When armed men from Hamas, the radical Palestinian organisation in Gaza, crossed into Israel in the early morning hours of Oct 7, 2023, with the purpose of murdering or kidnapping any Israeli soldier or civilian in their path, they set in motion a brutal and bloody war. Still, nobody thought in its early days that the conflict would last so long or take the unexpected turns that it did.
Yet by the end of this week, the Gaza war will reach the grim milestone of one year, with no indication whatsoever that the bloodshed is about to end. It is a war which both Israel and Hamas are losing, while everyone else seems powerless to stop it. Yet, it is also a war that keeps on reshaping the Middle East in even more ominous directions.
For Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza and for Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas' military forces, the Oct 7 attacks, which they planned almost single-handedly, had exact objectives.
They wanted to inflict maximum pain on Israel. They also aimed to derail Israel's normalisation of diplomatic relations with Arab states, a process which threatened to relegate Palestine to a mere sideshow. The Oct 7 attack was also meant to showcase Hamas as the only radical organisation able to fight Israel, in distinction to the more moderate Fatah movement of the Palestinian Authority.
Although audacious in concept and meticulous in planning, the two Hamas leaders were probably surprised by the sheer scale of the blow they inflicted. Over 1,200 Israelis were murdered, and a further 250 dragged over - dead or alive - into Gaza. The mowing down by Hamas gunmen of teenagers dancing at an open-air music festival and the unspeakably horrible slaughter of civilians, including children and older people, shocked the world.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 02, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 02, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Jessica Alba, Cash Warren reportedly heading for divorce
Another Hollywood romance has come to an end, it seems.
Model for Shrek's Donkey dies at age 30
Perry, a miniature donkey whose handlers said was used by DreamWorks animators as a model for the chatty Shrek (2001 to present) character named Donkey, died last week at the age of 30.
Wicked tops SAG Awards nominations
Hit musical Wicked topped the nominations on Jan 8 for the influential Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, which are key to Oscars glory, while Golden Globes darling The Brutalist received only one nod and Maria star Angelina Jolie was shut out.
Sammo Hung celebrates turning 73 with grandsons
Hong Kong action star and filmmaker Sammo Hung spent his 73rd birthday on Jan 7 with his two grandsons.
Emaviwe takes on new challenge with Chiangrai
At the start of the 2024 football season, Jordan Emaviwe outlined three key objectives for his campaign: To establish himself as a regular starter for Balestier Khalsa in the Singapore Premier League, secure a national team call-up, and earn a spot in the Lions squad for the Asean Championship.
XINGTONG BEATS NERVES
Teen qualifies for 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship, targets under-par round
REFEREE'S CALL CHANGED GAME, FUMES SLOT
Reds boss feels Bergvall should've been sent off, instead of staying on to get the winner
We all have point to prove: Potter
West Ham United's new boss Graham Potter said he has become a better manager following his ill-fated stint at Chelsea, who sacked him in April 2023.
'Right decision' on duo lifts Barca before semi win
Barcelona received a massive boost before their Spanish Super Cup semi-final win over Athletic Bilbao on Jan 8, with news that Dani Olmo and Pau Victor can play in the final, to the delight of Hansi Flick and his team.
'Novak can vent all he wants, as long as he gives his all'
Novak Djokovic's former rival-turned-coach Andy Murray does not want the Serb to suppress his emotions on court, and is even willing to be the target of any angry outbursts, as long as the 24-time Major winner gives his all at the Australian Open.