Israel's war cabinet convened for a second day to deliberate on potential responses to the recent onslaught of over 300 missiles and armed drones launched by Iran. The United States has announced that it will not participate in any retaliatory attacks, while global leaders have condemned Iran's actions and called for restraint to prevent a broader conflict.

The ongoing Israel-Gaza war, which has endured for six months, has escalated tensions in the surrounding region. The latest escalation occurred on October 7 when Hamas militants initiated an unprecedented cross-border assault on Israel, even going so far as to take civilian hostages during a music festival. Israel promptly declared war on Hamas in response, which led to a ground invasion and the largest displacement of people in the area since Israel's inception in 1948.

Within the Gaza Strip, Israel has waged one of the most devastating conflicts of the century, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands and pushing at least half of the population into conditions akin to famine. Despite pressure from Western allies, Israel has thus far resisted increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

Although there have been occasional tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several U.S. politicians, including President Joe Biden, the United States continues to support Israel through the provision of weapons and aid packages. Furthermore, the U.S. has consistently utilized its veto or abstained from United Nations' resolutions calling for ceasefires in the region.

The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the deep-seated mistrust between the two parties are complex and date back many years prior to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.