One year after the brutal attacks of 7 October 2023, Israel’s global reputation has undergone a remarkable transformation. Far from being undermined by the actions it has taken in Gaza and beyond, Israel’s standing has been fortified, its image strengthened with steel. While some voices –particularly in the West – have feigned concern about Israel sacrificing its international standing in its pursuit of victory, the reality is starkly different. Israel’s reputation has not been diminished but has evolved into one of decisiveness, strategic intelligence, and strength.
This return to a decisive military posture restores the Israeli reputation of old
Much of the concern surrounding Israel’s actions in the last year was not genuine, but a veiled excuse to criticise the state for defending itself. Critics lamented that Israel might sacrifice global goodwill in its pursuit of victory, but these criticisms are superficial and often placate those who have long sought to undermine Israel’s legitimacy. The notion that Israel should refrain from defending itself to preserve its reputation overlooks a critical reality: a nation’s first responsibility is its own survival, not global approval.
Israel’s reputation has been bolstered precisely because it has shown it will act decisively when threatened and preemptively when necessary. Previously seen as a nation reluctant to engage in prolonged or preemptive conflicts, preferring a ‘mowing the grass’ approach of managing problems, Israel has shifted. No longer will it allow threats to fester unchecked. The events of 7 October served as a brutal reminder of what happens when enemies are managed rather than defeated. From now, Israel will focus on eliminating threats outright, particularly Hamas and Hezbollah, whose goal is Israel’s destruction.
This return to a decisive military posture restores the Israeli reputation of old. In recent decades, Israel had moved toward caution, seeking to maintain the status quo through minimal military interventions. But that caution allowed groups like Hamas to build dangerous capacities, as was seen in the 7 October attacks. Israel’s response in Gaza and in the north with Hezbollah shows that it will no longer tolerate the existence of enemies intent on its destruction. Instead, it will strike preemptively, ensuring that future threats are neutralised before they fully materialise.
Amidst this transformation, one of the most significant aspects of Israel’s new reputation has emerged in contrast to what some critics have suggested. Rather than developing a reputation for unbridled ruthlessness or a lack of concern for civilian lives, Israel has, in fact, demonstrated a complex approach to humanitarian needs of civilians – despite them being placed in harm’s way by its enemies. While adversaries like Hamas have deliberately embedded themselves within civilian populations, cynically using them as human shields, Israel has gone to extraordinary lengths to mitigate harm to innocent lives while defending itself. War is hell, and nobody can deny the challenges and horrors that have been faced by the Palestinians in Gaza as a result of the conflict, but Israel has worked hard with its allies to accommodate their needs beyond all previous examples set by Western forces in comparable urban-warfare settings.
Israel has been recognised for this effort by those who matter, including military experts like General Sir John McColl, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of Nato. Novel approaches to protect civilian populations have been employed, and these innovations in warfare – balancing military necessity with humanitarian concern – are likely to become models for future conflicts. If Israel’s conduct does ultimately outperform that of most other Western nations facing similar circumstances, demonstrating adherence to international law and humanitarian norms in difficult battle scenarios, other countries will learn from this new standard when engaged in complex, asymmetric conflicts.
Crucially, this reputational shift is not just important in the West. While some Western nations have hushed their earlier criticisms, recognising Israel’s role in confronting shared threats, it is in the Arab world where this transformation will be most significant. Israel’s newfound allies in the Abraham Accords – like the UAE and Bahrain – entered these agreements not out of blind optimism but out of pragmatic recognition of a shared enemy: Iran. After 7 October, some questioned whether Israel remained the regional power it once was. But Israel’s military and intelligence capabilities – exemplified by strikes against Hezbollah actors long wanted by the United States – have reassured its Arab allies. Israel has proven it can protect not only itself but the region, reinforcing the trust these nations have placed in their partnership.
In the last year, Israel has bolstered its reputation for eliminating terrorists who evaded justice for years, including several responsible for attacks on US personnel. Hezbollah is notorious for anti-American violence, including the actions of Ibrahim Aqil, a senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, who played a central role in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, which killed 241 US military personnel. Aqil was killed recently by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Another Hezbollah commander involved in the same attack, Fuad Shukr, was also killed by Israel in an airstrike on a Hezbollah stronghold in July.
Israel’s renewed reputation for striking far beyond its borders – evidenced by decisive actions in Yemen against Iranian-backed forces – sends a clear message. Israel will strike wherever necessary to neutralise threats, even 1,100 miles away, reminding the world that it remains capable of projecting power far from its borders.
Israel’s reputation has also been reinforced by its pragmatism. Learning from successes and failures, Israel is reducing reliance on foreign allies. Western hesitations, like the UK’s partial arms embargo, highlight the need for Israel to become more self-sufficient. Moving forward, Israel will develop more of its military hardware and stockpile weapons to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, further bolstering its image as a nation that can stand alone when necessary.
Finally, this transformation extends to Israel’s approach to the Palestinian issue. The events of 7 October shattered any illusions of peaceful coexistence. Even those on Israel’s dovish left now think that too many Palestinians have little interest in peace. Israel’s newfound realism – recognising the jihadist extremism driving those who oppose the Jewish State – will shape its future policies. No longer driven by optimism, Israel’s approach will be grounded in pragmatism and security, ensuring its survival above all else.
Israel has not sacrificed its reputation over the past year; it has strengthened it. Through decisive military action, intelligence ingenuity, concern for civilian lives, and newfound self-reliance, Israel has shown it is a force to be reckoned with, one that learns from its past and adapts to the future. This steel-reinforced reputation will serve Israel well as it navigates the challenges of the twenty-first century.
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