Introduction
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has expanded its policy of genocide by violating the borders of neighboring countries. Following attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen; Israel is now threatening the security of the entire region with its assault on Hamas leaders in Qatar and the Sumud fleet in Tunisia. Israel views October 7 as the region’s equivalent of the USA’s September 11 and attempts to legitimize all its attacks by referencing this event. However, Israel’s clearly stated objective is to eliminate all elements in the region that pose a threat to it. In this article, I will address the question of whether it is possible to stop Israel.
The Terror State of Israel
Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its occupations in the West Bank fulfill all the necessary conditions to characterize Israel as a terror state. Israel has destroyed all humanitarian values in Gaza and has been carrying out its genocide for nearly two years in plain sight of the world. On the other hand, the ongoing Israeli occupations and attacks by illegal settlers in the West Bank aim to eradicate Palestine in both regions. While doing all this, Israel deliberately employs brutal methods and acts without any hesitation. Behind this lies the sense of impunity stemming from Israel’s dominance over Western states.
Diplomatic Options
Under these conditions, three paths emerge to stop Israel. The first path involves activating diplomatic options to halt Israel’s attacks in the region, particularly in Gaza. However, Israel has repeatedly rejected diplomatic initiatives. Since the beginning of October 7, mediation proposals led by countries such as Qatar, Türkiye and Egypt have not been accepted by Israel. Israel has not engaged in diplomacy not because it does not trust the mediating countries but because it wishes to continue its aggressive policies, viewing October 7 as an opportunity. In fact, while diplomatic talks on the nuclear issue were taking place between the USA and Iran, Israel carried out a large-scale attack against Iran. In this war, which went down in history as the 12-Day War, Israel clearly demonstrated that it would not accept diplomacy. Despite Trump’s warnings, Israel used its influence over the USA to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities during these attacks. A situation is emerging where, particularly in the Epstein case, the Mossad has recorded those in power in the USA, leaving the USA unable to remain indifferent to the demands of the Israeli government. Indeed, after appearing to respond positively to Trump’s peace proposal but then targeting a Hamas delegation in Qatar, there has been no significant reaction from the USA This situation also demonstrates that Israel is deliberately using the refusal to engage in diplomacy as a policy.
Military Options
The second way to stop Israel is through military options. In the wars that broke out between Israel and regional countries in the 20th century, Israel emerged victorious. Today, however, there is no scenario in which regional countries could declare war on Israel. Egypt is facing serious economic problems. Iraq and Syria have been severely weakened by prolonged civil wars and terrorism. The presence of asymmetric actors in countries like Lebanon and Yemen lacks the power to stop Israel; on the contrary, it provides the legitimacy arguments Israel uses for its attacks. Iran, which targets Israel through both proxy actors and its own military, agreed to end the conflict after 12 days. The Gulf states, meanwhile, wish for all this to end and for a return to the Abraham Accords. The only country in the region capable of establishing military superiority over Israel is Türkiye. Türkiye is a serious NATO member state, in addition to its military advancements in recent years. For this reason, the only power Israel fears in the region is Türkiye. However, the likelihood of a direct war breaking out between Türkiye and Israel appears remote. Indeed, Türkiye is a country that has always used military force as a last resort.
Although the prospect of war seems remote, Turkish decision-makers are developing policies regarding scenarios in which Türkiye might come into conflict with Israel both in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean and are supporting these policies with strategic steps. Examples of such steps include the presence of a Türkiye-friendly government in Syria and Türkiye’s development of joint strategies with the TRNC in response to Israel’s growing presence in Cyprus.
The Option of International Sanctions
The third way to stop Israel is to bring down the Netanyahu administration through international sanctions. Previously, the extreme policies implemented by the apartheid regime in South Africa were eliminated thanks to international sanctions. Due to the apartheid regime, the UN, the USA, and the EU imposed an arms embargo on South Africa, along with bans on economic and military cooperation, as well as comprehensive sanctions targeting trade in oil, uranium, coal and iron and steel.
Israel is currently governed by an apartheid regime. Therefore, the necessary conditions for the imposition of international sanctions are present. However, Israel’s power within the global system is forcing states into inaction. Occasional statements from Europe suggesting they might impose sanctions lack the seriousness required to be taken seriously. The partial sanctions imposed by European countries supporting Israel during the two-year-long genocide process will not be sufficient to stop Israel; they will amount to a symbolic gesture. Here, it is necessary to distinguish Spain positively from other European countries, because Spain has stood against Israel from the very beginning.
Conclusion
When assessed under current conditions, it appears that the paths to stopping Israel are blocked. The obstacles facing military, diplomatic and sanctions options stem from the pressure Israel exerts on other countries through its global influence. If this pressure from Israel can be overcome in some way, a diplomatic path may emerge or sanctions could remove the current Israeli administration from office. However, the United States’ support for Israel currently stands in the way of this. It must be noted, however, that Trump could not reach an agreement with Netanyahu and that the Middle East envisioned by the USA and Israel are different. As long as the Netanyahu administration continues, genocide in Gaza, occupation in the West Bank and aggression in the region will persist and escalate. This is because Netanyahu is seizing the opportunity presented by October 7 to try to implement all of Israel’s desires. By doing so, he is ensuring his continued hold on power. As of today, the conditions necessary to stop Israel can only emerge with the overthrow of the Netanyahu government.
This article was first published on the Türkiye Research Foundation’s Website on September 13, 2025.
