Do Iran and its allies pose an existential threat to Israel?

Synopsis

Israel is currently at war with Hamas, a terror organization based in Gaza that acts as a proxy for Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran is viewed as the arch-enemy of Israel, with its stated goal being the destruction of the Israeli state. The conflict is part of a broader strategy by Iran to create a 'ring of fire' around Israel, which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. GTO Steinberg, a Middle East analyst, discusses how Iran controls Hezbollah, which was founded by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in 1982. In contrast, Hamas, a Sunni organization, is not ideologically aligned with Iran but shares a common hatred for Israel. Despite receiving support from Iran, Hamas is considered an unreliable partner. Israel's objective remains to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities, but Iran's significant investment in the resistance movement complicates this goal, as the Ayatollah has warned Israel against crossing further red lines in the conflict.