The Israeli military announced early Tuesday that its troops had begun crossing into southern Lebanon, saying that they would destroy Hezbollah military infrastructure in villages close to the Israel-Lebanon border.

The immediate consequence of Israel’s continued escalation in Lebanon is displacement of the civilian population on a massive scale. According to the United Nations, there are already a million people displaced from their homes because of the war that Israel is waging on Lebanon. There are now more displaced Lebanese civilians than there were during the 2006 war, and that number will only increase as the war drags on. The vast majority of the displaced have fled their homes in the last week since the start of intense Israeli bombing. The Third Lebanon War is already as destructive as the second war and it hasn’t even been two weeks yet.

It is worth remembering that Israel is escalating in Lebanon because its leaders absolutely refuse to consider a ceasefire in Gaza. The Netanyahu government has chosen more war rather than accepting an end to the fighting that might still rescue the remaining hostages. The Israeli government assassinated Nasrallah because he would not abandon the policy of supporting Gaza. In short, they chose to wage a new war because they would not end the atrocious one they have been waging for the last year.

The Israeli government presents this invasion as a “limited” one, but as many have pointed out the same was said about the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. That led to years of brutal warfare and an occupation that lasted nearly until the end of the century. The Israeli government often describes its aggressive operations as “limited” to gain support in the West, but somehow they never stay “limited.”

Akbar Shahid Ahmed spoke to a career U.S. official who said that the administration was permitting “a nihilistic regional murder spree.” That is unfortunately all too accurate. Among other things, Israeli forces recently bombed Yemen by targeting critical civilian infrastructure once again. They seem to delight in devastating the vital infrastructure of the poorest parts of the region. The Netanyahu government’s first instinct appears to be to inflict collective punishment of the civilian population of other countries.

US-supplied "bunker buster" 1-ton bombs in action.

Invading Lebanon has never gone well for Israel, but it is the people of Lebanon that will suffer the most because of the aggression of their neighbor. However much other Lebanese communities may resent Hezbollah, they are going to resent and oppose Israel even more because Israel is once again raining death and destruction on their country. Much of the rest of the world will rightly condemn Israel for what it is doing to Lebanon, and Israel’s international isolation will only deepen.

Our government has plumbed new depths of cynicism and cowardice in signing off on another invasion of Lebanon. This was supposed to be the one thing they had managed to avoid, but when push came to shove the Biden administration let the Israeli government do whatever it wanted. The same fools that have been played like fiddles for twelve months insist that they have convinced the Israeli government not to conduct a “full” invasion of Lebanon, whatever that means. When Israel expands its “limited” operation in a few weeks or months, we know that the Biden administration will come up with some new excuse for why this is just another example of Israel’s “right to self-defense.”

Israel’s aggression against Lebanon is outrageous and excessive. If our government had any sense, it would denounce the invasion and demand an immediate end to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Instead we will be treated to another four months of imbecilic enabling while the entire region catches on fire.

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So how is it then that this pride has manifested into humiliating embarrassment, where, as a nation, Australia is now exhibiting levels of ignorance and naivety so disturbing that it is beginning to resemble American stupidity—apologies to all my American friends?

Two days ago, Australian protestors in Melbourne attended a rally against the ongoing slaughter and terror being enacted by Israel toward Palestine and now Lebanon. Israel’s plans for expansionism bear no limits. It has stolen Palestine, and now it wants to steal Lebanon. Among those protesting were people waving Hezbollah flags.

Australia is a democracy—a place of free speech where the right to speak your mind is allowed. Well, it appears as a nation, Australia has descended into becoming an authoritarian state, if not fully, then partially. Freedom of speech is acceptable only if you conform to the narratives of the state.

Australia is in trouble, and so are those Hezbollah flag-waving protestors whose only act was waving flags. But to Australia’s Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus, a proud Zionist Jew it seems, waving Hezbollah flags warrants a knock on the door from the Australian Federal Police.

Dreyfus, like many Australians and the West, remains ignorant of what and who Hezbollah are and do, having been captured by Zionist and US propaganda, deliberately designed, as always, to demonise anyone who stands against them.

The war between Israel and resistance movements like Hamas and Hezbollah continues to be framed by Western governments and media as part of a broader war on terrorism. However, the realities and the contexts in which these groups arise suggest Israel and the US are engaged in a war they can’t win. This war isn’t simply a military struggle—it’s rooted in decades of occupation, repression, and the legitimate desire for national liberation. The forces of resistance, driven by deeply entrenched historical and ideological foundations, can’t be defeated by the US and Israel.

Like the French Resistance during World War II, Hamas and Hezbollah are fighting not just for political power but for survival, justice, and freedom from occupation—making the war that Israel and the US have unleashed not just unwinnable, but unsustainable.

Both Israel and the US have always believed superior military power can defeat resistance movements like Hamas and Hezbollah. Over the decades, they’ve unleashed devastating military campaigns, resulting in the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the deaths of thousands of civilians, and mass displacement. The US and its allies, like the UK, believe that through overwhelming force, they can stamp out the resistance.

History, however, has shown military might alone is insufficient to defeat deeply rooted, popular resistance movements.

Central to any resistance movement is the experience of deep and prolonged oppression. Hamas and Hezbollah arose not because of an inherent desire for violence, but because of the conditions created by Israel’s occupation and the US’s support of Israeli policies.

Hamas was born out of the First Intifada in 1987. After decades of Israeli military occupation, expanding settlements, and political disenfranchisement, Palestinians saw no other choice but to resist. The violence and displacement that Palestinians experienced, particularly in events like the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon, left many convinced that armed resistance was the only way forward.

Similarly, Hezbollah was formed in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and its subsequent occupation of the southern part of the country. Israel’s military incursions, combined with the West’s indifference to the suffering of the Lebanese, created fertile ground for Hezbollah to grow into a formidable resistance movement.

Like the French underground, Hamas and Hezbollah are motivated by a desire to liberate their people from occupation—a cause that gives them deep popular legitimacy.

Western governments and media have long sought to paint these resistance movements as nothing more than terrorist organisations. It’s an appalling narrative that serves to justify Israel’s military operations and the West’s complicity in occupation, ignoring why these groups exist. The West has constructed a narrative that conveniently frames Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorists while turning a blind eye to the decades of occupation, repression, and violence inflicted on Palestinians and Lebanese people.

The West’s narrative downplays the fact that the existence of Hamas and Hezbollah is rooted in decades of failed diplomacy and systemic violence, portraying them as mindless terrorists rather than a resistance that mirrors many historical precedents. The framing of them as terrorist organisations allows Israel and the US to deflect attention from their actions, like violations of international law, the expansion of illegal settlements, and the imposition of a suffocating blockade on Gaza.

No more glaring example of the West’s ignorance is the belief that the death of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, spells the end of the organisation. It’s an assumption that reveals such a profound level of ignorance about Hezbollah’s structure, ideological foundation, and the resilience of its supporters. Hezbollah isn’t a cult of personality, nor does its strength rest with one man, albeit Hassan Nasrallah is viewed not only as a political giant but as the greatest Arab leader of all time. Hezbollah is deeply entrenched in the community it represents and has a highly organised structure with layers of leadership.

Nasrallah, who has led Hezbollah since the early 1990s, was undoubtedly a powerful figure, but he ensured that the movement is far from a one-man operation. Just as leaders in the French Resistance were often replaced after their deaths or captures, Nasrallah has trained successors who could easily step into his shoes. His death has galvanised Hezbollah further, strengthening its resolve rather than diminishing it.

Believing Hezbollah will crumble without Nasrallah reflects the West’s failure to understand how resistance movements work. They’re driven by ideological commitments and popular support that can’t be easily dismantled by the removal of a single leader. The notion that Nasrallah’s death has diminished and weakened Hezbollah isn’t only naive but also demonstrates a fundamental ignorance of the complex dynamics of resistance and the motivations sustaining them.

Why Israel and the US can’t win this war rests with their failure to address the root causes. Military might can destroy buildings and take lives, but it cannot extinguish the desire for freedom and justice. The oppression, occupation, and massacres that sparked the formation of Hamas and Hezbollah continue to fuel their existence. No amount of airstrikes, ground invasions, or political demonisation will erase the historical memory of displacement or the reality of living under occupation.

History has repeatedly shown that resistance movements born out of genuine grievances are incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to defeat militarily. The French Resistance persisted despite Nazi efforts to crush it, and after years of struggle, it ultimately played a key role in liberating France. Similarly, Hamas and Hezbollah continue to gain strength, especially as Israel’s occupation drags on and the suffering of Palestinians and Lebanese people remains unaddressed.

Each Israeli or US military operation that results in civilian casualties or the destruction of homes only strengthens the resolve of these resistance groups. The more Israel attempts to crush Hamas in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon, the more popular support they gain. The French Resistance grew in response to Nazi atrocities, and Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements are continuously bolstered by the ongoing repression they face.

One of the most glaring problems the West faces is its profound ignorance of history. The assumption that military solutions can bring about lasting peace or victory ignores the lessons of past wars, where resistance movements have outlasted far superior military powers.

The US and Israel are repeating the mistakes of past empires, believing their military dominance will break the will of those fighting for their freedom. But as with the French Resistance during World War II, the spirit of resistance among Palestinians and Lebanese cannot be subdued.

Furthermore, US policymakers consistently underestimate the extent to which these movements are supported by local populations. Hezbollah, for instance, is not simply a militia—it is a political party with deep social roots in Lebanon, particularly among the Shiite population.

It runs schools, hospitals, and social services, providing vital support in areas neglected by the central government. Hamas is not just a militant group but also a political organisation that provides social services and infrastructure in Gaza. The Western narrative, which paints these groups as purely terroristic, ignores the role they play in their communities and the popular support they command.

Israel and the US are fighting a war they cannot win because they are trying to suppress movements that are fighting for their people’s survival and liberation. The French Resistance couldn’t be defeated by military force alone, and neither can Hamas or Hezbollah. They represent not just political factions but deep-seated resistance to occupation and foreign control, driven by the same forces that have historically fueled resistance movements across the world.

Unless Israel and the US are willing to address the underlying causes of this conflict—the occupation, the denial of Palestinian statehood, and the systemic repression of Palestinian and Lebanese populations—they will continue to face growing resistance. Every military strike, every massacre, and every expansion of settlements only strengthens the resolve of those fighting against these injustices.

In the end, the West’s belief it can bomb its way to peace is historically ignorant. The war between Israel and resistance movements like Hamas and Hezbollah can’t be resolved through military means alone.

It’s a war born of occupation and repression, and it will continue as long as those conditions persist. History has shown time and again that resistance movements don’t die easily—and they certainly don’t die when their people are still fighting for justice.