Hamas Attack on Israel: A Historic Intelligence Failure
Hamas Attack on Israel: A Historic Intelligence Failure
Hamas Attack on Israel: A Historic Intelligence Failure
On Saturday, the Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel by firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating fighters into Israeli territory. According to David Khalfa, co-director of the Observatory of North Africa and the Middle East at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, this "surprise, massive, and coordinated" attack represents a "major failure" of Israeli intelligence services.
Operation "Al-Aqsa Deluge"
The Hamas, the armed wing of the Islamist movement that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, announced that it had launched more than 5,000 rockets and infiltrated fighters into Israeli territory. This attack, named "Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge," shattered a ceasefire that had been generally observed since the end of a five-day war between Israel and the Palestinian territory in May.
Israeli Response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised retaliation, stating, "Our enemy will pay a price like they have never known." He declared that they were at war and determined to win.
David Khalfa's Perspective
David Khalfa, co-director of the Observatory of North Africa and the Middle East at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, believes that this attack highlights a certain unpreparedness on the part of Israeli intelligence services.
Unprecedented Attack
This attack is unprecedented in both its scale and sophistication. Israel has not faced such an attack with a genuine land invasion since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Hamas commando forces are operating deep within Israeli territory, using tactics resembling those of a conventional army. They are highly trained and well-equipped with modern tactical capabilities, conducting simultaneous battles in multiple locations.
Israeli Intelligence Failure
The inability of Israeli intelligence services to anticipate this attack is a major failure. It can be compared, without exaggeration, to the intelligence failure of 1973. Israel, a country in a constant state of alertness, appeared unprepared and possibly suffered from an analytical error in its intelligence assessment. This might also indicate inadequate preparation by Israeli special forces.
Operational Complexity
The success of the Hamas operation is based on the element of surprise and joint military maneuvers. The operation involves three dimensions: air, sea, and land. This complexity likely caught the Israelis off guard.
Issues with Anticipation and Threat Analysis
Israel heavily relies on its technology to anticipate and neutralize threats in advance. However, the events of today demonstrate both a problem in anticipating the attack and potentially an issue with analyzing the level of threat. Israeli intelligence had envisioned a northern invasion scenario, involving Hezbollah in South Lebanon. However, they were caught off guard from a different direction.
Timing of the Hamas Operation
This terrorist operation coincides with a specific period in Israel's history characterized by a unique political and institutional crisis, as well as significant societal polarization and fragmentation. This national crisis has been ongoing for several months, marked by weekly protests. Hamas openly expressed its intention to capitalize on Israel's apparent vulnerability for such an attack.
Additionally, there is an anniversary date, marking 50 years since the Yom Kippur War. Today happens to be the Hebrew date anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, which was a surprise invasion by allied Arab armies. Therefore, Hamas clearly intends to align symbolically and communicationally with this historical event, aiming to strike hard and fast. The Israeli populace is genuinely shocked and in a state of bewilderment.
