Why did hamas attack To Israel

Israel's Recent Conflict with Hamas: A Closer Look

Introduction: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to his country on Sunday, following a series of surprise attacks by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group controlling the Gaza Strip. These attacks have plunged the region into a long and challenging conflict, leaving Israelis puzzled about how such an assault caught their government, military, and intelligence agencies off guard. In this article, we will explore the details of the Hamas attacks and Israel's response.

How Did Hamas Carry Out the Attacks?

Hamas initiated its attack by launching thousands of rockets on Saturday morning, targeting locations as distant as Tel Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem. Remarkably, these rockets reached areas that are typically protected by Israel's advanced Iron Dome missile defense system. Approximately an hour later, Hamas militants infiltrated Israel by land, sea, and air, marking the first significant engagement between Israeli and Arab forces on Israeli soil in decades. These militants penetrated 22 Israeli towns and army bases, taking civilians and soldiers hostage, with a reported death toll of at least 700 Israelis as of Sunday.

What Reasons Did Hamas Give?

Hamas leader Muhammad Deif justified the attack by citing Israel's occupation of the West Bank, which began during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, recent Israeli police actions at the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and the detention of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The Aqsa Mosque compound, a highly contested site revered by both Muslims and Jews, played a pivotal role in escalating tensions.

How Has Israel Responded So Far?

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel is at war and pledged victory. Israeli military reservists were called up, and tank units were deployed to the south, fueling speculation about a possible ground invasion of Gaza. Meanwhile, the northern border was reinforced, and battles continued to expel militants from infiltrated communities in the south. Israeli jets launched airstrikes on Gaza, targeting centers housing Hamas militants. These strikes, however, also hit a hospital, multistory buildings, homes, and a mosque, resulting in a reported death toll of at least 413 Palestinians.

What's Different About This Attack?

Unlike previous conflicts, this latest outbreak of violence lacked an obvious flashpoint. Israel's intelligence community and government appeared unprepared for the scale and complexity of the assault. Moreover, these attacks coincided with a challenging period in Israel's history, marked by concerns about societal cohesion and military readiness due to governmental actions aimed at curtailing the judiciary's power. The timing was also notable, falling on the holiday of Simchat Torah and almost 50 years after the start of the Yom Kippur War.

What Happens Now? Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the end of the "first phase" of Israel's response, with a commitment to continue the offensive vigorously. Global leaders, including President Biden, expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself and condemned Hamas. Arab nations called for de-escalation but refrained from blaming Hamas. The conflict also threatens to spread regionally, as Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite militant group, expressed interest in the situation and engaged in hostilities with Israel. Meanwhile, United Nations peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon described the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border as "volatile but stable."

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a deeply rooted and protracted conflict characterized by a long history of tension, violence, and mutual animosity between Israelis and Palestinians. While the primary focus here is on Israel and Hamas, it's essential to understand the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Historical Background: The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Jewish immigrants began moving to Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Tensions escalated as Jewish immigration increased, leading to Arab protests and revolts.

1948 Arab-Israeli War: The conflict reached a critical point in 1948 when Israel declared its independence. Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, intervened militarily, resulting in the first Arab-Israeli war. This war led to significant displacement of Palestinians, forming the basis of the Palestinian refugee crisis.

Six-Day War (1967): In 1967, Israel fought a war against several Arab states, including Egypt and Jordan. Israel gained control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. These territories remain a major source of tension today.

Oslo Accords (1990s): Attempts at peace negotiations resulted in the Oslo Accords, which aimed to establish a framework for Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the peace process faced many obstacles and breakdowns.

Gaza Strip and West Bank: The Gaza Strip is governed by Hamas, a Palestinian militant organization founded in 1987. The West Bank is governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Fatah. The rivalry between Hamas and Fatah has further complicated Palestinian politics.

Reasons for Conflict and Hate:

1. Territorial Disputes: The conflict revolves around competing claims to territory, primarily the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Both Israelis and Palestinians have historical and religious ties to these areas, leading to territorial disputes.

2. Security Concerns: Israelis often cite security concerns, including rocket attacks from Gaza and suicide bombings, as reasons for their tough stance. Israel views Hamas as a terrorist organization and accuses it of using civilians as human shields.

3. Settlements: Israel's construction of settlements in the West Bank is a major point of contention. Palestinians and much of the international community consider these settlements illegal and a barrier to peace.

4. Blockade of Gaza: Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, imposed in 2007 after Hamas took control, has led to a humanitarian crisis. Palestinians in Gaza view this as collective punishment.

5. Refugee Issue: Palestinian refugees and their descendants continue to demand the right of return to their ancestral homes, creating a significant point of contention.

6. Religious and National Identity: Both Israelis and Palestinians have deep emotional and religious connections to the land, which can contribute to the intensity of the conflict.

Efforts for Peace: Numerous attempts have been made to broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians, including the Camp David Accords, the Oslo Accords, and the Annapolis Conference. However, a lasting resolution has remained elusive, as both sides struggle to find common ground on the core issues of borders, refugees, security, and the status of Jerusalem.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is marked by deep-seated mistrust, historical grievances, and competing national narratives. Achieving a peaceful resolution remains a complex and challenging endeavor that requires the commitment of both parties, international mediation, and a willingness to address the core issues at the heart of the conflict.

The first armed conflict between what would later become Israel and the Palestinian Arab population occurred in the late 1940s in the lead-up to the establishment of the State of Israel. This period is often referred to as the 1947-1949 Palestine War or the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was a complex and multifaceted conflict with numerous factors at play. Here's an overview:

Background:

• The United Nations proposed a plan to partition British Mandate Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states in November 1947, with Jerusalem as an international city.
• The Jewish leadership accepted the UN partition plan, while the Arab states and Palestinian Arab leaders rejected it, viewing it as unjust and a violation of their rights.
• Tensions between Jewish and Palestinian Arab communities had been escalating for years, with incidents of violence on both sides.

First Attacks:

• The conflict began in earnest in late 1947, with sporadic violence erupting in various locations.
• The Haganah, a Jewish paramilitary organization, and other Jewish militias initiated attacks on Palestinian Arab villages and towns.
• Palestinian Arab irregular forces, along with volunteers from neighboring Arab states, also launched attacks on Jewish communities.

Declaration of the State of Israel:

• On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, declared the establishment of the State of Israel.
• Immediately, neighboring Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, intervened militarily to support Palestinian Arabs and challenge the newly established Jewish state.

Outcome:

• The war resulted in a series of battles and conflicts over the course of 1947-1949, including well-known battles like the Battle of Jerusalem and the Battle of Haifa.
• Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes during the war, becoming refugees.
• The conflict ended in 1949 with a series of armistice agreements between Israel and its neighboring Arab states. These agreements established the borders of Israel, leaving the West Bank and Gaza Strip under Jordanian and Egyptian control, respectively.
• Jerusalem was divided, with the western part under Israeli control and the eastern part, including the Old City, under Jordanian control.

The 1947-1949 Palestine War had a profound and lasting impact on the region. It laid the foundation for subsequent conflicts and the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The issues of borders, refugees, and the status of Jerusalem remain contentious to this day, and multiple attempts have been made to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, with varying degrees of success.