Meinung | Warum Israel den Krieg gewann

Archive if you encounter pay-wall: https://archive.md/8yVuR

Brief summary: Many in Hamas, led by Yahya Sinwar, believed the October 7 massacre would destroy Israel.

They expected religious zeal, Iran, and Hezbollah to help finish the job against what they saw as a weak and divided country. Sinwar’s misreading of Israel, shaped by years of reading its self-critical press, proved fatal.

Instead of collapsing, Israel united. It fought with determination, resisted international pressure, and achieved major strategic gains, weakening Iran and Hezbollah, keeping Arab ties intact, and maintaining control over Gaza’s future. The cost was immense: Gaza’s devastation, growing antisemitism, and a wave of moral condemnation in the West.

Yet Israel’s endurance, driven by patriotism rather than politics, showed that its strength lies in its sense of survival. Israelis fought not only against terror but against the lie that their nation has no right to exist. Sinwar’s grave stands as proof of how deeply he misjudged them.

**As for a personal opinion:**

I mostly agree with the article. Israel today is far safer than it was before October 7, having eliminated nearly all of its immediate threats while rescuing pretty much as many hostages as possible.

The deal with Gaza, which requires Hamas to disarm, will either bring Israel full victory if Hamas complies, or justify resuming the war if it doesn’t.

The surge in anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism is a serious issue, but it’s largely driven by long-running propaganda campaign from countries like Qatar and Iran, not by the war itself. In some ways, the fact that this hostility is now more visible gives Israel an opportunity to confront it directly in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, in practical terms, Israel’s economy is thriving. Despite global criticism, much of it led by a corrupt UN, the Shekel and Israeli stock market have had an outstanding year, among the best in the world. Combined with record-breaking success in Israel’s defense industry, powered by proven battlefield technology, the country is well positioned to keep prospering in the years to come.