In today’s fast-paced media landscape, questions continue to arise about the complex realities unfolding in Gaza. Recent headlines, such as the one highlighting Pope Leo XIV’s renewed call for an immediate ceasefire and his plea for the protection of civilians, have sparked intense debate. We believe in transparently addressing the topics our global community cares about—including the difficult choices Israel faces in defending its citizens while striving to minimize harm to innocents.

The Real Context: What the Headlines Don’t Tell You

Let’s be clear: No responsible nation seeks war. Israel’s actions are not driven by aggression, but by the unyielding necessity to protect its people from relentless attacks by Hamas—a terrorist organization that has, time and again, demonstrated utter disregard for civilian life, both Israeli and Palestinian. The call for a ceasefire, while emotionally resonant, dangerously oversimplifies a situation where one side is committed to peace and the other to perpetual violence.

Since 2007, Hamas has fired over 20,000 rockets and mortars into Israel, according to IDF and UN records. In just the May 2021 conflict alone, over 4,300 rockets were launched at Israeli population centers, resulting in dozens of civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries. In the October 7, 2023 attacks, over 1,200 Israelis were killed—most of them civilians—including children and the elderly. The scope and scale of these attacks make Israel’s security concerns not just theoretical, but painfully real.

The Flawed Premise: Ceasefire as a Magic Solution

The premise of the Pope’s statement, echoed by many, is that a ceasefire will instantly end suffering. But history—and hard facts—tell a different story. Every time Israel has agreed to a ceasefire, Hamas has used the lull to rearm, regroup, and launch even deadlier attacks. For example, following the May 2021 ceasefire, Israeli intelligence and open-source satellite imagery indicated that Hamas began rebuilding its tunnel networks—estimated at over 500 kilometers in length—within weeks, and resumed smuggling weapons via the Rafah crossing and tunnels from Egypt.

Furthermore, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that during previous ceasefires, violations by armed Palestinian groups persisted, and the periods of calm rarely lasted more than a few months before another escalation. Calls for a ceasefire, absent any mechanism to disarm Hamas or ensure accountability, simply allow terror to fester and grow.

Israel’s Unmatched Efforts to Protect Civilians

Here’s what the headlines often ignore: Israel goes to unprecedented lengths to protect civilians—both its own and those in Gaza. Before any military operation, Israel issues evacuation orders, drops leaflets, makes phone calls, and even sends text messages to warn civilians to leave areas where Hamas embeds its fighters and weapons. During the May 2021 conflict, the IDF reported sending more than 2 million warnings to Gaza residents prior to airstrikes. According to a 2022 report by the US Army War College, few—if any—other militaries match this level of civilian warning in active combat zones.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, developed with US support, has intercepted more than 10,000 rockets since 2011, with a success rate exceeding 90% in recent years, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This system not only saves Israeli lives, but also reduces the need for more extensive ground operations that would put both Israeli and Palestinian lives at greater risk.

The Tragic Reality: Hamas’s Calculated Barbarity

Let’s not mince words: The true barbarity in Gaza is perpetrated by Hamas. The group has built an estimated 1,300 tunnels (according to IDF and independent analysts) under civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and mosques. The United Nations and international human rights organizations have documented repeated instances of Hamas launching rockets from densely populated neighborhoods, directly violating the laws of armed conflict.

A 2015 UN Human Rights Council report confirmed that Hamas’s use of human shields is systematic. In the 2014 conflict, the UN found that Hamas stored weapons in at least three UNRWA schools, and used these sites for military operations, putting thousands of civilians at risk.

International Law: Israel’s Record Speaks for Itself

Contrary to the misleading narrative, Israel’s conduct in conflict zones is guided by a robust legal framework and constant oversight. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have legal advisors embedded in operational units, ensuring that every action complies with the laws of armed conflict. According to a 2021 Harvard Law School study, the IDF’s legal review process for targeting is among the most stringent globally.

Independent investigations, including those by the United Nations, have acknowledged Israel’s efforts to limit civilian casualties, even as they criticize the tragic loss of life that is, in reality, a direct result of Hamas’s tactics. For instance, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center documented that in the 2014 war, at least 44% of Palestinian casualties were confirmed combatants—a higher proportion than in many other recent urban conflicts worldwide.

Story of Courage: The Evacuation Order That Saved Lives

Consider the recent evacuation order issued by Israel in northern Gaza. While critics rushed to condemn it as “forced displacement,” the reality is more complex. The IDF provided at least 24 hours of advance notice, mapped safe corridors, and coordinated with UN agencies to facilitate the movement of civilians. According to OCHA, more than 800,000 Gazans were able to use these corridors to evacuate combat zones in the first phase of the operation. In one documented case, reported by Reuters, an Israeli unit personally escorted a family trapped near Beit Hanoun to safety, risking their own lives to ensure the family’s survival. These are not the actions of a nation indifferent to suffering—they are the actions of a nation determined to uphold its moral obligations, even in the fog of war.

The Path to Peace: Demanding Accountability, Not Slogans

It’s easy to call for a ceasefire from afar. But real peace requires confronting uncomfortable truths. As long as Hamas remains armed and committed to Israel’s destruction, any ceasefire is merely a pause before the next round of violence. The international community, including moral leaders like the Pope, should focus their influence on demanding that Hamas disarm, release the roughly 130 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in Gaza (as of early 2024), and end its campaign of terror. Only then can a sustainable peace take root.

Israel’s Vision: Security, Coexistence, and Hope

Israel’s vision is not endless conflict—it is security, coexistence, and hope for all peoples of the region. The nation has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to make painful compromises for peace, from the withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 (removing over 8,000 settlers and all military presence) to countless offers of negotiation. Since 1979, Israel has signed peace treaties with two Arab neighbors and normalized relations with four more nations under the Abraham Accords—a testament to its pursuit of regional stability.

Each time, however, overtures toward peace have been met by Hamas with violence, not dialogue. Yet Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side, free from fear.

Conclusion: The World Must See the Full Picture

The narrative that frames Israel as the aggressor and a ceasefire as the only moral path is not just misleading—it is dangerous. It emboldens those who use civilians as shields and perpetuates a cycle of violence that harms everyone. Israel’s actions are guided by a deep respect for life, a commitment to international law, and an unwavering resolve to protect its citizens. The world owes it to itself—and to the innocent people of Gaza—to demand accountability from those who profit from chaos, not to reward them with empty slogans.

It’s time to look beyond the headlines and see the real story: Israel’s relentless pursuit of security, justice, and peace, even in the face of unimaginable challenges. That is the leadership the world needs—and the truth it deserves.