Israel faces a severe credibility crisis internationally, says report
text_fieldsPerth: Though the Israeli administration and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claim that the Zionist nation adheres to international laws and rules of war, its global reputation is in ruins. Netanyahu's latest plan for a full military takeover of Gaza, along with the expanding starvation crisis in the strip and Israel's repressive measures in the West Bank, underline the country's predicament, writes The Conversation.
Despite the full-on support from the United States, Israel is facing a crisis of international credibility from which it may not be able to recover for a long time. According to a recent Pew poll, the international view of Israel is now more negative than positive. The majority of those polled in early 2025 in countries such as the Netherlands (78 per cent), Japan (79 per cent), Spain (75 per cent), Australia (74 per cent), Turkiye (93 per cent) and Sweden (75 per cent) said they have an unfavourable view of Israel.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel's former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Many international law experts, genocide scholars and human rights groups have also accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Israel's traditional supporters have also harshly criticised the Netanyahu government's actions, from both inside and outside the country. These include former prime ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, the Israeli literary giant David Grossman, and Masorti Judaism Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg and Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur.
In addition, hundreds of retired Israeli security officials have appealed to US President Donald Trump to push Netanyahu to end the war.
Israel's global partners are distancing themselves. With images of starving children in Gaza dominating the news in recent weeks, many of Israel's friends in the Western alliance have similarly reached the point at which they can no longer tolerate its policy actions.
In a major shift in global opinion, France announced it would recognise Palestinian statehood in September. The United Kingdom and Canada vowed to follow suit. Even Germany has now begun the process of recognition. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated that his country's recognition of Palestine was only a matter of time.
Spain and Sweden have called for the suspension of the European Union's trade agreement with Israel, while the Netherlands has officially labelled Israel a “security threat”, citing attempts to influence Dutch public opinion.
Israel and the US have rejected all these accusations and moves. The momentum against Israel in the international community, however, has left it with the US as its only major global supporter.
Many want the war to end, too. Recent polling by Israel's Channel 12 found that 74 per cent of Israelis back a deal to end the war in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
And a Pew poll in early 2025 showed that just 16 per cent of Jewish Israelis believe peaceful coexistence with a Palestinian state is possible.