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Not since 1948, the year of its founding, has Israel experienced such a bold and violent attack on its own soil. The surprise assault by Hamas, involving land, sea, and air attacks, revealed a significant failure in Israel’s intelligence efforts. As of Sunday, Israel reported over 600 civilian casualties, while Palestinian authorities claimed at least 370 deaths in Gaza. The kidnapping of over 100 Israeli hostages has triggered a national trauma, further complicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s options in a “long and difficult war.” This conflict presents a unique challenge for Israel, raising concerns about a larger regional conflagration.
The graphic images of bodies in the streets, executions, and fleeing Israelis detained by Hamas have rightfully elicited horror and condemnation worldwide. Israel has the right to defend itself and may be tempted to respond with full force to deal a fatal blow to the militant group, send a message to its adversaries, and secure the release of its citizens. However, it is worth considering whether the timing of this intelligence failure coincides with the divisive judicial reforms within Israeli society. To ensure Israel’s safety, the prime minister should heed calls to form a national unity government and replace extremists with more moderate voices.
Regardless, history has shown that violence begets violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Prime Minister Netanyahu must carefully calibrate his response and limit retaliation to military targets in the densely populated Gaza Strip, despite the challenges posed by the Israeli and Egyptian blockade. An expanded conflict that benefits extremists on all sides would jeopardize stability in the Middle East.
The involvement of Hezbollah would risk uncontrolled escalation. This Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon possesses a far greater arsenal of missiles and rockets than Hamas, making it difficult for Israel to handle conflicts on multiple fronts. The West Bank has already experienced dangerous simmering tensions, with frequent Israeli raids exacerbating the situation over the past year.
The United States, along with regional states such as Egypt and Qatar, who have contacts with Hamas, must exert their influence to bring an end to the violence and secure the release of Israeli hostages. However, urgent international attention must also be refocused on the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has slipped down the list of priorities over time.
Efforts by Washington to broker a deal for Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel have intensified. While this push may marginalize Palestinians further, it could have partially motivated the Hamas attack, considering its scale and sophistication, implying long-term preparations.
This assault underscores the fact that peace in the region can only be achieved if the decades-old Palestinian demand for a viable state is addressed with genuine intent. Since Hamas took control of Gaza, Israel has waged at least four devastating wars against the group, leading to immense suffering for the 2 million people residing in the strip. Merely relying on force will not eliminate this threat. As long as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved, the conditions for the emergence of the next generation of extremist militants will persist.
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