The events of October 7, 2023, and June 13, 2024, mark two significant moments in the ongoing Middle East crisis. While both involved violence with far-reaching consequences, they differ fundamentally in origin, nature, and their status under international law.
Hamas’s surprise assault on Israel on October 7—marked by the killing of over 1,200 civilians and the abduction of hostages—was an inexcusable atrocity. As a non-state actor, Hamas deliberately targeted civilians, in clear violation of international humanitarian law. These actions have been rightly condemned across the globe as war crimes and acts of terrorism.
In contrast, Israel’s June 13 airstrike on Iranian military infrastructure occurred within a broader context of state-to-state hostility. It was launched in response to Iran’s drone and missile barrage in April—a retaliation itself provoked by Israel’s April 1 strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which killed several senior Iranian officials. That initial Israeli strike represented a clear violation of the Vienna Convention and the principle of diplomatic immunity, dangerously escalating regional tensions.
Unlike the October 7 attack, Israel’s June 13 operation targeted military assets, not civilians. Yet its legality remains in question. While Israel cites the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, concerns about necessity, proportionality, and respect for sovereignty linger. Striking Iranian territory without a UN mandate sets a troubling precedent in international affairs.
It is crucial to distinguish between unlawful terrorist violence and controversial exercises of state power. However, no side holds an exclusive claim to victimhood or moral superiority. The selective application of international law—often shaped by geopolitical interests—continues to erode global credibility and justice.
The international community must rise above these double standards. Civilians—Israeli, Palestinian, or Iranian—ultimately bear the brunt of this endless cycle of provocation and retaliation. Peace cannot be achieved through vengeance, nor can international harmony survive on selective accountability.
It is time for global powers, particularly the United States, to stop enabling destructive propaganda and unlawful military actions—regardless of who commits them. Israel, like any other nation, must be held to account for actions that breach international norms and threaten regional stability. At the same time, Iran has the right to defend its sovereignty—within the bounds of international law—against existential threats.
The world must demand an end to this dangerous spiral. The future of humanity cannot be held hostage by the ambitions of a few hardliners. Enough is enough.
