Thieves of Palestine

By Jagdish Krishanlal Arora

The Israel-Palestine conflict, rooted in competing historical claims to the land of historic Palestine, has endured for over a century, marked by wars, uprisings, and numerous attempts at peace. At its core are disputes over territory, the rights of Palestinian refugees, security concerns, and the status of Jerusalem. This deeply entrenched and multifaceted conflict has profound humanitarian consequences and remains a significant issue in international diplomacy with lasting implications for the people in the region.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jagdish Krishanlal Arora
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223354949

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Introduction

The armed conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, between Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups and Israeli military forces marked a significant and tragic event in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This conflict began precisely 50 years after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and it was characterized by a coordinated and surprise offensive launched by Hamas, codenamed Al-Aqsa Flood. This offensive set-in motion a chain of events that had far-reaching consequences for both sides and the broader international community.

Hamas's Al-Aqsa Flood offensive commenced in the morning with a massive barrage of at least 5,000 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. Simultaneously, around 2,500 Palestinian militants managed to breach the Gaza-Israel barrier. This breach led to horrifying scenes, as militants massacred and set fire to civilian communities and attacked Israel Defence Forces (IDF) military bases near the Gaza Strip.

Hamas justified its attack as a response to various long-standing grievances, including what it referred to as the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, continued Israeli settlements, and Israeli settler violence. These issues had been sources of tension in the region for many years, and the situation had reached a breaking point.

The consequences of this conflict were severe. Over 1,400 Israelis lost their lives, with a majority of them being civilians. Particularly distressing was the fact that 260 people were killed at a music festival in Re'im, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attacks. Additionally, over 200 individuals, a mix of unarmed civilian hostages and captured Israeli soldiers, were taken to the Gaza Strip, further escalating tensions.

In response to these developments, Israeli military forces launched retaliatory strikes. The Israeli government formally declared war on Hamas a day after the initial offensive began. This war of 2023 was described as one of the fiercest conflicts in the region since the Yom Kippur War, and its repercussions extended far beyond the immediate battlefield.

The broader context of this conflict is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which had been ongoing since May 1948 when the State of Israel was established. Over the years, this conflict had taken various forms and involved numerous actors. However, since 2005, a significant portion of the military activity had been concentrated in or emanating from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas, which had been the ruling party in the Gaza Strip since 2007, had generally avoided major engagements with Israel in the years leading up to 2023. Nonetheless, an increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence was observed in the year prior to the offensive. In 2023, before the Al-Aqsa Flood offensive, at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis, and two foreigners had already lost their lives, underscoring the volatility and fragility of the situation.

This armed conflict of 2023, therefore, represented a critical juncture in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It highlighted the deep-rooted issues, grievances, and tensions that persisted in the region. It also raised important questions about the future of the conflict, the prospects for peace, and the role of the international community in mediating and resolving the crisis.

As this conflict unfolded, it garnered significant international attention and sparked debates and discussions worldwide. The situation called for diplomatic efforts, humanitarian aid, and efforts to address the root causes of the conflict. Ultimately, the events of 2023 serve as a stark reminder of the enduring complexities and challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the urgent need for peaceful solutions to end the cycle of violence and suffering.

The escalation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel in 2023 had far-reaching consequences for both parties involved, as well as for the international community. This conflict was characterized by a series of events, including the clearing of Hamas forces from southern Israel by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and subsequent airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The following analysis goes into the details of the conflict, its human toll, and the international response.

The Attack

The situation on October 7-8, 2023, was as follows:

On October 7, 2023, at around 6:30 a.m. IDT (UTC+3), Hamas announced the beginning of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. They claimed to have launched over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel within a 20-minute timeframe. Israeli sources reported that at least 3,000 projectiles had been fired from Gaza, resulting in at least five casualties from rocket attacks. Explosions were reported in areas around the Gaza Strip, as well as in cities within the Sharon Plain, including Gedera, Herzliyya, Tel Aviv, and Ashkelon. Air raid sirens were activated in several cities, including Beer Sheva, Jerusalem, Rehovot, Rishon Lezion, and Palmachim Airbase.

Hamas called for an armed response, with Commander Mohammad Deif urging Muslims worldwide to launch an attack and to eliminate the enemy wherever they are found.

Hamas employed unconventional tactics, such as using aerial drones to target Israeli observation posts, paragliders for infiltrating into Israel, and motorcycles, which was unusual for the group. Palestinian militants also engaged in confrontations with Israeli forces along the Gaza perimeter fence and opened fire on Israeli boats.

In the evening, Hamas launched another barrage of 150 rockets towards Israel, leading to explosions in various cities, including Yavne, Givatayim, Bat Yam, Beit Dagan, Tel Aviv, and Rishon Lezion.

Simultaneously, around 2,500 Hamas militants and civilians infiltrated Israel from Gaza, using a variety of means, including trucks, pickup trucks, motorcycles, bulldozers, speedboats, and paragliders. They gained control of checkpoints at Kerem Shalom and Erez and created openings in the border fence at five other locations. Initial reports and videos showed heavily armed militants in black fatigues riding pickup trucks and engaging in confrontations in Israeli towns. There were reports of Israeli civilians and soldiers killed, Israeli military vehicles captured, and even hostages taken.

Massacres and attacks on civilians also occurred, with civilians being killed, taken hostage, and homes set on fire in various Israeli communities. The Kfar Aza massacre resulted in over 200 civilian casualties, the Be'eri massacre claimed the lives of 108 people (10% of the kibbutz's population), and 15 individuals were killed in the Netiv HaAsara massacre. In Sderot, gunmen targeted civilians and set houses ablaze, and hostages were taken in Ofakim during Hamas's deep incursion. Hamas also massacred 260 people and injured many others at an outdoor music festival near Re'im, taking attendees hostage. Some video footage showed the desecration of victims' bodies.

At least 200 people were taken hostage during these attacks, including children, festival-goers, peace activists, caregivers, the elderly, and soldiers.

Militants entered Israel through multiple locations on both land and sea, capturing several small rural Israeli communities, the border city of Sderot, and two military bases. Hamas took control of seven communities, including Nahal Oz, Kfar Aza, Magen, Be'eri, and Sufa. There were also reports of 21 active high-confrontation locations in southern Israel.

Hamas militants conducted an amphibious landing in Zikim and captured a military base near Nahal Oz, resulting in casualties and captured Israeli soldiers. Fighting was reported at the Re'im military base, which served as the headquarters for Israel's Gaza Division. It was later reported that Hamas took control of the base and took several Israeli soldiers’ captive before the IDF regained control later in the day. The police station in Sderot also came under Hamas control, resulting in the deaths of 30 Israelis, including policemen and civilians.

Israeli Counterattack

The initial assault occurred during the Jewish holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah and seemed to catch the Israelis completely off guard. Prime Minister Netanyahu urgently convened a meeting with security authorities, and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) initiated Operation Swords of Iron in the Gaza Strip. In a televised address, Netanyahu stated, We are in a state of war. He issued a threat to turn any location where Hamas operated and concealed themselves into ruins, referred to Gaza as the city of evil, and called on its residents to evacuate. Netanyahu, along with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, conducted security assessments at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv. Overnight, Israel's Security Cabinet voted to take action to incapacitate the military and government capacities of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Israel Electric Corporation, which provides 80% of the Gaza Strip's electricity, disconnected power to the region, reducing Gaza's power supply from 120 MW to 20 MW, which was provided by power plants financed by the Palestinian Authority.

The IDF declared a state of war readiness, mobilized tens of thousands of army reservists, and declared a state of emergency for areas within 80 kilometres (50 miles) of Gaza. The Yamam counterterrorism unit was deployed, along with four new divisions to reinforce the existing 31 battalions. Reservists were reported to be deployed in Gaza, the West Bank, and along the borders with Lebanon and Syria. Residents near Gaza were advised to remain indoors, while civilians in southern and central Israel were required to stay close to shelters. Movement in the southern region of Israel was restricted, and roads around Gaza and Tel Aviv were closed. While Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport continued to operate, several airlines cancelled flights to and from Israel. Israel Railways suspended service in parts of the country, replacing some routes with temporary bus services. Cruise ships removed the ports of Ashdod and Haifa from their itineraries.

Defence Minister Gallant informed a Knesset committee that the conflict would consist of three primary phases: an initial phase involving airstrikes and ground operations to dismantle operatives and damage infrastructure to defeat and destroy Hamas, a second phase to eliminate pockets of resistance, and a third phase aimed at establishing a new security arrangement in the Gaza Strip and its vicinity. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen suggested that the size of the Gaza territory might decrease following the conflict, leading to speculation about possible annexation or the establishment of a buffer zone in parts of Gaza.

OCTOBER 7

The IDF announced attacks in Gaza using fighter jets, targeting 17 Hamas military facilities and four command centres. This operation included strikes on the 11-story Palestine Tower in Gaza City, which was believed to house a Hamas intelligence unit equipped with advanced electronic warfare equipment designed to disrupt the GPS reception of Israeli precision-guided munitions and the Iron Dome anti-rocket defence system. According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the IDF also struck two hospitals, resulting in the deaths of an ambulance driver and a nurse.

October 8

By the morning, Israel had struck 426 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The town of Beit Hanoun was extensively damaged by airstrikes, and the Al-Amin Muhammad Mosque was destroyed. Targets included housing blocks, tunnels, homes of Hamas officials, and the Watan Tower, a hub for internet providers in the area. During one Israeli airstrike, 19 members of the same family, including women and children, were killed. Survivors of the strike claimed that there were no militants in their area, and they had received no warning.

Approximately 18 hours after the standoff began, the IDF announced that they had successfully freed the hostages in Be'eri. In Urim, a suburb of Ofakim, two Israelis were rescued by the IDF. Four Hamas militants were killed, and three Israeli soldiers were injured during the operation. Another barrage of Hamas rockets was launched in the morning, with one rocket hitting the Barzilai Medical Centre in Ashkelon. Hamas also fired 100 rockets at Sderot. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) reported engagements with Israeli forces in Kfar Aza, Be'eri, and Kissufim.

Declaration of war against Hamas in the "Operation Swords of