Image Source: Middle East Eye
Jerusalem – “Let Netanyahu know that Iran is not belligerent, but it stands firmly against any threat. This is only a corner of our power. Do not enter into a conflict with Iran,” stated Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, in a post on X, following the launch of over 180 ballistic missiles targeting Israel.
The missile strike, a significant response to the escalating tensions in the region, has brought the situation to a critical juncture. As Israel continues its ground incursion of Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by the United States, has pledged to retaliate against the Iranian attack.
Despite the interception of most missiles by the Israeli and US defence systems, the attack serves as a strategic signal of Iran’s readiness to counter Israeli aggression and influence in the region.
Pezeshkian emphasised that the strike was a decisive action against the “aggression of the Zionist Israeli regime” and reinforced Iran’s “legitimate rights” of self-defence to protect the nation’s interests and citizens.
Meanwhile, Professor Jeff Halper, Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), pointed out that while the strikes, prompted by multiple reasons including the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, Hasan Nasrallah, and Abbas Nilforoushan, were significant, they were largely symbolic.
He elaborated that, given the ongoing anti-Iran rhetoric and repeated provocations by Israel and their allies, Iran felt compelled to respond. However, he stressed that the strikes were more about sending a message than causing real damage or escalating the conflict further.
“Iran just couldn’t remain passive. Iran couldn’t show itself as a weak actor whose arms are being destroyed and not react. So, I think it was forced to react, but I think it again reacted in a way that didn’t cause any significant damage.”
“It was essentially a symbolic attack. They had to do it because they couldn’t simply show themselves as passive and weak. But I think the signal was clear—after this round, it’s over.”
How Normalisation Is Destroying the Palestinian Cause
Halper stated that Iran’s missile attacks are just one part of broader dynamics in the Middle East, where larger geopolitical forces, particularly the US and NATO, are driving significant regional transformation. Central to this shift is Israel’s role, supported by these powers, in reshaping the region, with the normalisation of relations between Israel and Sunni Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE playing a pivotal role.
He argued that this process of normalisation strengthens Israel’s position while marginalising the Palestinian cause, isolating Palestinians diplomatically and diminishing support for their resistance and pursuit of independence. As Arab states forge closer ties with Israel, the longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian struggle weakens, leaving Palestinians increasingly without influential allies.
“I think the challenge to the Palestinians is the idea of normalisation and the fact that they’ve been betrayed by the Arab governments. That’s really the problem. The only ally that exists today for the Palestinians is the people of the world. We have to rise up, and we have to create counter forces. But unfortunately, normalisation is an Israeli victory. Normalisation cannot happen.”
“The Palestinians cannot be defeated, Israel cannot win without the support of the Arab states, the Sunni Arab states, from Jordan to Morocco, basically being a part of this. And that, I think, is a challenge within the Muslim world – to begin to call these Arab Muslim governments to task and say, “Hey, you should not be part of the destruction of the Palestinian people.”
