By: Avi Avidan

In the complex and ever-evolving landscape of the Israel-Gaza conflict, the dynamics of 5th Generation Warfare (5GW) have become increasingly apparent. This form of warfare, characterized by non-kinetic, information-driven operations, defines the contemporary battlespace. While Hamas has consistently wielded narratives to isolate Israel on the global stage, Israel has effectively countered with a combination of kinetic strikes and astute geopolitical maneuvering. This analysis will delve into the rapid surge and subsequent collapse of three prominent anti-Israel narratives within a mere two-week span, exposing a desperate 5GW strategy as Iran's proxy network faces unprecedented unraveling. We will examine these patterns and their profound endgame implications as of September 4, 2025.

Narrative Warfare: Exposing Hamas's Faltering 5GW Playbook

Hamas's 5GW tactics are fundamentally designed to prolong the conflict and exert global pressure on Israel. However, recent events demonstrate a significant faltering of this playbook under intense scrutiny, as facts and verifiable information consistently prevail over manufactured narratives. Three key narratives exemplify this pattern of hype followed by rapid disintegration:

1. The "Famine" Declaration: A Politicized Claim Debunked by Reality

On August 22, 2025, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued a "Level 5famine" declaration for Gaza, a claim amplified by various UN agencies and media outlets, projecting 640,000 people at risk by the end of September [1, 2, 3, 4].

This declaration quickly became a central pillar of the anti-Israel narrative, aiming to portray Israel as deliberately starving the Gazan population.

However, this narrative was swiftly and decisively debunked. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office vehemently rejected the IPC report, labeling it an "outright lie" and accusing it of political manipulation [5, 6].

Further scrutiny revealed significant flaws in the underlying methodology and data. Critics, including organizations like AIPAC and Honest Reporting, highlighted "questionable methods" and potential "anti-Israel bias" within the report itself [7, 8].

Crucially, the sheer volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza contradicted the famine claims. While some UN and aid organizations reported challenges such as delays, rejections, and looting of aid trucks, official Israeli data and other reports indicated a substantial flow of assistance. For instance, between May 19 and August 5, over 2,600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid reportedly crossed into Gaza [9]. While the exact daily numbers varied, Israel consistently maintained that there were no restrictions on the entry of aid and that the issues stemmed from distribution challenges within Gaza, often exacerbated by Hamas's interference

[10]. The narrative of an impending famine, therefore, collapsed under the weight of factual evidence regarding aid flows and the clear political motivations behind its promulgation.

2. The "Journalist" Deaths Narrative: Unmasking Affiliations and Discrediting Propaganda

September 1, 2025, witnessed a coordinated blitz by over 150 media outlets worldwide, decrying the deaths of 210-220 "journalists" in Gaza and demanding unfettered access to the strip [11, 12, 13]. This narrative sought to paint Israel as deliberately targeting media professionals and suppressing information. However, this emotionally charged narrative rapidly fizzled out by September 3, as revelations emerged regarding the true affiliations of many of the deceased.

Investigations by various sources, including Israeli intelligence and independent media, exposed that a significant number of those listed as "journalists" were, in fact, active members or affiliates of Hamas and other terrorist organizations [14, 15]. For example, reports indicated that individuals like Anas al-Sharif, initially presented as a journalist, had documented ties to Hamas[16]. The deliberate blurring of lines between legitimate journalism and propaganda operativesbecame evident. When the international community began to acknowledge these affiliations, the credibility of the "journalist deaths" narrative crumbled, shifting focus from alleged Israeli targeting to Hamas's cynical exploitation of media credentials for operational purposes.

3. The "Genocide" Accusation: A Financially Driven Farce Exposed

On September 1, 2025, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) passed aresolution labeling Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide," a claim that was immediately hypedby major media outlets [17, 18]. This accusation represented a significant escalation in the rhetorical war against Israel, aiming to delegitimize its self-defense operations.

However, the legitimacy of this resolution was almost immediately undermined. It was exposed as a "pay-to-play" scheme, where voting rights could be acquired for as little as $30-$125, with no genuine academic credentials required [19, 20]. This revelation led to widespread ridicule on social media platforms like X, where the IAGS was derided as a "vanity club" rather than a serious academic body. Prominent genocide scholars, such as Sara Brown, publicly criticized the IAGS for its lack of transparency and for pushing through the resolution without proper debate or rigorous academic scrutiny [21, 22].

The backlash was so severe that the IAGS website reportedly shuttered temporarily amid the controversy [23]. The rapid collapse of this narrative demonstrated that even the most severe accusations, when based on fraudulent premises, cannot withstand public and academic scrutiny.

This recurring cycle of hype followed by disintegration clearly shows Hamas's 5GW playbook faltering under scrutiny. Facts, such as verifiable aid flows, the exposure of terrorist affiliations among alleged journalists, and the fraudulent nature of the "genocide" accusation, consistently prevail. When these narratives collapse, the usual anti-Israel influencers are forced to shift conversations to unrelated topics, further highlighting the desperation of their propaganda efforts.

Geopolitical Shifts: Iran's Crumbling Axis of Resistance

Israel's strategic response has not been limited to the information battlespace; it has also leveraged kinetic operations and diplomatic efforts to geopolitically isolate Iran's proxies. The so-called "Axis of Resistance," a network of Iranian-backed groups, is demonstrably crumbling, signaling a significant shift in regional power dynamics:

1. Snapback Sanctions: Choking Iran's Financial Lifeline

On August 28, 2025, the E3 nations (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) triggered the snapback mechanism of UN sanctions against Iran [24, 25]. This critical move threatens tore impose all prior UN sanctions on Iran, effectively curbing the financial flow that has sustained its proxy network across the Middle East [26, 27]. This diplomatic pressure, initiated due to Iran's continued violations of its nuclear commitments, directly impacts Tehran's ability to fund and arm groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The prospect of a full return to international isolation places immense economic strain on the Iranian regime, significantly weakening its capacity to project power through its proxies.

2. Russia's Strategic Pivot: Weakening Iran's Diplomatic Cover

 While Russia and Iran have maintained a degree of cooperation, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine, Russia's strategic priorities are demonstrably shifting. With its continued focus on the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow has shown a hedging approach towards its relationship with Tehran [28, 29]. This subtle but significant pivot weakens Iran's diplomatic cover on the international stage, making it more vulnerable to Western pressure and less able to rely on Russian support to circumvent sanctions or international condemnation. The deepening of the Kyiv-Tel Aviv strategic dialogue, focused on countering Iran, further underscores Russia's evolving stance and the diminishing utility of its alliance with Tehran [30].

3. Houthi Losses: Disrupting Iran's Red Sea Proxy

Recent Israeli strikes have inflicted significant blows on the Houthi leadership in Yemen. On August 28, 2025, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted "Operation Lucky Drop," a targeted strike that killed 12 Houthi political leaders, including their Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasseral-Rahawi, during a meeting in Sana'a [31, 32, 33]. This decisive action has severely disrupted Iran's primary proxy in the Red Sea, which has been a key component of Tehran's strategy to destabilize maritime trade and pressure Israel. The loss of key leaders and the subsequent disarray within the Houthi ranks significantly diminishes their operational capabilities and their ability to act as an effective Iranian proxy.

4. Hezbollah Disarmament: Fracturing Iran's Northern Flank

In a monumental development, Lebanon's government, under international pressure, announced a plan on August 31, 2025, aimed at disarming Hezbollah [34, 35]. While Hezbollah has historically resisted such eforts, the proposed plan, which includes a phased transfer of all Hezbollah weapons to state control by the end of 2025, represents a significant step towards fracturing Iran's northern flank [36, 37]. Although challenges remain, the very public commitment by the Lebanese government, supported by international actors, signals a growing internal and external resolve to curtail Hezbollah's independent military capabilities. This development, if successfully implemented, would severely limit Iran's ability to project power into Israel from Lebanon and would significantly enhance Israel's security along its northern border.

These interconnected geopolitical shifts are collectively isolating Hamas, as the IDF continues its targeted operations in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. The convergence of these factors signals that a decisive Gaza endgame is not only imminent but increasingly favorable to Israel's long-term security objectives.

Iran's Desperation: A Failing Last-Ditch Effort

From Tehran's perspective, time is rapidly running out. The combined impact of cripplingsanctions, the decimation of its proxy forces, and Russia's shifting allegiances signals the imminent collapse of its much-vaunted "Axis of Resistance." Internally, the Iranian regime faces mounting pressure from widespread protests fueled by economic woes and popular discontent, threatening its very stability. In a desperate "use it or lose it" bid to halt Israel's advance and salvage its regional influence, Iran is throwing everything it has: manufactured narratives, provocative actions, and intensive lobbying efforts.

Yet these efforts are demonstrably falling short. The narratives crumble under scrutiny, proxies weaken with each targeted strike, and global support for Iran's destabilizing agenda wanes. When Hamas inevitably falls, Iran's ambitions in Gaza will collapse with it, marking a significant strategic defeat for Tehran.

Israel, increasingly recognized as a pivotal G2 partner for the United States in the Middle East, is actively reshaping the region's geopolitical landscape. This partnership, built on shared strategic interests and a commitment to regional stability, provides a powerful counterweight to Iran's hegemonic aspirations.

A desperate Tehran might resort to escalatory measures, such as cyberattacks or strategically meaningless strikes designed for propaganda rather than military impact. However, the current dynamics overwhelmingly favor Israel's strategic depth, its robust air defense capabilities, and its professional air force over the Iranian regime's faltering 5GW proxy ring and victimhood narratives.

The exposed Iranian regime, sustained primarily by inertia and the fear it instills in its own populace, possesses no genuine means to win this war or even effectively defend itself. The current trajectory suggests that the regime is depleted, and its inability to adapt or change course makes its eventual downfall inevitable. When the fear dissipates, the regime will crumble.

Avi Avidan.

September 2025