Hamas is a militant group responsible for the recent terror attack on Israel. The attack was orchestrated by a commander known as ‘The Guest’.
Hamas Launches Major Attack on Israel, Death Toll Rising
Hamas launched a land, air, and sea attack against Israel early Saturday, and the death toll continues to rise on both sides after Israel declared war against the militant group, the first time the nation has done so since 1973.
The attack from Hamas is one of the largest assaults on Israel in decades, with militants killing hundreds of people and kidnapping soldiers and civilians. The group controls the Gaza Strip, an enclave home to 2 million people.
What is Hamas?
Hamas is a Palestinian militant group that formed in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising against the Israeli military, which controlled the West Bank and the Gaza Strip at the time. Its founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, was active in the Muslim Brotherhood.
One of two major political parties within the Palestinian territory, Hamas is responsible for suicide attacks against Israeli civilians, as well as the kidnapping and killing of Israeli soldiers. While deemed a terrorist group by the United States and several other nations, it has also been the governing body in the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Hamas is an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, with the group founded on three pillars: religion, charity, and the fight against Israel.
The other political party is Fatah, which dominates the Palestine Liberation Organization. Fatah rules in the West Bank and renounces violence. Unlike the PLO, however, Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist as a state and speaks frequently about driving all Jews from the state.
Hamas does not receive funding or assistance given to the PLO in the West Bank by the U.S. or European Union. Iran continues to be one of Hamas’s largest benefactors, contributing weapons, training, and funds. Iran currently provides some $100 million annually to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other Palestinian groups designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. Turkey also reportedly houses some of the group’s top leaders, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
History of the Palestine-Israel Conflict
The conflict between the Palestinian territories and Israel spans two centuries and dates back to 1948, when the state of Israel was created. In 1957, after invading the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip under Egyptian control, Israel withdrew from Egypt but maintained control over the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian and Syrian forces later invaded Israel on Yom Kippur in October 1973 in an attempt to persuade Israel to negotiate better terms for Arab countries. Nearly 2,700 Israeli soldiers died during the 19-day war.
In 1987, Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza started the First Intifada against Israel, and Hamas was founded by Yassin.
Hamas first employed suicide bombing in April 1993, five months before PLO leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords. It established limited self-governance in parts of Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. Hamas condemned the accords and the recognition of Israel.
The U.S. declared Hamas a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Hamas’s movement led to the Second Intifada in the early 2000s, with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Fatah’s Tanzim militia engaging in violence against Israelis.
In 2008, Israel launched an attack on Hamas targets in response to rocket fire from Gaza. A ground war between the two ended in 1,200 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths. Israel and Palestinian groups agreed to unilateral ceasefires in January 2009, with Israel withdrawing from Gaza.
Since then, the two groups have exchanged gunfire and kidnapped or killed soldiers and civilians. An Israeli raid on Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in 2021 set off an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, killing 200 Palestinians and more than 10 Israelis. In January 2023, a Palestinian man killed seven people outside a synagogue in east Jerusalem.
Who is “The Guest”?
“The Guest” refers to Mohammed Deif, commander of the military wing of Hamas and mastermind of the assault against Israel. Deif, which means “guest,” is a reference to the practice of Palestinian fighters staying at a different sympathizer’s home each night to evade Israeli intelligence.
Deif has been hunted by Israel for decades. He was almost killed in an airstrike 20 years ago that reportedly bound him to a wheelchair after losing an arm and a leg, according to the Financial Times. He is revered by Palestinian militants for his ability to evade capture and kill soldiers and civilians along the way. Only one grainy photograph of him exists in the public domain.
“Even before this, Deif was like a sacred personality and very much respected both within Hamas and by the Palestinians,” Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of politics at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, told the Financial Times. Deif’s biggest assault against Israel will have turned him into a figure “like a god to the young,” Abusada added.
Deif was a bombmaker and the architect of Hamas’s plan to dig a network of tunnels under Gaza. He was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp during the 1960s. During this time, Gaza was under Egyptian control, and according to an Israeli official familiar with his intelligence file, either his uncle or father was taken during a raid in the 1950s by armed Palestinians.
The official said Deif quickly moved through the ranks of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. He was involved in creating Hamas’s first rudimentary rockets. Hamas fired 3,500 rockets into Israel on Saturday alone.
Where do things stand now?
Israeli officials are reporting that at least 700 Israelis are dead and over 2,200 are injured. On the Palestinian side, the death toll has risen to nearly 500, and the number of wounded has surged to more than 2,750, according to the Gaza-based health ministry via the New Arab and Associated Press.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Monday that he ordered a “total siege” of the Gaza Strip, allowing no food, fuel, or electricity to enter the territory.
“We are fighting barbaric terrorists, and we will act accordingly,” Gallant said in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter.
U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Israeli leaders that the U.S. would provide additional aid and fully support the nation in the fight against Hamas.
At least nine Americans have been killed as a result of the Hamas attacks, as well as several others from other countries. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the U.S. was working overtime to verify all reports of Americans killed, kidnapped, or injured in the Hamas attacks.
How does the ongoing conflict exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and what actions are being taken to address it
A political analyst at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, said in an interview with The New York Times.
International Response and Potential Implications
The international community is closely monitoring the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel. Several nations and organizations have condemned the violence and called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life. The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the trump-notices-nasty-thing-biden-did-while-giving-no-comment-to-rising-death-toll-in-maui/" title="Trump calls out Biden for ignoring rising death toll in Maui while refusing to comment on a nasty thing he did.”>rising death toll
and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.The implications of this major attack by Hamas on Israel are significant. It further exacerbates the already tense relationship between the two parties and raises questions about the prospect of a lasting peace in the region. The targeting of civilians and the kidnapping of soldiers is a violation of international humanitarian law and has drawn widespread condemnation.
This conflict has the potential to ignite further violence in the region, as both sides are heavily armed and have historical grievances. The involvement of other countries, such as Iran, raises concerns about the possibility of regional escalation and further destabilization.
Efforts for peace and reconciliation between Israel and Palestine have been ongoing for decades, with limited success. Achieving a lasting resolution to this conflict requires political will, dialogue, and compromise from both parties. The international community has a crucial role to play in supporting diplomatic efforts and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The enclave, with a population of 2 million people, has been under blockade by Israel since 2007, severely restricting the movement of goods and people. The blockade has resulted in high unemployment rates, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate infrastructure.
The recent hostilities have only worsened the situation, with reports of food and medicine shortages, power outages, and damaged infrastructure. The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe if the violence continues.
Humanitarian organizations are working tirelessly to provide aid and support to the affected population. However, access to affected areas and the safety of aid workers remain major challenges. There is an urgent need for a ceasefire to allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for long-term solutions to address the underlying issues of poverty and inequality.
Conclusion
The major attack launched by Hamas on Israel has resulted in a rising death toll on both sides and has further escalated tensions in an already volatile region. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has a long and complex history, with deep-rooted grievances on both sides.
To achieve a lasting peace, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians and to engage in constructive dialogue. The international community must also play a proactive role in supporting diplomatic efforts and addressing the underlying issues of the conflict.
Furthermore, urgent action is needed to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and provide much-needed aid to the affected population. The suffering endured by innocent civilians, especially children, cannot be ignored.
Ultimately, a comprehensive and sustainable resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict requires a collective commitment to peace, justice, and human rights. Only through dialogue, compromise, and the recognition of the rights and aspirations of all parties involved can a just and lasting peace be achieved.
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