The article titled "Avoiding the Escalatory Trap: Managing Escalation during the Israel-Hamas War", explain Israel’s precarious situation in its conflict with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. The two options Israel has according to Pfaff, is choosing between escalation and maintaining the status quo. Escalation risks draw Israel into a broader regional conflict, while maintaining the status quo left a void for violent groups to continue their actions. Both options have their downsides for Israel.
This paper explores the evolving dynamics of Iran's foreign policy in the Middle East, with a particular focus on its involvement in regional conflicts, such as the Israel-Hamas conflict. Analyzing the works of Mousavian and Chitsazian (2020), as well as Rahat and Abbas (2024), it delves into Iran's strategic alliances and support for non-state actors, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas, as part of its broader geopolitical objectives.