Police station damaged by airstrikes in southern Israel city of Esderot, Israeli army deployed. Photo: Reuters
Analysis by Israeli journalist
Israel may face 4 problems in Gaza
A large section of Israel’s powerful leadership has favored a massive indiscriminate operation in Gaza in response to the attack. However, the situation is complicated by the Israeli military and civilians held captive by Hamas.
On October 6, 1973, a coalition of Arab countries launched a surprise attack on the Israeli-occupied territories. Israel responded to the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of Judaism.
Many Israeli leaders are seeing the shadow of Yom Kippur war in the sudden attack of the Palestinian organization Hamas on October 7 of this year.
Over 200 Israeli civilians were killed today on our Jewish holiday. We will not sit back after this massacre,’ Israeli lawmaker Danny Danon told Al Jazeera in an immediate reaction.
“There will be counter-attacks against Hamas,” he said angrily. “The people of Gaza must now consider, they will have to pay the price.” We have no intention of hitting civilians in response to Hamas. But when we attack Hamas, we will do it with force, we will do it efficiently, and we will do whatever it takes to catch them.’
A large section of Israel’s powerful leadership has favored a massive indiscriminate operation in Gaza in response to the attack. However, the situation is complicated by the Israeli military and civilians held captive by Hamas. On the other hand, if a large-scale operation is carried out, there is a risk of many casualties, the involvement of other countries in the Middle East and the start of a long-term conflict.
According to Amos Harel, a journalist from Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, Israel now has four options.
First, urgent talks with Hamas on a prisoner exchange deal. In these negotiations, Hamas may demand the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli prisons who are convicted of murder, which Israel is unlikely to accept.
Second, a massive air campaign targeting Hamas in Gaza, which would kill and injure hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians.
Third, establishing a strict deterrence along the Gaza Strip would result in infrastructure damage and humanitarian catastrophe.
Fourth, a massive land campaign, where both sides would suffer heavy losses. The entire region will become a battlefield.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese organization Hezbollah has already engaged in a conflict with Israel in the midst of counter-attacks. There are also questions about how Hezbollah will respond if Israel conducts indiscriminate operations in Gaza. In addition, anger against Israel will increase throughout the Middle East. Demonstrations in support of Hamas have been held in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen since Saturday’s attack. A humanitarian disaster in Gaza could force Saudi leaders to retreat from the long-established path of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Mark Heller, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, said, ‘The question remains about what will happen after Hamas’s response to the attack. There have been small-scale Israeli military operations in the region almost every year. But there was no solution. There is pressure on the leaders to bring down Hamas, but I don’t think that will provide a long-term solution.’
However, former Swedish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt gave a different opinion. “A major Israeli attack on Gaza is almost inevitable, especially when Israeli soldiers are held hostage by Hamas,” he said. If Hamas captures Israeli soldiers and takes them to Gaza, then a full-scale Israeli operation in Gaza is more likely.’
He is commenting on the current situation as ‘danger of starting another war’.