As tensions between Israel and Iran reach unprecedented levels, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the ongoing war as a historic shift with far-reaching global implications. Speaking in a high-stakes interview on Thursday, the Israeli leader declared that his country’s military campaign was not only reshaping the Middle East but also influencing the broader world order.

“We are changing the face of the world,” Netanyahu stated during a televised interview with the Israeli broadcaster Kan, while reaffirming Israel’s determination to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.

The interview took place exactly one week after hostilities between the two long-time rivals escalated into the most intense direct military confrontation in recent history. Netanyahu’s remarks underscored the seriousness of Israel’s mission to dismantle what it views as Iran’s existential threat.

Escalation Beyond Borders

While the Israel-Iran rivalry has been simmering for decades, the latest phase of the conflict—marked by missile strikes, air raids, and cyber warfare—has thrust it onto the international stage. According to Netanyahu, Israel’s current military operations target Iran’s strategic military assets, including suspected nuclear enrichment sites and advanced ballistic missile factories.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were progressing faster than anticipated in their efforts to neutralize Iran’s offensive capabilities.

“We are ahead of schedule,” he said, though he refused to disclose a timeline for ending the operation. “In war, you know when it starts, not when it ends.”

Netanyahu framed the war as part of a broader ideological clash, presenting it as a moral struggle between a democratic state and a regime intent on destruction.

“We are fighting murderers who want to wipe out every single Israeli,” he said. “And we will defend every one of us—down to the last citizen.”

Hospital Strike Sparks Outrage

The Israeli leader’s comments followed a devastating missile strike early Thursday morning that hit civilian areas in central Israel and the Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. The hospital, one of the largest in southern Israel, sustained structural damage, with several injuries reported, including staff and patients in critical care units.

Although the Iranian government has denied direct involvement, Israeli intelligence attributes the attack to Iran-backed proxy groups, particularly Hezbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operatives, acting in coordination with Tehran’s strategic objectives.

During a visit to Soroka Hospital on Thursday afternoon, Netanyahu toured the damaged facilities alongside Health Minister Uriel Busso and Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, both of whom condemned the attack as a war crime.

“They deliberately targeted a hospital—where people are bedridden, where children and infants are receiving care,” Netanyahu said, visibly angry. “That is the difference between us and them. We hit military infrastructure with precision; they fire blindly at civilians.”

Global Reaction and Rising Tensions

The international community has expressed deep concern about the escalating conflict. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Thursday evening to address the crisis. Both the United States and several European Union member states have called for restraint, urging all parties to avoid further civilian casualties.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement issued from Brussels, condemned the missile strike on the hospital, calling it “deplorable and unacceptable.” He also reiterated Washington’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself but urged restraint in order to prevent a full-scale regional war.

Meanwhile, Russia and China have taken a more cautious tone, urging a diplomatic resolution while calling for the “de-escalation of aggressive rhetoric.” Iran, for its part, has accused Israel of launching unprovoked strikes against its territory and warned that continued aggression would be met with “severe consequences.”

A History of Hostility Reignited

Though Iran and Israel have never fought a full-scale war, both nations have clashed indirectly for decades through proxy conflicts, cyberattacks, and targeted assassinations. The latest outbreak of violence follows a long buildup of tensions, including recent cyber incidents attributed to both countries and the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist in 2024—an act Tehran blamed on Mossad.

The Israeli government has repeatedly stated that a nuclear-armed Iran poses an intolerable threat. Western intelligence agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have warned that Tehran’s nuclear program has expanded in recent years, though Iran continues to deny that it seeks to build nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu’s remarks this week appear aimed not only at rallying domestic support but also at sending a message to the global community: Israel will act decisively and unilaterally if it believes its national survival is at risk.

No End in Sight

Despite the intensity of Israeli operations, Netanyahu made it clear that the war’s conclusion is not imminent. Without specifying a strategic endgame, he argued that revealing operational details could compromise Israel’s security.

“We won’t let our enemies know what we’re planning,” he said. “They should expect the unexpected.”

This ambiguity has left both Israelis and the international community wondering how far Israel intends to go—and how long the conflict will last.

Several analysts believe Israel is pursuing a strategy of deterrence through overwhelming force, aiming to cripple Iran’s offensive capabilities so thoroughly that it would deter future confrontations. However, others warn that such an approach risks drawing in regional powers and igniting a broader Middle East war.

Calls for Peace Amid the Bloodshed

Even as military operations intensify, civil society organizations within Israel and abroad have urged both governments to return to diplomacy. Peace advocacy groups such as Peace Now and B’Tselem have called on Israeli leaders to seek international mediation and avoid further civilian casualties.

In Iran, some human rights activists have criticized their government’s support for proxy groups and called for an end to hostile policies that place ordinary Iranians at risk.

What Lies Ahead

The coming weeks will prove critical. If the violence continues to escalate, the global community may face a growing humanitarian crisis and possible disruptions to oil markets, shipping lanes, and global security alliances.

For now, Netanyahu remains firm. He insists that Israel is waging a just war to prevent genocide and preserve democratic values in a volatile region.

“This is not just a battle for Israel. It’s a battle for the civilized world,” he said. “We will not back down. We will finish what we started.”