HAMAS GRABS CHANCE TO SCUTTLE ABRAHAM ACCORDS AND SAUDI-ISRAEL COOPERATION

That Israel was caught unawares is a glaring example of both strategic and tactical intelligence failures; and Iran pushed Hamas to sabotage potential progress in normalization of Saudi-Israel relations, said Ely Karmon from Israel.

- RATNADEEP CHAKRABORTY

Using the excuse provided by the entry of Jewish fringe elements into the Al Aqsa mosque, Hamas launched a carefully choreographed attack on Israel on 7 October. It will not be forgotten that on 6 October 1973, when Israelis were preparing for the solemnity of the Yom Kippur services, their intelligence agencies and government were inadequately prepared for an unexpected attack, led by Syria and Egypt. While the Israeli intelligence and military preparedness only advanced with time, on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, there was another surprise attack on Saturday morning. As the sirens blared through the southern and central parts of Israel, a barrage of rockets echoed in the skies, along with several armed Hamas terrorists infiltrating the border town of Sderot and neighbouring communities, engaging in a fierce confrontation with Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers. Hamas knows that there will be a massive retaliation by Israel, but has acted in the knowledge that it has covert backing from countries that seek to embroil the West in another war when NATO is using up its firepower in Ukraine. And that the entry of Jewish fringe elements into the Al Aqsa mosque could spark another "Arab Spring", should Israel mount a disproportionate attack that results in a large number of Palestinian civilian casualties.