Benjamin Netanyahu's military actions are seen as a way to assert his political strength amidst domestic and international pressure. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is described as catastrophic, with regional instability escalating. Negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding nuclear weapons development were initiated. Talks for the release of hostages have stalled, but Hamas released an American hostage following direct negotiations with the United States. Israeli airstrikes have continued to escalate, often targeting areas already devastated by conflict.
5 months ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent military actions are perceived as an assertion of his political strength amidst domestic and international pressures 1. These actions coincide with a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and escalating regional instability 1.
The relationship between the United States and Israel is increasingly misaligned, contrary to what Prime Minister Netanyahu has sought to portray 1. In February, Netanyahu attempted to persuade former U.S. President Donald Trump to authorize a military strike against Iran; however, Trump instead initiated a new round of nuclear negotiations with Iran 1.
Further demonstrating this divergence, Trump has increasingly called for an end to the war in Gaza 1. He also recently visited Gulf countries, met with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and subsequently lifted long-standing sanctions on Syria 1.
Netanyahu's response to these diplomatic shifts included airstrikes targeting the Syrian army’s General Staff and the presidential palace in Damascus, the residence of President al-Sharaa 1. The stated rationale for these strikes was to protect Druze communities, though the reported clashes occurred approximately 100 kilometers from Damascus, and al-Sharaa had already ordered a withdrawal of government forces from the area 1. These continuous openings of new military fronts appear to be driven more by strategic posturing in relation to Washington than by immediate security concerns 1.
Amidst these geopolitical maneuvers, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with hundreds of people perishing daily 1. Talks for the release of hostages abducted on October 7 had stalled, with an Israeli Finance Minister stating that hostage release was not a priority 1. However, Hamas independently released an American hostage following direct negotiations with the United States 1. Netanyahu's actions are also seen as a political calculus to reinforce his position amid mounting international isolation and ongoing corruption trials 1. The Middle East is described as a "perilous tinderbox," with current actions posing a danger to the entire world 1.
How does just war theory apply to military conflicts?
The just war theory, a long-standing tradition in Christian thought, provides a framework for evaluating the moral legitimacy of military conflicts. It aims to limit the outbreak of war and govern its conduct . The theory is applied by considering strict conditions for both the decision to go to war (jus ad bellum) and the conduct within war (jus in bello).
For a military conflict to be considered just, several rigorous conditions must be met before force is used:
Even if the decision to go to war is just, the conduct of the war must also adhere to moral principles:
While the traditional elements of just war doctrine remain, contemporary challenges and the destructive power of modern weapons have led to significant re-evaluations. Pope Francis has noted that it is "very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a 'just war'" due to the uncontrollable destructive power of modern technologies, especially nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons . The Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church also states that "practically no conditions exist for a just launching of war" given the potential for new weapons of mass destruction to destroy life on earth .
The Church emphasizes that a war of aggression is intrinsically immoral, and states have the right and duty to organize defense in such tragic cases . However, the possession of war potential does not justify the use of force for political or military objectives, nor does the outbreak of war mean that all actions are permissible between warring parties , . The focus remains on safeguarding peace and building international law as a means to a more human and peaceful world .