By GARY ALLEY
October 2023
Where we are now
On October 7th, 2023, less than two weeks ago, the terrorist organization Hamas surprised Israel with a sophisticated pre-dawn attack, by launching at least 3,000 rockets before some 2,500 Palestinian militants breached the Gaza–Israel barrier and massacred at least 1,400 people from all walks of life—Israeli soldiers, foreign workers, old men and women, young people at a music festival, families, as well as children and babies.
Thousands were wounded along with homes and property looted and destroyed. At least 203 victims were kidnapped and taken back to the darkness of Hamas’s tunnels in Gaza. In total, citizens from 29 countries were either, killed, wounded, or kidnapped. Israeli Arab citizens were not spared in the militant and rocket assault.
As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu summarized to US President Biden on his recent Oct 18th visit to Israel,
“This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. That’s twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7 is another day that will live in infamy.”
Israel has spent the past 10 days securing the Gaza border from further Hamas incursions, evacuating Israeli residents from the area, burying the dead, and publicly documenting Hamas’s butchery. Hamas itself proudly recorded and widely published their gruesome and barbaric atrocities in real time videos.
Israel’s Defense Forces has called up 360,000 reserves--its largest call up since Israel’s 1973 Yom Kippur War. Because of this massive enlistment of Israel’s male population, Israeli society has been hampered as some families have been left with one parent, while businesses and social services are missing significant employees. With Hamas’s continuing rockets, schools have been closed with classes struggling to succeed online. Public activity is quiet as Israelis mostly stay home preparing for the worst.
The Israeli government has now vowed to wipe out Hamas from the Gaza Strip once and for all, declaring war on the terrorist organization. But that has proven extremely difficult in the past for multiple reasons. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated places on the planet where civilians can be collateral damage in Israeli missile strikes against Hamas. Also, Hamas has twisted Gaza’s two million Palestinian residents in fear through their cult-like control and violence. Even more, Hamas has built a 300 mile network of tunnels that traffic weapons and supplies trying to avoid Israeli surveillance 40 feet underground.
In order to destroy Hamas and free their hostages, Israel has now mounted a complete siege of Gaza, strategically cutting off electricity, food, water, and fuel, while the Israeli air force has targeted strikes against Hamas assets. But Gazans are suffering. According to the Palestinian Health Minister, more than 3,300 people have so far died in Gaza, and more than 13,000 have been wounded.
While Israel’s army is now preparing in the south to enter Gaza in the coming days, Israel is also on high alert for Hezbollah’s threat to the north. The Lebanese Shia Islamist militant group is believed to have stockpiled 130,000 rockets and missiles and has some 20,000 active fighters along with 20,000 reserves. The United States has responded to Hezbollah’s belligerence by deploying two aircraft carriers with supporting fleet to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Iran, Israel’s longtime mortal enemy, is responsible for financing Hezbollah’s and Hamas’s weaponry horde. Even more, the Iranians are threatening to ignite a regional war against Israel if the Israelis follow through with their intended incursion into Gaza. Due to Hamas’ unadulterated evil so boldly now displayed and Iran’s unwavering support, it is impossible to believe this region will not be irrevocably altered in the face of Israel’s existential resolve.