2023 Israel–Gaza war

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2023 Israel–Gaza war
Part of the Arab–Israeli conflict
October 2023 Gaza−Israel conflict.png
State of the conflict as of 11 October 2023.
Date7 October 2023 – present
(7 months, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Location
Israel, Palestinian territories, Lebanon[3] and Syria[4]
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Gaza Strip:
Lebanon:
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Strength

Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades: 40,000 total

Oct 7 attack on Israel: Between 1,000 and 3,000[6]		 Unknown
Casualties and losses

Militants:

Civilians:

In Gaza:
  • 800+ children
  • 900+ women
  • 12,500+ wounded[8]
  • 339,000 displaced[a]
West Bank:

Lebanon (Hezbollah):

Military:

  • 220+ Israeli soldiers,[11][12] including 23+ officers[13]
  • 41 police officers[12]
  • 8 Shin Bet members[12]
Civilians:
  • 850+ reported[11]
  • Up to 1,300 estimated by Israel[11]
  • Approximately 150 hostages taken, incl. foreign nationals[14]

The 2023 Israel–Gaza war, codenamed Operation al-Aqsa Flood (Arabic: عملية طوفان الأقصى ʿamaliyyat ṭūfān al-ʾAqṣā)[15][16][17] or Operation Iron Swords (Hebrew: מבצע חרבות ברזל mivtsá charvót barzél) is an ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups[b] led by Hamas[18][better source needed] which has involved hostage-taking, missile strikes, and an ongoing Israeli "siege" denying food and water to the Gaza Strip. The exchange was triggered on October 7 when the Palestinian fighters launched an unprecedented land, aerial, and sea-based surprise attack. Hamas fighters used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast.[19] The failure of Israeli intelligence to prevent the attack has already led to political fallout, with some Israeli commentators blaming the right-wing Likud party and its leader, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for the humiliation.[20] As of 11 October, the Israeli ruling and opposition parties had reportedly formed a national unity government.

Hostilities were initiated in the early morning with a rocket barrage of at least 3,000 missiles against Israel and vehicle-transported incursions into its territory.[citation needed] Palestinian militants broke through the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking nearby Israeli communities and military installations. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed, including at a music festival in Re'im where at least 260 civilians were reported dead. Israeli soldiers and civilians, including children,[verification needed] were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip.[21] the IDF reported that Hamas had eliminated at least 23 officers, including Col. Yonatan Steinberg, Commander of the Nahal Brigade, and Col. Roi Levy, head of the special operations Multidimensional Unit.[citation needed][13][12]

After clearing militants from affected areas by October 11, Israel responded with airstrikes in the densely-populated Gaza Strip targeting strategic buildings and military targets, with 20 reported cases of bombing of civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, mosques, hospitals and an airstrike on a refugee camp market that killed at least 60.[citation needed] According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, within the first three days at least 900 Palestinians were killed in gunfights and by airstrikes, including 260 children among civilian deaths;[8] the IDF initially stated it killed "more than 1,500" militants inside Israel[citation needed] but has since revised the number. On 10 October, the United Nations reported that around 263,000 Palestinians, more than a tenth of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since the start of hostilities.[22] Fears of a humanitarian crisis were heightened after Israel cut off food, water, electricity, and fuel supplies to the already blockaded strip.[23]

The United States government announced it is supporting Israel by moving the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest warship ever constructed, and its battle group and military jets to the eastern Mediterranean, as well as providing Israel with additional military equipment and ammunition.[24] A conflict was reported between Hezbollah and Palestinian militants in Lebanon and Israeli forces on 8 and 9 October.[25][26] Hezbollah signalled that it would not become further involved in the conflict unless Israel were to significantly ramp up hostilities in Gaza.[citation needed]

Background

Analysis

Objectives

Factors in success

About failures, I prefer not to talk at this point right now. We're in war. We're fighting.

— Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, spokesman for the IDF[27]

Countless Israeli officers have admitted that the attack took them completely by surprise and was only made possible by a number of errors on the part of the Israelis.[27][28] Analysts have cited a number of factors in the failure of Israel to prevent the incursion, including a successful military and political deception by Hamas, the present division of Israeli society due to the ongoing political crisis, tensions surrounding the status of the Jerusalem al-Aqsa Mosque,[27][better source needed] and a form of complacency or even "hubris" towards the Gaza conflict and the capabilities of Hamas.[27][29]

West Bank

Several analysts[27][28] have argued that the ongoing annexation and settling of the West Bank was a major factor in the Hamas operation's success. They stated that the Israeli government and military had been too focused on the annexation of the West Bank and had moved too many troops there to properly defend the Gaza frontier, a factor which Hamas was evidently aware of and successfully exploited.

Military deception

Israeli and international analysts agree that Hamas succeeded overwhelmingly in misleading Israel about its intentions, its readiness and level of military training, and its operational security. Hamas openly trained for the operation and built a "mock Israeli settlement" for training purposes, reportedly even filming their own exercises there.[28] Speaking to Reuters, one anonymous source said that "Israel surely saw [the videos] but they were convinced that Hamas wasn't keen on getting into a confrontation."[28] In addition, years of rocket attacks left Israel unprepared for a ground assault.[27] It remains unknown how Hamas was able to train for the use of motorized paragliders and other complex elements of the operation.

Egypt reportedly warned Israel that an attack from Hamas was imminent just days before the invasion.[30] Netanyahu called reports that such a warning took place "totally fake news".[30] Israeli intelligence prides itself on being able to "listen to most any phone call in Gaza" as well as its large number of informants in the city.

Atrocities

Israel

Gaza siege

On 9 October, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant announced:

We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel, everything will be closed. We are fighting against human animals, and we will act accordingly.[31]

The United Nations has condemned the siege as a violation of international law.

Bombings of evacuating civilians

On 13 October, Israel reportedly bombed the main road by which Gazans were attempting to "evacuate" northern Gaza according to Israeli orders.[32] The Wikipedia article on the event stated that "pro-Palestinian sources blamed Israeli airstrikes for the killing" and that the real perpetrator was "disputed" without mentioning an alternate accusation from any party. The BBC published a blurb titled "Palestinian convoy hit while fleeing northern Gaza" written entirely in the passive voice.[33]

Abuse of POWs

Use of banned munitions

Israel has been accused of using white phosphorus in Gaza[34][35] and Lebanon, which would constitute a war crime.

Hamas

Re'im music festival

On the morning of the initial invasion, Hamas forces attacked an Israeli military base at Re'im, less than 6 km (4 miles) from the Gaza border. According to videos and eyewitness reports,[36][37] Hamas committed an unprovoked attack against Israeli civilians at Supernova Sukkot Gathering, a music festival in Re'im,[36] reportedly near the military base. Israeli emergency response organization ZAKA reported that over 260 people had been killed.[38] In an interview with Sky News, a Hamas official did not deny that the attack had occurred, but claimed that the festivalgoers counted as legitimate targets since they were settlers as well as potential IDF fighters given Israel's policy of universal consription.[39]

On 10 October, Russia Today journalist Fiorella Isabel posted a widely circulated tweet cliaming that IDF members had been shooting at Hamas from among the festivalgoers, along with a video which appeared to show a tank in footage recorded during the attack.[40] However, eyewitnesses did not mention an IDF presence or counter-fire, and additional evidence has not surfaced.

Initial accounts of rape during the attack remain unsubstantiated. On 9 October, the Los Angeles Times, one source of such claims, issued a retraction.[41]

The context and motivation for the killings remain unclear.

Kfar Aza

On 10 October, a correspondent for the Israeli state-funded[citation needed] news channel i24NEWS relayed claims from the IDF that the bodies of an estimated 40 babies deliberately killed by Hamas had been found at Kfar Aza kibbutz.[42] No images of the atrocity were published, but one image of a bed covered with blood was widely circulated as evidence on social media. In a tweet written later that day, French journalist Margot Haddad claimed that she had personally seen "atrocious" images which corroborated the claims.[43] She also cited unspecified “courageous journalists from the foreign press” who “agreed to see with their own eyes the bodies in Kfar Aza”. Evidence of such a massacre has yet to be provided.

Claims that babies and others were violently beheaded are also disputed.

Impact

The attack has already drawn comparisons to the 1968 Vietnamese Tet Offensive as well as the 1973 Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur War.[44][45] These comparisons are on several grounds, among them:

  • The attacks were unexpected breaks in a low-level, static conflict where the attacking force had been previously underestimated.
  • All three were coordinated to take place on a holiday: in this case, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
  • The attacks carried serious political implications for the defending country, especially causing them to re-estimate the cost of involvement:

[T]here are already signs of a political backlash in Israel. When asked by reporters why Israeli military intelligence hadn’t foreseen Hamas’ attack, an army spokesman replied, “That’s a good question.” An editorial published in Haaretz held Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally responsible for the attack. And even the more right-leaning Jerusalem Post conceded that a consequential political reckoning “will come” after the fighting has ended.[44]

Reactions

United States

United Kingdom

UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer voiced support for the food and water "siege" announced by Israel, stating that "she has the right to defend herself" so long as it is "done within international law." Starmer neglected to mention that the policy is itself a contravention of international law and has been condemned by the United Nations.

Germany

As of 11 October, Germany has banned protesters from holding any rally in support of Palestine, citing "anti-Semitism" and "glorification of violence".[46] Germany has a history of banning pro-Palestine demonstrations on such charges.[citation needed]

China

On 8 October, the Chinese foreign ministry issued the following brief statement:

China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel. We call on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation. The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestine question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards that end.[47]

Colombia

Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia, made several social media posts comparing Israeli actions to the Nazi Holocaust.[48] Israel has responded by suspending military exports to Colombia.[49] The Colombian government responded by threatening to cut diplomatic ties between the two states.

Iran

The Iranian foreign ministry and permanent mission to the United Nations denied any role in the Hamas attacks and responded that such allegations were "aimed at turning public opinion (away from the facts) and at justifying the potential future actions" of the Israeli state.[50]

Notes

  1. ↑ Per the UN[9]
  2. ↑ The list of groups included Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Lions' Den.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Al-Qassam fighters engage IOF on seven fronts outside Gaza: Statement". Al Mayadeen English. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Qassam Brigades announces control of 'Erez Crossing'". Roya News. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Israel Army Fires Artillery at Lebanon as Hezbollah Claims Attack". Asharq Al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Israel carrying out artillery strikes in Syria after mortar fire". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 October 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ "Hamide Rencüs: İsrail ilk defa Gazze sınırındaki kontrolü kaybetmiş durumda". bianet.org. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Israel-Gaza live updates: 22 Americans among the dead". ABC News. 11 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  7. ↑ Presse, AFP - Agence France (17 Oct 2023). "Around 3,000 Gazans Killed In Israeli Strikes: Hamas Ministry". Barron's. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named mee pal deaths
  9. ↑ "As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel forms unity government to oversee war sparked by Hamas attack". Associated Press. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Hezbollah fires on Israel after four members killed in shelling". Dawn. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Fabian, Emanuel (12 Oct 2023). "IDF: 361 out of 854 bodies of civilians brought to rabbinate are identified, along with 222 soldiers". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 Oct 2023.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Fabian, Emanuel. "Authorities name 170 soldiers, 41 police officers killed in 2023 terror clashes". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Shoaib, Alia (8 Oct 2023). "2 of Israel's elite commanders and many officers have been killed in the Hamas war launched from Gaza: says IDF". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 Oct 2023.
  14. ↑ Tanno, Sophie (8 Oct 2023). "Festivalgoers, children, soldiers: What we know about the people captured by Hamas". CNN. Retrieved 12 Oct 2023.
  15. ↑ McKernan, Bethan (7 October 2023). "Hundreds die and hostages held as Hamas assault shocks Israel". The Guardian. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  16. ↑ Pacchiani, Gianluca (7 October 2023). "Hamas claims to fire 5,000 rockets at Israel, declares 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood'". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Hamas announces 'Al-Aqsa Storm,' claims to have fired 5,000 rockets". CNN. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  18. ↑ Beauchamp, Zack (7 October 2023). "Why did Hamas invade Israel?". Vox. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  19. ↑ Federman, Josef; Adwan, Issam (7 October 2023). "Hamas militant group has started a war that 'Israel will win,' defense minister says". AP News. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  20. ↑ Editorial, Haaretz (8 Oct 2023). "Netanyahu Bears Responsibility for This Israel-Gaza War". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  21. ↑ McKernan, Bethan (7 October 2023). "Hamas launches surprise attack on Israel as Palestinian gunmen reported in south". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "UN says nearly 200,000 displaced in Gaza, water shortages expected". Reuters. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  23. ↑ Abu Alouf, Rushdi; Slow, Oliver (10 October 2023). "Gaza 'soon without fuel, medicine and food' – Israel authorities". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "US moves warships closer to Israel after Hamas attack". BBC News. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "Hamas-Israel war: Israel bombards Gaza as death toll surpasses 1000 on second day of fighting – as it happened". Al-Ahram. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  26. ↑ "Israel Orders 'Complete Siege' of Gaza as Troops Battle to Secure Border Areas". The New York Times. 9 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 Kim, Juliana (9 Oct 2023). "Hamas' attack is a staggering failure for Israel's intelligence and security forces". NPR. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Nakhoul, Samia; Saul, Jonathan (10 Oct 2023). "How Hamas duped Israel as it planned devastating attack". Reuters. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  29. ↑ Bishara, Marwan (7 Oct 2023). "From hubris to humiliation: The 10 hours that shocked Israel — Opinions". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Egypt warned Israel days before Hamas struck, US committee chairman says". BBC News. 11 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  31. ↑ "Israeli defence minister orders 'complete siege' on Gaza — Hamas". Al Jazeera. 9 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  32. ↑ "Scores killed in Israeli air strikes on families fleeing northern Gaza". Middle East Eye. 13 Oct 2023. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
  33. ↑ "Palestinian convoy hit while fleeing northern Gaza". BBC News. 14 Oct 2023. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
  34. ↑ "Palestinians report Israeli use of 'white phosphorus' in Gaza". Middle East Eye. 11 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  35. ↑
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "What to know about the deadly Hamas attack on an Israeli music festival — Israel-Palestine conflict News". Al Jazeera. 10 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  37. ↑ Cuddy, Francesca Gillet & Alice (8 Oct 2023). "Israeli music festival: 260 bodies recovered from site where people fled in hail of bullets". BBC News. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  38. ↑ Tal, Amir (8 October 2023). "At least 260 bodies found at music festival site in Israel after Hamas attack, rescue organization says". Israel at war with Hamas after unprecedented attacks. Jerusalem: CNN. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023. At least 260 bodies have been found at the site of an Israeli music festival following Saturday's attack by Hamas, according to Israeli rescue service Zaka.
  39. ↑ Meiri, Gilad (10 Oct 2023). "Unbelievable: Hamas official dismisses claims civilians massacred as 'Israeli propaganda'". ynetnews. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  40. ↑ @FiorellaIsabelM (October 10, 2023). "BREAKING Reports that Hamas wasn't targeting civilians at the music festival - The IDF were shooting at Hamas FROM the crowd of civilians. Civilians were caught in the crossfire" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  41. ↑ "Column: Who's to blame for the Hamas attack on Israel? That debate is already going off the rails". Los Angeles Times. 2023-10-09. Archived from the original on 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  42. ↑ @margothaddad (October 10, 2023). "Ça y est l'information est sortie. C'est si macabre que personne ne voulait la donner avant d'avoir eu confirmation à 100%. 🔺 Des nourrissons, des enfants de moins de 2 ans ont été décapités par le Hamas dans le Kibboutz de Kfar Aza. C'est une horreur, un massacre. Pour ceux qui demandent la source. Elles sont multiples: armée israélienne, service du renseignement intérieur et images atroces qui ont pu me parvenir et que j'ai pu recouper. Mais la meilleure source reste celle ci : des journalistes courageux de la presse étrangère qui ont pu voir / accepté de voir de leurs propres yeux les corps à Kfar Aza" (Tweet) – via Twitter. Machine translation used.
  43. ↑ @Nicole_Zedek (October 10, 2023). "Soldiers told me they believe 40 babies/children were killed. The exact death toll is still unknown as the military continues to go house to house and find more Israeli casualties" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Thomas, Daniel C. (11 Oct 2023). "Hamas attack might be Israel's Tet Offensive". POLITICO. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  45. ↑ "Israel's Tet Moment". Ettingermentum Newsletter. 10 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  46. ↑ Kerez, Timo (11 Oct 2023). "Police ban Palestinian solidarity rallies in Berlin". Anadolu Ajansı. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  47. ↑ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Escalation of Tensions Between Palestine and Israel". 中华人民共和国外交部. 8 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  48. ↑ Phillips, Tom (16 Oct 2023). "Israel and Colombia in ferocious diplomatic spat over Hamas war". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 Oct 2023. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
  49. ↑ "Israel suspends military exports to Colombia over its president's criticism of Gaza siege". AP News. 16 Oct 2023. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
  50. ↑ Presse, AFP - Agence France (9 Oct 2023). "Iran Denies It Had Role In Hamas Attack On Israel". Barron's. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
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