"Holocaust of the 21st century"; Why Israel is facing unprecedented global isolation
As atrocities in Gaza escalate and Israel faces mounting backlash over its starvation tactics, veteran Israeli journalist Henrique Cymerman offered a stark assessment of the regime’s collapsing global image during an interview with FM 103 radio on Wednesday, as reported by Maariv.
Cymerman opened the conversation by highlighting Israel’s deepening international isolation amid the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. He stressed that Israel is facing a severe political and military crisis, with its global legitimacy rapidly slipping away.
He further acknowledged that Hamas is gaining traction in shaping international opinion, remarking that in all his decades reporting for global media outlets, he has never seen Israel in such a precarious and vulnerable position.
Cymerman, who contributes to major international news organizations, warned that the global reaction to the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza is likely to have serious repercussions for Israel’s political and diplomatic influence.
He noted that Israel is losing the battle over media narratives on an unprecedented scale. Headlines branding the Gaza war as the “21st-century Holocaust,” he said, reflect waning global support for Israel and a surge in empathy for Palestinians.
Cymerman asserted that the regime is experiencing unparalleled isolation. He pointed to the Israeli government’s March 2025 decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza and intentionally worsen famine conditions, saying this move played directly into Hamas’s strategic hands.
He explained that with help from Qatari media outlets, Hamas has managed to broadcast the full extent of the humanitarian disaster to the world, galvanizing anti-Israel sentiment across global audiences.
Cymerman also painted a grim picture of the situation for Jewish communities in Western countries, noting that fear has driven many to erase their personal details from public records and live in secrecy due to rising tensions and fear of pro-Palestinian backlash.
In his remarks, aired on Maariv-affiliated FM 103, Cymerman warned that the combination of worsening conditions in Gaza and growing international backing for Palestinians could pave the way for a “Second Balfour Declaration,” potentially leading to formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
He concluded by urging Israel to swiftly end the war and negotiate a comprehensive deal with Hamas, arguing that such a move is essential to securing Israel’s long-term security and avoiding further diplomatic fallout.