Gaza Feels Forgotten as World Focuses on US-Iran Conflict

Palestinians in Gaza feel abandoned by the world as the international spotlight shifts to the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, overshadowing their ongoing tragedy. Ahmed Jamali, a 53-year-old resident of a displacement camp, told AFP, "Ever since the United States went to war with Iran, the whole world has forgotten Gaza and its tragedy. We no longer have anyone standing by us."

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Ever since the United States went to war with Iran, the whole world has forgotten Gaza and its tragedy. We no longer have anyone standing by us.

Jamali expressed the deep sense of powerlessness and oppression felt by Gazans. "We are weak and oppressed, and Israel is doing whatever it wants: killing, destroying and occupying Gaza, while no one in the world lifts a finger." This sentiment highlights the stark contrast between the global attention on the US-Iran confrontation and the perceived neglect of Gaza's humanitarian crisis.

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We are weak and oppressed, and Israel is doing whatever it wants: killing, destroying and occupying Gaza, while no one in the world lifts a finger.

The war in Gaza, initially sparked by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, served as a catalyst for a wider regional conflict. This conflict drew in Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, ultimately leading to direct confrontation between Iran and the United States. Despite the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a fragile ceasefire in October 2025, efforts to achieve a lasting peace have stalled, with preliminary peace talks between Tehran and Washington making no mention of Gaza.

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It reflects Hamas's declining strategic value in Iran's eyes.

Analysts believe this shift in focus reflects a change in Iran's regional strategy. Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Relations noted that the preliminary peace text's omission of Gaza "reflects Hamas's declining strategic value in Iran's eyes." While Iran has historically supported Hamas as part of its "axis of resistance," the October 2023 attack appears to have fundamentally altered this relationship. Israeli military expert Eado Hecht suggested that Hamas "betrayed them" and that Iran was not ready for a war in late 2023. Michael Milshtein, another Israeli analyst, posits that Tehran now prioritizes preserving Hezbollah as a key regional player, indicating a broader recalibration of its strategic interests away from Gaza. The international community's attention, Lovatt observed, is "gradually fading."

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Hamas was an ally, not an Iranian tool. It betrayed them. They did not want war in autumn 2023, it was too early for them.