On September 22, precisely on the occasion of the Jewish New Year, many Israelis were still immersed in the holiday atmosphere, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu threw heavy speeches in the military camp.
He made it clear that in the coming year, Israel must accomplish two things: a complete end to the fighting in Gaza, a “zero-off” of Hamas, and a focus on Iran and its networks of influence in the Middle East.
This rhetoric not only pointed to the stalemate in Gaza, but also brought Iran into the core goal of Israel's military strategy.
Faced with the double pressure of international recognition of the rising anti-war voices in the Palestinian state and Israel, Netanyahu chose to escalate the conflict again, which was not a simple statement, but the beginning of a larger geo-game.
Hamas withdraws, war in Gaza is close to end
For a year, the Gaza Strip has almost become a battlefield without a stop.
Israel’s military strikes on Gaza have continued since the outbreak of a new round of conflict in 2023, especially since the spring of 2025.
A group after a group of troops entered the south of Gaza, focusing on clearing Hamas' hidden ground networks and residual armed forces, and senior Israeli military officials said in a briefing in early September that the military clearance in northern Gaza was basically completed, while the southern is the final phase.
On the battlefield, Hamas's resistance capabilities have declined significantly. Its main command chain has been destroyed, many core leaders have been killed, and the weapons supply chain has also been cut off. Although there are still sporadic attacks, it is difficult to pose a systemic threat.
Netanyahu, at the time, shouted "end the war in Gaza in a year," not blindly optimistic, but based on the current situation on the battlefield.
But military strikes alone cannot solve the fundamental problems, and the political restructuring within Palestine, the post-war governing void of Gaza, and the long-standing unresolved problem of hostages are all real problems hanging on Israel’s heads.
In particular, the attitude of the international community is quietly changing. In recent months, many Western European countries have successively expressed their support for the founding of Palestine, and frequently put pressure on Israel on United Nations occasions to create conditions for a political settlement.
Even so, Netanyahu still emphasized that Israel must ensure that Hamas is completely disintegrated militarily and completely eliminated politically.
His logic is clear: if the remaining forces of Hamas survive, any future political negotiations will be based on turmoil.
In other words, in the “post-Gaza era” he envisions, Hamas must be fundamentally eliminated.
Israel's strategic focus
As the war in Gaza came to an end, Netanyahu turned his eyes to another more challenging opponent, Iran.
On September 22, he first raised “Destroying Iran’s Threat Network” to a national strategic level, marking a shift in Israeli security policy that is entering a new phase.
Iran has always been regarded by Israel as the most direct security threat in the Middle East, not only because its nuclear program constantly breaks through international restrictions, but also because its agent network in the region has long surrounded Israel.
In recent months, Israel has repeatedly carried out airstrikes against Iranian military bases in the Levant region, on Iranian weapons transportation lines in Syria, with the intention of undermining its regional delivery capabilities.
While these actions have not been officially confirmed, they are widely regarded as “preventive countermeasures” by Israel.
Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear activities have again raised concern, a dangerous signal that has further aggravated Israeli concerns.
In his speech, Netanyahu's attitude was very clear that he could no longer wait for the international community to solve the Iranian issue, which indicated that Israel might take more active military measures under independent assessment.
While there is no indication that Israel will launch an immediate strike on Iran’s mainland, the political signals are already very clear.
Netanyahu’s listing of Iran as a “new year’s security target” is essentially a foundation for public opinion and a struggle for moral space on the international stage.
He knows that the Iranian issue is not only a worry for Israel, but also a common anxiety of the whole western countries.
Netanyahu seeks stability in isolation
Behind such radical strategic targets, Netanyahu also faces little political pressure.
From a domestic perspective, social consumption caused by long-term wars is gradually emerging, with rising prices, frequent rotating of soldiers, family separation and other issues making many Israelis tired.
Civilians are calling for the priority to solve the hostage problem and restore social order.
Despite this, Netanyahu still chose to emphasize "unity" and "fighting spirit" during the festival, trying to inject legitimacy into the ongoing war with the help of nationalist sentiment.
At the international level, the situation is equally unoptimistic, with the United Nations Security Council meeting on Gaza in September, which was forced to postpone due to the absence of the Israeli delegation at the festival, sparking multilateral discontent.
Meanwhile, several European countries recognised a Palestinian state this summer, challenging Israel’s diplomatic stance.
Although the United States remains Israel's staunchest ally, its domestic political divisions have also made the Biden administration gradually cautious in investing in Middle East affairs. Even so, Netanyahu can still seek breakthroughs in relations with the United States.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Congress passed an additional budget for military aid to Israel, demonstrating that strategic cooperation between the U.S. and Israel remains strong, even in the context of increasingly complex international public opinion.
It can be said that Netanyahu is using "security issues" to bind domestic and foreign policies.
On the one hand, he tried to portray himself as a symbol of national security; On the other hand, he is also striving for the strategic consensus of the West with the attitude of attacking Iran.
Especially when the UN General Assembly is about to be held, his statement is undoubtedly paving the way for the next diplomatic offensive.
Netanyahu’s “double-purpose strategy” on New Year’s Eve is not just a military plan, but a strong declaration on the Middle East.
From the local battlefield in Gaza to the geopolitical game in Iran, he tried to use continuous military operations and a clear strategic line to build a security border that was more beneficial to Israel.
But whether this strategy will land depends on multiple variables: whether the remnants of Hamas can really be removed, whether Gaza can avoid falling into the governing vacuum after the war, whether Iran will continue to provoke at the bottom of the nuclear issue, and how the international community swings between sanctions and conspiracy.
The coming year, which is destined to be the autumn of many events in the Middle East, will also be a crucial test for Israel’s national strategy.
reference
Netanyahu: Israel's goals are not limited to the Gaza Strip 2025-09-23 04: 03 · CCTV News