a second front from Lebanon on Oct. 8, described as enabled by Iran to stretch Israeli forces.
• The author says Israel’s campaign aimed to dismantle Iran’s proxy “ring of fire” and prevent a nuclear threat, arguing the effort has delayed Tehran’s program by years.
• The column reports waning domestic backing driven by war fatigue, fears for the hostages, concerns over IDF casualties, and the absence of a clear plan for Gaza’s governance.
• It claims international support has slipped, citing UK and French recognition steps on Palestinian statehood and Gulf ties that hinge on ending the Gaza war.