Israel has faced a series of unexpected challenges since the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants carried out a massive attack, destroying defenses in the south of the country and taking a significant number of hostages. Expert in the field of Middle East studies, Igor Semivolos, believes that as a result of this terrorist attack, Israel found itself in a deep crisis, with no end to the war in sight.
The first aspect, and by far the most shocking, was the magnitude of the Hamas attack. The terrorists managed to break through Israeli defensive lines and kill around 1,200 civilians, in addition to taking around 250 hostages. This event, according to Semivolos, was a great shock to Israel, which did not expect such a powerful attack.
The second surprise for the Israelis was the resistance of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, which turned out to be much more organized and persistent than expected. Semivolos notes that the network of tunnels and bunkers allowed the militants to continue resisting even after significant losses.
The third challenge for Israel was an unexpected step by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which entered the conflict almost immediately after the start of Israel’s operation in Gaza. The expert points out that this measure adds another front to an already difficult situation.
The fourth surprise is Iran’s direct participation in the war. Semivolos emphasizes that Iran attacked Israel twice, which was an unprecedented event. One of the attacks even penetrated Israel’s air defense system, threatening the security of the country’s key infrastructure.
The fifth surprise for Israel was the open conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. The Houthis fired missiles at Israel, which, according to the expert, turned the Red Sea into a new scene of fighting, in which Shiite groups from Iraq also participated.
The latest major challenge has been the sharp rise in anti-Israel sentiment in the world, especially among pro-Palestinian forces. Semivolos draws attention to the activation of international organizations such as the International Court of Justice, as well as the division of public opinion on the issue of the conflict.
According to the expert, the war is currently taking place in seven different scenarios: Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. Each of these territories is involved in the conflict and the consequences continue to increase.
Semivolos also emphasizes that Israel’s future actions depend largely on the position of the United States and the outcome of the upcoming presidential elections.
Previously, “Cursor” wrote about how close Israel is to victory in the war in the Gaza Strip.
Since the war, Israel has achieved significant successes in the Gaza Strip and on the northern front.
