Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack in Israel’s history on Saturday, killing hundreds of mostly civilian people and capturing many others. In response to this attack, Israel declared war and launched a counterattack. In just 4 days, thousands of people lost their lives on both sides.
This attack, which coincided with the Jewish holy day of Shabbat, is believed to be intentional and not a coincidence, just like the Yom Kippur War of 1973. The Yom Kippur War, initiated by the Arab states led by Egypt and Syria against Israel, took place from October 6 to October 25, 1973. This war began with Egypt’s attack on the day the Jewish religious holiday Yom Kippur was celebrated. A significant portion of the war took place in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel in 1967.
Yom Kippur, known as the “Day of Atonement,” is the holiest holiday for Jews. On the morning of this holiday, hundreds of terrorists crossed the barriers between Israel and Gaza, spreading to more than 20 different areas. They targeted Israelis on the streets and opened fire on hundreds of people at an outdoor festival with their eyes closed. They also took hundreds of people hostage in trucks.
Israel’s history is filled with wars, terrorism, and military attacks. This attack is being compared to the September 11th attacks in the United States because there has not been another event in the region quite like it. However, the horror of what has happened indicates that the region will not be the same as before. The Israeli people, who boast about their military, are questioning how they were caught so unprepared for this attack. Hamas, which has always openly expressed its desire to destroy Israel, attacked from the air, land, and sea. But for the first time in its history, how it managed to penetrate the enemy’s defenses with a tactic not of its own is being questioned.
With a surprise attack from land, sea, and air, Hamas has opened a new and bloody chapter in the Palestinians’ armed struggle against Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is in a full-scale war with Hamas, and this was proven within a few days. With the declaration of “We are at war,” 500,000 reserve soldiers were called up, and the square movement’s button was pressed.
Incidents in the past at Al-Aqsa have always been the flashpoint of conflicts between Palestinians and Israelis. Hamas declared the start of the “Al-Aqsa Storm Operation,” referring to the attacks on Jerusalem, with the goal of completely eliminating and eradicating Israel. Hamas’s military leader, Muhammed Deif, stated in a release on Saturday that this attack was a retaliation for Israel’s “disrespect to Al-Aqsa.” Hamas spokesperson Gazi Hamad has been trying to explain the justifiability of the attacks on television since they began. Hamad emphasized that Israeli civilians were not specifically targeted, and despite the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians since the beginning of the year, the world has remained silent about what is happening.
Hamas, officially known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, is one of the two major political parties in Palestinian territories. The group was formed during an uprising against Israel in 1987 and was originally an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is known as a political movement that believes Islam should play a significant role in political life.
Many countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization due to its attacks on Israel and suicide bombings. Some countries, including New Zealand, only consider the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist group. Hamas is also known for providing social services to the people of Gaza, offering education and medical care in schools and hospitals.
Hamas claims to be a movement fighting for the liberation of Palestinians from occupation and the recovery of most of Israel. Its actions, especially the violence it employs, have caused divisions among Palestinians and supporters of the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Palestine has two separate regions: the Gaza Strip, a narrow strip of land trapped between Israel and Egypt in the Mediterranean. Originally, it was an area under the control of the Ottoman Empire and later under the control of the UK. After the establishment of Israel in 1948, Egypt controlled Gaza for about 20 years. Palestine has two separate regions, with Gaza being the smaller one, and the other being the West Bank.
In 1967, following the victory in the “Six-Day War” against its Arab neighbors, Israel seized control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Israel controlled this strip for 38 years and established 21 Jewish settlements. In 2005, under international pressure, Israel withdrew its settlers and military forces from Gaza, also returning some parts of the occupied West Bank to the Palestinian Authority. Gaza is known as the world’s most densely populated area, with more than 2 million people.
Hamas, which has been in conflict with Palestinian groups in the West Bank multiple times, took control of the Gaza Strip after winning elections in 2006, and there have been no new elections in the region since then. Since 2007, Israel has imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on Gaza. Israel argues that this blockade, also enforced by Egypt, is necessary to protect its citizens from Hamas.
The blockade of Gaza is considered illegal by many international organizations. Violations of the Geneva Convention on human rights are known, but Israel denies these accusations. According to the UN, Gaza is still under Israeli military occupation. Finding a peaceful solution in the region is unfortunately not an easy task. Disarming Gaza would require a complete occupation of the region, which would come with significant risks.
What distinguishes the attack that began on Saturday from others is that Hamas initiated an unexpected military operation. Intelligence reports suggest that it was impossible for Hamas to carry out this operation alone by infiltrating seven points along what was considered to be a protected border and launching over 2,000 rockets.
While Iran denies direct involvement in Hamas’s attacks on Israel, it has always supported Hamas. Israel retaliating and the fear of the war spreading throughout the region are concerns. Iran’s support for Hamas was quickly declared, and many senior Iranian officials have indicated through their statements that this support will continue. Iran’s UN ambassador denies any direct involvement in the attack. However, it is suggested that Hamas may have learned some urban warfare tactics from the Revolutionary Guards, as it would be impossible for Hamas to carry out such an operation alone.
Hamas has put the blame on itself. Israel’s response will be highly destructive, and unfortunately, thousands of people on both sides will suffer. Neither Israel nor Hamas will be the winner of this war. The answer to the question “Why now?” regarding the attack that took place a week after Qatar’s mediation and the start of thousands of Palestinians working in Israeli territories should be sought within the broader political framework of the Middle East.
