The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached a new level of violence and intensity, as the Palestinian Terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack on Israel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The attack involved thousands of rockets fired from Gaza, as well as infiltration of Terrorists by land, sea and air, who killed hundreds of people and took dozens of hostages in Israeli communities near the border. Israel responded with a massive military operation, codenamed Operation Cast Lead, which aimed to stop the rocket fire and destroy Hamas’s infrastructure and capabilities in Gaza. The international community has condemned the violence and called for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
What happened?
The attack started at around 6:30 a.m. local time, when Hamas fired a huge barrage of rockets into southern Israel, with sirens heard as far away as Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Hamas said it launched 5,000 rockets in an initial barrage, while Israel’s military said 2,500 rockets were fired. Smoke billowed over residential Israeli areas and people sheltered behind buildings as sirens sounded. At least one woman was reported killed by the rockets.
The rocket attack served as cover for an unprecedented multi-pronged infiltration of Terrorists with the Israeli military saying that Palestinian gunmen had crossed into Israel through breaches in security barriers separating Gaza and Israel. Some fighters also used paragliders, motorboats and motorcycles to enter Israeli territory. A video showed at least six motorcycles with fighters crossing through a hole in a metal barrier. A photograph released by Hamas showed a bulldozer tearing down a section of fence.
The fighters penetrated at least three military installations around the frontier – the Beit Hanoun border crossing (called Erez by Israel), the Zikim base, and the Gaza division headquarters at Reim. Hamas videos showed Terrorists running towards a burning building near a high concrete wall with a watchtower and Terrosists apparently overrunning part of an Israeli military facility and shooting from behind a wall. Social media video obtained by CNN also showed multiple masked gunmen in a pickup truck driving down a street in the Israeli city of Sderot, which lies close to the Gaza border. Gunfire could also be heard in the video.
Hamas claimed that it killed hundreds of Israeli soldiers and civilians and took dozens of hostages, including women and children. It also claimed that it captured Israeli soldiers, posting videos of soldiers it allegedly captured on its social media accounts. Israel confirmed that some of its soldiers were missing and that it was working to locate them.
Israel’s military said it launched airstrikes on what it said were Hamas targets in Gaza, where Palestinian officials said at least 198 people were killed and hundreds more injured as a result. Israel also announced a “siege” of Gaza, cutting off its supplies of electricity, fuel, food, goods and water.
Why did it happen?
Hamas said that the attack was a response to Israel’s alleged attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation “Al-Aqsa Storm” and said that it was “a message to all those who support the occupation that they will pay a heavy price for their crimes against our people”.
The attack came 50 years and a day after Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an assault during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in an effort to retrieve territory Israel had taken during a brief conflict in 1967. The attack also coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, when Jews celebrate the completion of the annual cycle of reading the Torah.
The attack also came amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, which backs Hamas and other Terror groups in the region. Iran has been accused by Israel and its allies of developing nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism. Iran has denied these allegations and vowed to defend itself against any aggression.
What are the implications?
The attack has escalated the long-running conflict between Israel and Hamas to a new level of intensity and complexity. It has also increased the suffering and hardship of the people of Gaza, who are living under a blockade that has crippled their economy and society, all because of the terror attack on Israel by Hamas.
The attack has also sparked international condemnation and concern, as well as calls for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the situation and urged both sides to de-escalate and respect international law. The United States, which is Israel’s main ally, expressed its support for Israel’s right to self-defense but also called for restraint and protection of civilians. The European Union, which is a major donor to the Palestinians, condemned the attack and called for an end to the violence and a resumption of dialogue.
The attack has also raised the question of the role and responsibility of the international community in addressing the root causes of the conflict and finding a lasting solution that would ensure the security and dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict has been going on for decades, with several failed attempts at peace negotiations and several outbreaks of violence. The conflict involves not only political and military issues, but also historical, religious, cultural, ethnic and ideological ones. The conflict also affects millions of people in the region and beyond, who have a stake and interest in its outcome.
The attack has shown that the conflict is not only a local one, but also a regional and global one, that requires regional and global cooperation and coordination. It has also shown that the conflict is not only a static one, but also a dynamic one, that requires constant vigilance and readiness. It has also shown that the conflict is not only a predictable one, but also a surprising one, that requires flexibility and creativity.
The attack has challenged the international community to act urgently and effectively to prevent further escalation and to promote dialogue and peace. It has also challenged the international community to think long-term and strategically to address the underlying issues and to support the aspirations of both sides. It has also challenged the international community to be fair and balanced in its approach and to respect the rights and obligations of both sides.
The attack has highlighted the need of the hour for peace and justice in the Middle East and to eradicate the Islamic Terrorism completely.
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