As the death toll rises and the dust of obliterated homes settles across Gaza, the world is forced to confront a difficult question: Why is this happening? What drives Israel’s ongoing military aggression, now widely denounced as a form of ethnic cleansing, if not genocide, by international experts, humanitarian agencies, and global citizens alike?
This article explores the possible motives behind Israel’s actions—through the lenses of land, power, ideology, and political strategy.
The Settler-Colonial Vision: Land Without the People
One of the core motives analysts point to is territorial expansion. Israel’s leadership and far-right factions have long pursued the idea of a “Greater Israel,” which sees all of historic Palestine—from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea—as Israeli land.
Gaza, densely populated and home to over 2 million Palestinians, is seen as an obstacle to this vision. By inflicting overwhelming destruction and displacing civilians, critics argue that Israel is attempting to clear the land and make it unlivable, forcing Palestinians to flee permanently.
This is not without precedent. The Nakba of 1948, in which over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled, is seen by many as the blueprint for the current campaign. The goal: remove the people, take the land.
Dehumanisation and Political Survival
Within Israeli political discourse, especially under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, Palestinians in Gaza are routinely painted as “human animals” or collateral damage in the fight against Hamas. This dehumanizationfuels public support for military aggression and makes mass casualties more palatable to domestic and international allies.
At the same time, Israel’s political leadership has repeatedly used war to distract from internal crises—corruption charges, protests against judicial overhauls, or failing coalition unity. War becomes a tool of political survival.
Economic and Strategic Incentives
Gaza is situated on potentially resource-rich territory—offshore gas reserves in particular. Some believe eliminating Hamas and displacing the population is also about gaining control over these resources.
Moreover, arms manufacturers and military tech companies benefit immensely from these “live test zones,” where Israel showcases its weaponry and surveillance technologies to global buyers. Gaza becomes a showroom for tools of modern warfare.
Maintaining Regional Dominance
By crushing Palestinian resistance and demonstrating military dominance, Israel reinforces its strategic deterrence in the region. It sends a message to neighbors, allies, and enemies alike: dissent or resistance will be met with overwhelming force.
Some observers argue that this is also about ensuring no viable Palestinian state ever materializes, preserving Israel’s military and political supremacy over the Palestinian population.
Undermining Palestinian Unity and Hope
Repeated wars not only devastate infrastructure but also shatter collective morale. By targeting schools, cultural centers, and hospitals, Israel weakens the foundation of Palestinian society. The destruction of homes and killing of entire families is more than collateral—it is psychological warfare aimed at making life under occupation unbearable, thus forcing Palestinians to abandon their dreams of self-determination.
The Global Response and Moral Dilemma
Despite global protests, UN condemnations, and warnings from genocide scholars, powerful Western allies—especially the United States—continue to supply weapons and political cover to Israel. This emboldens further escalation and deepens Palestinian despair.
As hospitals run out of fuel, children are pulled from rubble, and generations of trauma are cemented in Gaza’s soil, the world must ask itself: How many more must die before accountability replaces immunity?
The motive behind Israel’s actions in Gaza is not singular—it is a cocktail of ideology, political survival, territorial ambition, economic interest, and power projection. But at its heart lies a devastating truth: a people are being systematically stripped of their land, dignity, and future.
The world watches. And history will remember who stood up—and who stood by.
