For decades, Israel has relied on Western backing, but today it faces a growing crisis of legitimacy on the global stage
Looks like the world has had enough of Israel. Israel’s gross human rights violations and infliction of miseries on the people of Gaza have moved public opinion against Israel, and many nations are now openly condemning its actions in Palestine, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains unmoved, refusing to budge from his taken position. Once widely supported globally after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Israel now faces growing criticism from longtime allies and the broader international community. Countries including France, Germany, the UK, and Australia are reconsidering their positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with some moving toward formal recognition of Palestinian statehood — a clear signal of changing diplomatic tides. The turning point in global opinion has been Israel’s conduct in Gaza, which many now view as disproportionate and increasingly indefensible. Media outlets worldwide have broadcast images of starving children and families struggling for basic necessities. UN-backed reports highlight famine-like conditions in the Palestinian enclave. To date, the conflict has claimed at least 62,000 lives — half of them women and children — and left around 70 per cent of Gaza in ruins. What was initially seen as a military response to a Hamas attack is increasingly perceived as politically motivated, aimed at ensuring the survival of Netanyahu’s far-right Government. Human rights organisations, including two prominent Israeli groups, have raised concerns that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide. The backlash has gone beyond rhetoric. Several members of Netanyahu’s Government have faced international sanctions, and some far-right officials have been barred from entering foreign countries due to their inflammatory language against Palestinians.
These measures reflect a growing willingness among world leaders to hold Israel accountable for its policies, even at the cost of straining longstanding alliances. Domestically, Israeli society is deeply divided. Polls indicate that 70 per cent of citizens disapprove of Netanyahu’s Government, with many believing the war is being prolonged for political gain. Public frustration has culminated in mass protests and strikes, including a historic rally in Tel Aviv on August 17, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the safe return of hostages.The international fallout has also affected Israeli citizens and institutions abroad.
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, active since 2005, has gained new traction. Israeli produce has been removed from European grocery stores, academics face collaboration boycotts, and Israeli artists are increasingly disinvited from cultural and artistic events worldwide. Despite mounting criticism, Netanyahu remains steadfast but is increasingly under pressure to relinquish his job. How Israel deals with the situation would decide the prospects for peace in the region and its own survival.
