In a stunning turn of events, Hamas has orchestrated a surprise assault on Israel, marking a significant intelligence lapse on Israel’s part. This audacious attack occurred on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war and will undoubtedly be etched in history as an intelligence failure of monumental proportions.
In a matter of hours, scores of Gaza militants breached the border fence, infiltrating southern Israel, catching local military positions off guard. Gunmen brazenly kidnapped and killed Israelis in southern border communities, documenting their offensive as they advanced at multiple locations. In an unprecedented moment, a Gaza television journalist delivered a live report from inside Israel during one of these attacks, an occurrence that defied conventional expectations.
While images of thousands of rockets streaking through the sky have become familiar during periodic escalations in Gaza, the footage of Hamas assault teams maneuvering through streets in towns like Sderot, forcibly entering kibbutz gates, and firing upon passing vehicles and pedestrians presented a scenario rarely witnessed by most Israelis. For them, short-lived attacks in cities have become a grim reality.
It is indeed surprising, given Israel’s extensive surveillance of Palestinian society, characterized by its sophistication and intrusiveness. Monitoring Hamas activities has been a paramount objective for Israel’s security establishment. As disclosed by whistleblowers from the Israeli Defense Forces’ cyber warfare 8200 Unit in 2014, efforts to identify potential informants in the occupied Palestinian territories were exhaustive, targeting individuals facing financial and health issues or vulnerability due to misconduct.
Even inmates belonging to militant groups within Israeli prisons historically fell under the scrutiny of intelligence efforts. This makes Israel’s failure to anticipate the planned Hamas attack all the more perplexing.
Israel boasts a cutting-edge surveillance technology industry, exemplified by the Pegasus spyware scandal, placing it among the world’s leaders in this field. Nevertheless, Hamas managed to evade detection in its preparations.
It is true that Hamas, renowned for its determination and strategic planning, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to military challenges, investing substantial effort in planning and identifying Israeli weaknesses, a fact well-recognized by Israel’s defense forces.
While previous rounds of fighting in Gaza revealed Hamas’ development of independent and redundant military communication networks, including battlefield rebroadcast systems, this situation implies two crucial aspects. First, this operation demonstrated a level of operational security and unprecedented coordination among rival Gaza factions, concealing their preparations from Israel. Second, Hamas likely employed significant deception and multifaceted attacks, involving rockets and infiltrations, to sow chaos.
It is evident that Israel missed multiple indicators during the build-up, including planning, stockpiling, and crucially, in the immediate lead-up to the Hamas offensive when fighters assembled near border areas heavily surveilled by patrols, cameras, ground motion sensors, and remote-controlled weaponry. These measures had previously proven effective against border incursions.
This operation, akin to previous surprise infiltration attacks by Hamas involving tunnels into Israel, required extensive preparation and an intricate level of planning.
It is noteworthy that recent incidents involving Hamas did not register as part of a larger build-up to war, a point highlighted by Israeli media. As the firefight with Hamas infiltrators raged on in southern Israel, questions arose regarding how such an event could transpire on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war, a period known for a colossal intelligence failure when Israel faced an Arab coalition attack.
Eli Maron, former head of the Israeli navy, captured the prevailing sentiment, asking, “Where is the IDF, where is the police, where is the security?” This incident has exposed a glaring failure in the hierarchical structures, carrying severe consequences.
On social media and other platforms, Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, faced public criticism during the unfolding attack. The defense minister, Yoav Gallant, eventually broke the silence.
One undeniable fact remains: this attack occurs amid a period of profound social upheaval within Israel. Netanyahu’s far-right government, characterized by figures in cabinet roles with questionable suitability, has exacerbated an already volatile situation in the occupied territories. Netanyahu’s contentious plans to undermine the country’s supreme court and his ongoing legal proceedings for corruption allegations have intensified societal divisions. This has led to a significant number of reservists threatening to withhold their service.
As Netanyahu acknowledged, this is not merely an “operation” or a “round” of fighting; it is a state of war. While Hamas may not sustain its incursion for an extended period, the conclusion is likely to be marked by maximum horror, with shock being a central element.
The paramount question revolves around the scale of Israel’s response. Framed as a war, Hamas’ attack will undoubtedly pressure Netanyahu, particularly from the far right, which has long advocated for a definitive Gaza offensive, possibly culminating in a full reoccupation. Messages emanating from both Gaza and Israel underscore profound apprehension regarding what the future holds.
