Fear and a far-right lurch: How October 7 reshaped Israel

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that three years after the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, the event continues to shape Israeli politics, public life and international standing. The article says the attacks killed nearly 1,200 people in Israel and led to about 250 captives being taken, after which Israel launched its war on Gaza. It describes the assault as a turning point that shattered long-held beliefs in Israeli military invincibility and left a deep psychological mark on the population.

The piece says fear and trauma have been amplified by political rhetoric and media coverage, helping drive Israel further to the right. Al Jazeera cites Israeli academics and rights advocates who argue that right-wing and far-right politicians have used the aftermath to harden anti-Palestinian positions, expand settlement activity and normalize previously fringe ideas, including harsher punishment for Palestinians. It also notes that some surveys suggest strong public support among Israelis for extreme measures against Palestinians.

According to the report, the war in Gaza and violence in the occupied West Bank have also increased Israel’s international isolation. Al Jazeera places these developments in a broader historical context, saying anti-Palestinian policies predate October 7 and are rooted in decades of occupation and displacement. The article argues that the attacks did not create these dynamics, but accelerated and deepened them, especially through the intensified repression of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.