June 14, 2025
By Bafana Phalane
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Israel has shuttered its embassies worldwide following a series of large-scale military strikes on Iran. While embassy statements cite concerns for security and urge Israeli citizens abroad not to display Jewish or Israeli symbols, what remains unspoken is the deeper, long-standing issue at play: the unchecked aggression of a state that continues to act above international law, with the world particularly the United States, not only refusing to hold it accountable, but actively enabling it.
According to reports, Israel targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and missile factories, killing numerous military commanders in what is being described as a preemptive campaign to cripple Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions. In truth, this is not a singular “defensive” act, it is the latest in a long history of unilateral military operations by Israel that repeatedly violate the sovereignty of other nations with little to no repercussions.
Global institutions and Western powers, especially the United States, have again chosen silence or even praise in the face of overt aggression. The U.S. President Donald Trump openly admitted that the U.S. was aware of the attack beforehand and went as far as calling it “very successful.” Rather than condemning the violence or pushing for restraint, Trump shifted blame to Iran, saying the country had “brought the attack on itself” by resisting U.S. demands in nuclear negotiations.
This response is not only reckless it’s deeply immoral. The notion that military strikes, including targeted killings, are justified simply because diplomacy is difficult, reveals the West’s utter disregard for international norms when it suits their allies. When other countries act similarly, the condemnation is swift. But when Israel acts, silence or complicity follows.
The world has allowed Israel to operate with impunity for decades, whether in its repeated invasions of neighboring countries, its treatment of Palestinians, or its ongoing violations of international law. Global leaders wring their hands at the consequences, embassies closing, citizens living in fear, anti-Semitic attacks increasing in diaspora communities. but refuse to address the root cause: an aggressive state backed by powerful allies who refuse to draw any moral or legal line.
Even now, as embassies close and the risk of regional war grows, world leaders issue vague statements or remain mute. The shutdown of consular services, increased security around Jewish institutions, and the avoidance of public Jewish identity reflect a dangerous global atmosphere, but it is also the result of allowing one state to believe it can act militarily without consequence.
Enough is enough. If the international community truly cares about peace, justice, or even stability, it must stop shielding Israel from scrutiny. The double standards must end. The U.S., above all, must be held to account for its role in fueling yet another conflict. It is not enough to quietly support behind the scenes or justify bloodshed with press-friendly soundbites. The time has come to call Israel’s actions what they are: state aggression.
And it is time to ask, without apology: When will the world finally call Israel to account?
Bafana Phalane: Editor and Founder @ Maverick Point.
