• “Hamas” succeeded significantly at the outset of the operation using the element of surprise.
• Israel’s inability to deter, led it to rush to the United States for help.
• The entity is now entering a new phase in the Arab-Zionist conflict, which will have implications for the entire region.

On the dawn of October 7, 2023, “Hamas” succeeded in carrying out a surprising and unprecedented attack inside the Zionist entity in an operation called “Toofan Al-Aqsa.” This operation was unlike any of the three major wars that “Hamas” had fought against the entity since 2008.

“Hamas” succeeded significantly at the outset of “Toofan Al-Aqsa” operation using the element of surprise. This was similar to the October 1973 war for it wasn’t expected at all that the resistance would launch a massive war against the Zionist entity in the early morning hours, and on multiple fronts and locations: by land, sea, and air, using thousands of armed fighters.

The Zionists didn’t expect this repeated sudden attack even after 50 full years since the October war. They always claim that it will never happen again, as it has only occurred once in history. However, it was achieved by “Hamas” the small military group with limited resources, that’s not even a regular army. This is a bitter defeat for the Zionist entity, far beyond its military or intelligence capabilities. This explains the recurrence of the term "a surprise attack against our country" in the Zionist writers’ analyses.

The small Palestinian resistance achieved initial successes against the Zionist entity when infiltrating it with large numbers in unprecedented move. However, the strategic consequences of the surprise attack by “Hamas” and other Palestinian resistance factions, remain unclear.

It is difficult to speculate the outcome of the ongoing confrontation between Israel on one side and Hamas or other Palestinian factions on the other, after the complete Zionist massacres against the Palestinians in Gaza. There is an overwhelming internal tide dictating that the aftermath of “Toofan Al-Aqsa” will change everything from now on. Additionally, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a “state of war” for the first time in his country since 1973, given the gravity of the event that struck the Zionists like lightning.

Many hours passed since the Zionist forces' intervened and confronted the armed Palestinian resistance who infiltrated and breached the “smart fence”, but still Tel Aviv did not acknowledge the success of "Toofan Al-Aqsa" until a day or two after. It then announced the launch of “Operation Iron Swords” to remove those elements from the Zionist interior, and then move to eliminate those who remained in Gaza.

Tel Aviv was not aware of its miserable failure in confronting the organized “Hamas” group except from social media, as the settlers shared moments of the Palestinian elements entrance, audio and visual. Only then they realized they were facing a turning point in the country's history, that resembles September 11 in the United States.

After Hebrew media shared videos revealing the catastrophic damage to both the military and security situation in Israel which might not be easily overcome, the military machinery turned to seeking revenge against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Israeli analyses themselves discussed “Hamas” significant achievements in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in contrast to the clear Zionist failures and defeats.

The intelligence failure

Only a few hours after "Toofan Al-Aqsa" operation, some within Israel called for conducting an extensive military investigation into the intelligence failure that they had not experienced since the October 1973 war. This pushed Netanyahu to form an emergency government that included opposition parties and announced “the state of war.” Some former Israeli generals said: it would take their country years to understand and analyze how “Hamas” have come to such intelligence and military capabilities. Tel Aviv lacked intelligence from inside Gaza about “Hamas” surprise, waiting for hours to understand what was happening on the ground due to “Hamas” success in eliminating many spies within the sector.

Israeli parliament members acknowledged that the Palestinian resistance knew well what they were doing and what they aimed to achieve with their successful operation. They considered that they did not come to fool around with the Israeli army but to achieve their goals. They emphasized that Tel Aviv spent billions of shekels on security separation walls along the Gaza border which did not pay off, as the breach happened through simple trucks and motorcycles, at minimal costs. “Haaretz” newspaper stated that the Palestinians anger knows no boundaries, as “Hamas” came to kill the Israeli dream with trucks, motorcycles, and a few simple homemade drones and rockets.

The Shattered Zionist Deterrence

It has been a full day before the Zionists recovered from their shock that their settlements were breached, and many hours passed until the army intervened. This emphasizes the Zionist inability to deter, not even against a regular army, but a small Palestinian organization. Consequently, Israel rushed to seek assistance from the United States, leading the latter to promptly send warships and having the U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense oversee the war management against the small organization, “Hamas.”

“Maariv” newspaper believed that this small organization could have restored the full Palestinian rights had Gaza not been under siege and could have destroyed the Zionist state established in 1948. It was indeed strange for Israel to consider the possibility of “Hamas” engaging in a sudden military operation just hours before the start of the “Toofan Al-Aqsa,” without being detected and instead waiting for the Palestinian surprise, as mentioned in an extensive analysis by the Hebrew Channel 13.

“Mercenary” army

“Yoav Gallant,” the Israeli Defense Minister, later admitted that his country had been struck by a successful “Hamas” attack, acknowledging its impressive intelligence capabilities. These capabilities were demonstrated when it was discovered that American and French soldiers were part of the Israeli army. “Hamas” itself discovered this fact during its battles against this “mercenary” army. Even “Yaakov Peri,” the former head of the “Shin Bet” agency, urged his country to calm “Hamas” to facilitate the negotiations for the return of their “racially mixed” captives. He also acknowledged that “Tel Aviv” was suffering from severe confusion due to the events on the dawn of October 7th, describing the situation as “painful and very harsh.”

What is certain is that most of the Zionist analyses were published or endorsed by the Hebrew radio. It even reported that the settlers in the border areas expressed their inability to sleep for many days, fearing that the resistance would come from nearby rooms or from under the beds, considering them “boogeymen” who could appear anywhere at any time.

In the end, the Zionist entity believes it is entering a new phase in the Arab-Zionist conflict, and its results will not only affect its country but the entire Middle East and perhaps the whole world.

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*Writer and Researcher in Zionist Affairs