What Is Happening In Israel?

 

By Rameen Ali

A famous biblical saying, "These days there’s no king in Israel," perfectly captured the prevailing sentiment, hinting at the chaos and lack of leadership. On a day that should have been celebratory, Israel found itself in a nightmare, its image tarnished and its vulnerabilities shockingly exposed. As the morning sun shone down on a Jewish festival, a sudden and unprecedented assault by hundreds of militants blasted through the Israeli-Gaza barrier. They wreaked havoc in over 20 locations, causing a bloodbath on streets and homes, and even at an outdoor festival. A staggering 300 Israelis lost their lives, while 100 were taken hostage and more than 1,800 were injured.

 

In a scathing critique, the editorial page of Israel's widely-read newspaper, Haaretz, lambasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his political and security blunders. The aftermath of Hamas' unexpected attack, which resulted in a tragic loss of hundreds of Israeli lives, has put the Prime Minister's leadership under intense scrutiny. Haaretz emphasized that Netanyahu's boastful reliance on his vast political expertise and his so-called unparalleled wisdom in security affairs blindsided him to the looming threats, especially from Gaza.

 

The newspaper pointedly remarked that Netanyahu's decision to set up a "government of annexation and dispossession" and position figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir in pivotal roles significantly contributed to this failure. Furthermore, Haaretz critiqued Netanyahu's foreign policy, which seemed to blatantly disregard the existence and rights of Palestinians, creating a volatile environment that eventually led to the Palestinians retaliating.

 

Echoing these sentiments, several Israeli experts drew chilling parallels between the shocking Hamas attack and Israel's past intelligence oversights. The haunting memory of the 1973 October War, where Israel was caught off-guard, resurfaced among these discussions. Jacob Dalal, penning his thoughts in the Times of Israel blog, unveiled the profound missteps of the army and intelligence. As a reserve major in the Israeli army and having been the army's spokesperson during the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Dalal's insights bear weight. He elucidated that while the Israeli army had prepared for potential infiltration assaults, they mistakenly anticipated these threats to emerge from Hezbollah in Lebanon, overlooking the potential dangers from Gaza. The grievous casualties and the uncertain number of captives only highlight this intelligence lapse.

 

Dalal also forecasted a shift in the global perspective. He cautioned that the initial wave of international sympathy towards Israel might wane quickly, particularly if Israel intensifies its operations in Gaza. In the dynamic realm of geopolitics, Israel's next moves will be closely watched, not only by its allies but also by critics and adversaries. This was a dark day that even in Israel's turbulent history stood out for its sheer terror. The nation was in disbelief. For many, it brought back the harrowing memories of 9/11. Questions rang out, echoing the shock and horror: How could Israel, with its formidable military, be so blindsided by such a catastrophic assault? The aftermath painted a grim picture. While most of the militants sent by the terror outfit Hamas had been expelled, the fighting had only just begun. And as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu geared up for a fierce counterattack on Gaza, he warned of the heavy toll the war would exact.

 

Historically, the Palestinian group Hamas has been a constant thorn in Israel's side, with its relentless attacks on Israeli civilians. Their reign of terror from the Gaza Strip has spanned over 15 years. But this latest assault was unlike anything Israel had ever witnessed. Not only did militants use sea routes and breach barriers, but they also launched an extensive ground invasion, wreaking havoc across multiple cities. As horrifying videos flooded social media, they depicted scenes of panic from a party near the border, with attendees fleeing in terror and some being taken captive.

 

To add salt to Israel's wounds, Hamas managed to seize ambulances, an Israeli tank, and even took control of pivotal establishments like the police station in Sderot. This was a stark reminder of Israel's vulnerabilities, contrasting sharply with their renowned missile defense systems. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were caught off-guard, evident from the tardy response and the fact that locals had to form makeshift defense squads to fend off Hamas militants. The ensuing chaos also raised questions about the Israeli government's priorities, which had been preoccupied with internal matters.

With potentially 100 Israelis being held hostage by Hamas, history reverberated with the echoes of previous kidnappings. The specter of past hostage situations loomed large, especially considering the high-stakes prisoner swaps that had taken place.

With Israel now on the precipice of a full-scale war, its future seems uncertain. As Netanyahu pledges a ruthless onslaught on Gaza, the coming days threaten more despair and devastation.