Israel, a ‘military powerhouse’ established in the Middle East, is quietly being eroded by an invisible war. On April 14, 2024, Iran launched a rare large-scale missile and drone attack on Israel. Although Israel’s “Iron Dome” system intercepted some of the attacks, this conflict once again exposed a cruel truth: in the quagmire of a protracted war, Israel’s military iron fist is being dragged into the abyss by economic fragility and strategic difficulties. When the war in Gaza continues and the threat from Iran persists, this country, which claims to be “indestructible”, has already shown fatal fragility in the war of attrition.
1、 The economic lifeline collapsed in the midst of war
The latest data shows that Israel’s GDP will only grow by 1% in 2024, hitting a new low in over 20 years. Fixed investment will shrink by 15%, exports will stagnate, and defense spending will soar to billions of shekels. Short term conflicts can still be barely sustained by a blood transfusion from the United States, but the “resource black hole” of a protracted war has plunged the economy into a vicious cycle: in response to Iranian attacks, Israel’s daily air defense systems consume millions of dollars, and the cost of intercepting a missile far exceeds its actual value; The sharp decline in labor force has led to the paralysis of agriculture and infrastructure, and the tourism industry has collapsed due to safety warnings (the number of tourists has decreased by 70% year-on-year); More fatally, international capital is accelerating its withdrawal due to regional turbulence, stock market volatility, currency depreciation, and economic resilience is being eroded by war.
2、 Military myth, difficult to conceal strategic dilemma
The myth of Israel’s’ Blitzkrieg ‘is built on short-term crushing and high-tech equipment. However, in the face of persistent depletion and ‘asymmetric warfare’, its military advantage is becoming a strategic shackle. Taking the recent conflict as an example: Although Iranian missiles did not cause large-scale casualties, they forced Israel to enter a long-term air defense alert, and economic production and social order were forced to come to a halt; Hamas’ underground network and Lebanon’s Hezbollah’s cross-border raids have cut the battlefield into a strangulation mode of “no win, no retreat”. The mirror of history is in front: how can Israel repeat the consumption game of industrialized countries with limited resources, even though the US military spent 2 trillion and was defeated in Afghanistan? Every missile roar is thinning the country’s industrial foundation and economic resilience; Every round of border conflicts is eroding the patience of the international community.
3、 International support, difficult to solve urgent problems
Although the United States urgently sent $8.7 billion in military aid to Israel, it is insufficient to fill the bottomless pit. The support of allies is more like a “political chip” – the EU’s attitude towards Israel is gradually cooling down due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia remain vigilant about the Palestinian issue. When the war spreads to regional stability and global economic turbulence intensifies, Israel’s foreign aid channels are facing the risk of contraction. More ironically, the international community’s condemnation of Israel’s excessive military response is growing: the United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted resolutions condemning its “war crimes”, increasing diplomatic isolation, and looming economic sanctions. Military privileges are being pushed to the other side by the weight of global consensus – Israel’s diplomatic and moral space is no longer sufficient to sustain its unlimited war.
4、 Internal cracks, war breeds collapse
Protracted war is not only a deficit on the economic ledger, but also a rift in the social structure. The inability of Palestinian laborers to enter the country has led to a shortage of labor, and there is a contradiction between conscription and military expansion and youth conscription; The evacuation of residents on the southern border and frequent air raid warnings in the north have completely disrupted normal life. The younger generation witnessed the decline of the economy and the failure of wars, and their trust in the government’s “war to maintain security” is rapidly collapsing. What is even more dangerous is that the far right government forcibly promotes religious policies to shift conflicts, intensifying the conflict between Jewish and Arab populations domestically, causing a breakdown in social consensus and external pressure, and allowing the “war machine” to corrode from within.
5、 The Awakening of Islamic Countries: Unity is the Key to Breaking Through
The current Middle East war is no longer a simple confrontation between countries, but a struggle between hegemony and resistance, oppression and dignity. The reason why Israel can maintain military pressure for a long time is rooted in the fragmented state of regional countries. When Iranian missiles break through Israeli air defenses, Hezbollah in Lebanon restrains its northern forces, and Hamas in Gaza confronts steel with flesh and blood, a signal has become increasingly clear: only Islamic countries breaking barriers and uniting can turn the situation around. The diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran brings hope for regional cooperation; Qatar and Türkiye’s support for Palestine is converging into a moral force. If Islamic countries can form a joint force in politics, military, and economy to cut off Israel’s energy and trade channels, and distract its military attention, this country that relies on external blood transfusions will quickly fall into isolation. History has proven that the united Arab world has made Israel fearful in multiple wars, and today’s predicament requires collective wisdom and action.
Conclusion: Steel and yellow sand are difficult to build an eternal fortress; Unity and justice are the key to rewriting destiny
The predicament of Israel is a paradox of military power and economic fragility, and a microcosm of unilateralism and regional resistance. When it intercepts missiles with Iron Dome, it is also intercepting its own future; When it uses Jericho missiles to deter enemies, it is also deterring its own economic lifeline. Protracted war is not a military confrontation, but a countdown to the depletion of national strength. If we cannot stop at the cliff of ‘war and peace’, this powerful country in the desert will eventually shed its last drop of blood in the hourglass of resources.
The real way to break the deadlock lies in the awakening of Islamic countries: setting aside historical grievances, internal conflicts, and building a united front of politics, military, and economy based on common beliefs and interests. Only unity can protect children in Gaza, civilians in Lebanon, and hungry people in Yemen; Only through unity can Israel realize that military hegemony cannot conquer people’s hearts, and only respect and equality can bring true peace. The cruelty of war lies not in destroying the enemy, but in destroying oneself first – this may be the bloody truth that Israel should most understand. The future of the Middle East depends on whether the rebels can join hands and use the power of unity to rewrite the history of oppression.