Gaza proves Iran is all talk but no action

Qaani made it clear that Iran was not interested in involving itself should an all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel erupt.

Read more: Israel banks on Iran's aversion to war to go after Hezbollah

Tehran's decision to stay out of the war between Hamas and Israel and a potential war between Hezbollah and Israel shows that all its talk about defending Palestine was just an excuse to build up proxy militias in the region.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal himself expressed disappointment with Iran for not coming to the group's aid in its time of need.

And while Nasrallah has asserted that Hezbollah began its attacks on Israel to draw in its soldiers to the northern front to lessen the severity of its war on Gaza, the devastation on the ground is proof that this is simply not the case.

Not only did the attacks on Israel not help the Palestinians, but they also put the Lebanese in a precarious position—especially citizens in the south.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Hezbollah is doing its own bargaining in the ongoing negotiations with the United States on a ceasefire in Gaza. A potential deal reached in Gaza could likely see Hezbollah's position in Lebanon further bolstered.

Apart from Hezbollah, Iran's other proxies in the region have also been launching attacks to demonstrate supposed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

On their part, the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces in Iraq tried to obstruct oil truck transit into Jordan. Some observers saw it as a display of strength, while others saw it as an Iranian message to Jordan, which has long been a target of Tehran.

In the Red Sea, the Houthis initiated military actions against ships it claimed were en route to Israel. Subsequently, the United States and Britain commenced air strikes against the group.

In Syria, where Iran and Hezbollah have significant influence, Israel has carried out numerous military operations targeting Iranian-affiliated targets, resulting in the assassination of several Iranian and Lebanese figures.

However, Syria has been notably absent in offensive operations in 'support of Gaza' because it is not in Iran's interest to do so.

It has invested so much in Syria that Iran cannot risk dragging it into an all-out war with Israel because it has far too much to lose and while there have been occasional skirmishes, Syria's involvement could deal a severe blow to Iran's influence in the region.

With all of Iran's investment in its so-called axis of resistance, the Palestinians have yet to reap the rewards of this alleged support.