It has been two years since “Al‑Aqsa Storm” began. In Gaza, 65,000 martyrs; Israel is being brought to collapse; the U.S. is being isolated; Muslims are being united; and the international order of oppression is being dismantled. How?

Since 7 October 2023, when the Al‑Aqsa Storm began, we have consistently argued that this is not simply a Hamas–Israel war, but that the “Power” behind Hamas is fighting against Israel and the “Power” behind Israel. Every war has political, military, and strategic goals — and without understanding them, commentary becomes misleading. If you view this war as a Hamas–Israel conflict, you might conclude: “Gaza was devastated, Hamas lost 65,000 martyrs, 125,000 wounded, Israel is winning.”

But the goals of this war are far larger. The objective was to shatter the aura of Israel’s “invincibility,” to show that Israel can be defeated; to first isolate Israel, then break it apart; to disrupt the global support behind Israel; to strain and realign the relationships of the U.S., European states, and other Israel‑backers, thereby “sequestering” Israel; to debunk the myth of the U.S. as an “unstoppable superpower”; and ultimately to dismantle the “modern international order” that has held sway since World War II. Another crucial goal was to unite the fragmented Muslim world after two centuries of disunity.

Gaza: the small stage for the greater war

Because Gaza is the hot battlefield of this larger war, global attention focuses there. But Gaza is just a small front in the grand war. Simultaneously, an immense cyber‑war rages across the world. Also underway is a war of perception (narrative, legitimacy).

The U.S. and Israel have lost the perception war

Reputations — of states, institutions, or individuals — are formed by beliefs and narratives. States shape their image via media, diplomacy, and public relations. Thus the traditional media and social media are powerful battlegrounds for perception.

To those who reflect even slightly, if you ask: “Which country dominates globally in news agencies, media, social media, and narrative creation?” — many would say “Israel” or “the U.S.” That was once true. But no longer.

How so? In the 20 years of the Afghanistan war (2001 onward), 3.6 million people died — over 100,000 of them children. In Syria between 2011 and 2025, nearly one million lost their lives. Since 2022, in the Russia‑Ukraine war, former President Trump claimed that “on average 1,000 people die per day on both sides.” In another speech he said “1.7 million people from both sides.” Though these are estimates, the magnitude of destruction is clear. But the point here is different.

Why is the Ukraine war not always in the headlines, while Gaza is?

Ukraine is a country with strong Jewish influence both among the people and in the state. Its current president, Zelensky, is Jewish. In the two years since the Al‑Aqsa Storm,........

© Stratejik Düşünce Enstitüsü