On 7 October 2023, a new round of military clashes broke out between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) during the Jewish holiday, with heavy rocket and air strikes between the two sides in the Gaza Strip and inside Israel, killing and injuring hundreds of people and dozens of Israeli prisoners.
This is the second large-scale armed confrontation between the two sides since May 2021, and the most daring military operation in Hamas's history. Why did this war happen?Why did Israel suffer such heavy losses?
The immediate trigger for this war is Israel's recent series of actions in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including the demolition of Palestinian homes, the forcible eviction of Palestinian residents, the suppression of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the killing of many Palestinians. These actions have provoked strong anger and resistance among the Palestinians, as well as Hamas's desire for revenge.
Hamas chose to launch an unprecedented military strike on Israel on October 7, Israel's Feast of Tabernacles, firing thousands of rockets into Israel, covering most of Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and other important cities.
At the same time, Hamas also sent hundreds of militants across the border into Israeli territory, where there was a fierce exchange of fire with Israeli troops and civilians, causing panic and chaos in Israel. Although Israel activated the "Iron Dome" anti-missile system in a timely manner, intercepted some rockets, and also carried out many air strikes on the Gaza Strip in an attempt to destroy Hamas's rocket launchers and command centers, it still could not stop Hamas's offensive and could not recover the losses that had been caused.
Hamas's military operations have demonstrated a significant increase in the quantity, quality, accuracy and range of its rockets, as well as its ability and courage to infiltrate and surprise attacks, which pose a great challenge to Israel's air defense and defense system, as well as cause great panic and pressure on the Israeli population.
Although Israel's "Iron Dome" system intercepted some rockets, it also exposed its limitations and inadequacies and was unable to fully protect Israel's airspace and territory. Israel's air strikes have not been able to effectively destroy Hamas's rocket stockpiles and launch sites, but have instead caused a large number of civilians, triggering condemnation from the international community. Israel's military superiority and deterrence have been weakened, and its hardline stance on the Palestinian question has been challenged and questioned.
Secondly, Israel's economy and society have been severely impacted. The war has led to the paralysis and destruction of Israel's transportation, communications, energy, water conservancy, education, medical and other infrastructure, as well as the stagnation and loss of Israel's industrial, agricultural, tourism, and other economic activities.
It is estimated that the war has caused billions of dollars in direct and indirect economic losses to Israel, and has also brought tremendous pressure and difficulties to Israel's fiscal and monetary policies. The war has also exacerbated the antagonism and antagonism in Israeli society, with many violent clashes and riots between Arabs and Jews in Israel, threatening and testing Israel's political stability and national unity.
The war has aroused widespread concern and reaction from the international community, with the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Russia, China and other countries and organizations calling for a ceasefire and negotiations between the two sides, and also expressing varying degrees of criticism and condemnation of Israel's military action.
Although Israel's ally, the United States, vetoed a number of draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the Security Council and provided military and diplomatic support to Israel, it also exerted some pressure on Israel to avoid causing civilians, and also expressed its willingness to resume dialogue and cooperation with the Palestinians.
Israel's neighbors, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have also played a certain role in mediation and mediation, bringing about a ceasefire agreement between the two sides. Israel's hostile countries, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and others, have expressed their support and praise for Hamas, and have also threatened and provoked Israel. Israel's international image and reputation have been damaged, and its position and influence in the Middle East have been weakened.
The war is a microcosm of the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine and a reflection of the complex and volatile situation in the Middle East. Although Israel still has the military advantage, it has suffered heavy blows in the political, economic, social, and diplomatic fields, and is facing unprecedented difficulties and challenges.
While safeguarding its own security and interests, Israel needs to respect the legitimate rights and interests of the Palestinians, maintain good communication and cooperation with the international community, and establish peaceful and stable relations with its neighbors and regional countries.
Israel needs to realize that unilateral force and violence do not solve fundamental problems, but only exacerbate antagonism and hatred, and that peace and coexistence can be achieved only through dialogue and negotiation. Israel needs to show more rationality and tolerance, more responsibility and responsibility, more innovation and change in order to get out of the current predicament and meet the challenges of the future.