Hamas capabilities misjudged by Israel Army, finds probe

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

An Israeli military investigation concluded that Hamas carried out the deadliest attack in Israeli history on October 7, 2023, because the Israeli Army underestimated both the group’s intentions and capabilities.

October 7, 2023 Hamas attack:

Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, infiltrating its borders through various means and firing thousands of rockets. Hamas called the attack “Operation Al Aqsa Flood”.
The attack prompted a swift military response from Israel and triggered the conflict in Gaza, with the Israeli military conducting airstrikes and ground operations in retaliation.
In January 2025, a significant ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, effectively halting a 15-month conflict that had devastated the Gaza Strip.

Underestimation of Hamas’ Capabilities:

A key misconception within the Israeli military was that Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, was more focused on governing the territory rather than continuing its military conflict with Israel. This misconception led to a lack of preparation for a large-scale offensive and played a significant role in the success of the attack.
The Israeli military had planned for a potential Hamas attack to involve a ground invasion from up to eight border points. However, Hamas used over 60 attack routes during the assault, vastly exceeding Israeli expectations.
Intelligence analysis later showed that Hamas had attempted similar offensives three times before but had delayed them for unknown reasons.

About Hamas:

Hamas is the largest Palestinian militant Islamist group and one of the two major political parties in the region.
Currently, it governs more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Founded in 1987 during the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule), Hamas’s stated goal is to establish an Islamic state in the historic land of Palestine.
Hamas as a whole, or in some cases its military wing, is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
In the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas won a surprise victory, securing 74 out of 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council. This victory gave Hamas political control over the Palestinian Authority.