HAMAS TERRORIST ATTACK ON ISRAEL
“On October 7, 2023, Israel suffered its deadliest day since its independence when Hamas launched a coordinated land, sea, and air assault. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 240 others were taken hostage. The attack, which appeared to have required extensive planning, caught the Israeli defence establishment off guard, leading many Israelis to question the government’s lack of preparedness.” https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Netanyahu
SECURITY CONCERNS
INDIA and Isarel share similar security and existential issues created intentionally by neighboring states, and Islamic Terrorism. Both nations, islands in a sea of Islamic states, one populated by Hindus and another by Jews are at a great disadvantage, in facing Islamist extremists who do not subscribe to any civilized norms in war or peace.
Since their inception, INDIA in August 1947and Israel in May 1948, both countries have been facing serious threats to the security of their borders and citizens, through wars and brazen acts of terrorism sponsored by neighboring states. Both countries have paid a heavy price over the last seven decades and they need to be prepared for facing such wars and terrorism in future also.
The aggression against India and Israel is not on issues of trade, commerce polity or territory. The overt and covert aggression against Hindus and Jews is based on fanatical religious animosity of Islamist extremists and their supporters.
Islamization of conflicts
The initial dispute over land between Jewish settlers and Arabs in Palestine in 1948 has been transformed into a life and death struggle for Israel. The dispute over land has been transformed over time to a deadly conflict of ideologies and raw religious hatred of Islamists towards Jews.
In the case of India, we have seen how partition of the sub-continent was done based on religion, the Two nation theory of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League. Every issue connected with India has been twisted by Pakistan State and media in the last seven decades as a Hindu — Muslim divide. The calls for destruction of Hindus by Islamic fundamentalists and the State of Pakistan is real and poses an existential threat to India that is Bharat and Hindus.
Arab Israel Conflicts
Arab states have been at loggerheads with the State of Israel since its inception on 15 May 1948. On 29 November 1947, the UN General Assembly passed the Resolution 181 which envisaged the division of Palestine into three parts: an Arab State, a Jewish State, and the City of Jerusalem
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel.
Palestinian guerillas were nearby and when they heard the news, organized attacks within Palestine while Egypt, Jordan, Syria, AND Lebanon, invaded with their armies.
Their aim was to prevent the formation of the state of Israel AND simultaneously capture and annex as much land as possible to their own. Egypt captured areas of Gaza strip, Jordan the West Bank and Syria the Golan Heights. This created a sense of insecurity in Israel, which was only made worse by the Arab neighbors refusing to recognize Israel but openly calling for its destruction.
“The surrounding Arab states which had invaded Palestine in defence of the Palestine people, refused to recognize Israeli sovereignty and refused to validate the consequences on the war by signing PPT with their enemy. Israel remained in a state of war with Egypt until 1979 and with Jordan until 1994. Israel remains in a state of war with Syria and Iraq.” Countries like Iran, and Pakistan have been openly calling for the destruction of Israel and elimination of all jews in living in Israel.
Israel as a state and Jews as a minority, persecuted for centuries, have been saddled with expectations of ideal behavior even under the most difficult circumstances, even when engaged in life and death struggles against relentless foes fully determined to obliterate not only the state of Israel but openly advocate the killing of every Jew in the Middle East.[1]
Palestinian Liberation Organization PLO was formed in 1964. [2]
Led by Yasar Arafat as Chairman PLO took on an aggressive stand against Israel from the very beginning and sought the destruction of Israel. PLO carried out terrorist actions and supported the ‘Intifada’ for two decades. PLO was compelled to accept the reality of the State of Israel, at least officially and even signed an accord which brought semblance of peace in the region. In 1988 “Addressing the General Assembly in Geneva, Arafat renounced terrorism and condemned all its forms. He also called for the implementation of the 1947 partition resolution…”
[1] States that conform to a certain identity are expected to comply with the norms that are associated with that identity. This idea comes with an expectation that some kinds of behavior and action are more acceptable than others. This process is also known as ‘the logic of appropriateness’, where actors behave in certain ways because they believe that this behaviour is appropriate (March and Olsen 1998, 951–952).
[2] The Arab League established the PLO in 1964 in an effort to control Palestinian nationalism while appearing to champion their cause. https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/cmenas-assets/cmenas-documents/unit-of-israel-palestine/Section2_%20PLO.pdf
HAMAS & NETANYAHU MISJUDGEMENT:
A LESSON FOR INDIA
HAMAS
Hamas[1] is an offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood[2], a militant Islamist organization Formed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip In 1987. Hamas since the initial days has been opposed to the State of Israel and even the presence of Jews in the geographical area of Palestine. it has embraced the use of violence including acceptance of terrorism to achieve its goals and, “it has been responsible for thousands of deaths primarily of Israeli citizens”; the latest being the massacres on October 7th, 2023.
Hamas has followed the same tactics as the Muslim Brotherhood had established its network of charities, clinics and schools and subsequently evolved into a terrorist organization . This has been the modus operandi of most of the terrorist organisations supported by Islamic states. Lashkar e Tayyaba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, are examples from Pakistan next door.
“Hamas, like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Fatah in the Palestinian territories has maintained its militia alongside its political wing-and has not been reluctant to use it against both Israelis and Fatah rivals in PLO.
Hamas in the Gaza strip is reputed for its fanatic Islamism and Puritanical zeal.[3]
Hamas has never accepted the two states solution of Palestine and Israel. Even though it has not been averse to ‘ceasefires’ whenever it found it suitable and convenient to itself, it is important to note that ceasefires by Hamas are different from recognition of the State of Israel to exist or the right of Jews to live peacefully in the land of Israel.
The introductory memorandum of Hamas states clearly that “it bases Its ideology and policies on the teachings of Islam and its juridical traditions.” For Hamas, Palestine Is a place for confrontation with the enemy, which is Israel, the state of Israel and the Jews settled there. Hamas draws Support from the Arab countries in the region and Islamic states outside. Support pours into this terrorist organization Hamas from Islamic countries in the form political support, media disinformation channels, and financial contributions.
Pakistan is another country that openly provides military training to Jehadis of Hamas and financial support.
The Israeli government committed a major error in judgement in assuming that Hamas would be a counterweight to the PLO. Hamas has Consistently refused to accept the two states policy as was passed in the UN resolution of 1948, and to which PLO as the sole representative of Palestinians had given its acceptance.
[1] Hamas has governed Gaza Strip since June 2007, replacing PLO. Yahya Sinwar is the leader of Hamas since 2017.
[2] Muslim Brotherhood, religious-political organization which was founded in Egypt by Hassan al Banna. It is a radical organization and advocated a return to the Quran and the hadith and recommended it to be the model for a modern Islamic Society. This Muslim Brotherhood spread rapidly in the Middle East and Africa and North Africa.
[3] The Israel Palestinian Conflict, One Hundred Years of War, James L Gelvin
Netanyahu was keen to weaken the Palestinian liberation Organization under Mahmood Abbas and supported Hamas in the hope that he can influence Hamas to refrain from demanding the dissolution of Israel and establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu accepted its precedence among Palestinians and held indirect negotiations via Egypt. He even allowed the infusion of funds from abroad to Hamas which was given recognition. Hamas was also allowed to take part in discussions on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza.
In 2021 about 3000 work permits were issued to Gazans during the end of Netanyahu’s 5th government, by January 2023 more than 20,000 work permits had been issued. It is also alleged that Netanyahu government had allowed transfusion of funds to from other countries including Iran.
Over Confidence
Isarel was lulled into a sense of peace, assuming that its intelligence wing MOSSAD, which had taken on extremely difficult tasks earlier and succeeded (considered among the best in the free world) was perfect.
Building high walls with barbed wire on top surrounding its settlements will give them protection.
Electronic gadgets and Control Rooms with high-tech instruments can replace Human Intelligence.
A strong army equipped with latest weapons and an Airforce with UpToDate missiles can stave off attacks on ground and from air.
Ignoring the strengthening of Hamas even while tolerating small attacks over the years and being blind to its extensively noisy exercises close to the border including firing of rockets and skydiving. Israeli government allowed Hamas to accumulate weapons and conduct military drills and practices.
Indians should remember how terrorism in Punjab the result was of ignoring the warning signs of incitement by infiltrated Khalistanis from Pakistan and support to Bhindranwale and Khalistan movement.
Now Israel is facing demanding situation thanks to the error in judgement and actions or rather lack of actions that have resulted in Hamas gathering strength to become a strong terrorist organization. The growth and conduct of Hamas is another reminder to all nation states of the danger of supporting extremist groups under any circumstances.
The growth of terrorist organisations like Hamas should wake up all governments around the world to the dangers of supporting terrorist organizations which will result in extreme danger to innocent citizens.
Pakistan, our neighbour, is facing a demanding situation today because of its support to terrorist organisations
A Harsh Reminder for India
The disaster faced by Israel on 7 Nov could have been avoided. Israeli leaders knew the background of Hamas being a terrorist organisation, funded by and weaponized by inimical neighbours,
Hamas has never accepted the state of Israel or the right of Jews to live in Palestine. Hamas had conducted several terrorist attacks on Jews since its. Trust and faith placed on an organisation pledged to Jihad and undying hatred of Jews was completely uncalled for.
For Israel, every war imposed on it has meant fighting with its back to the wall simply to survive as a nation.
India has been comparatively lucky due to its size and large population. However successive Indian governments have failed in more areas than one when dealing with aggressive neighbours. It is no secret that Indian territories are under occupation by Pakistan and China, and worse Pakistan has been training terrorists and sending them across the border almost daily.
1 Growing Prosperity and Status alarms neighbours
Increasing power of a country increases insecurity of its neighbours, who will surely plan to undermine progress. India’s progress economically and its rise in status especially in the Modi era acts as a major irritant to its closest neighbours, China, and Pakistan.
2.Intentions of China and Pakistan have never been hidden.
The motto of the Pakistani Army reads: “Iman, Taqwa, Jihad fi Sabilillah”. which means “A follower of none but Allah, The fear of Allah, Jihad for Allah” . Four wars initiated by Pakistan against India and unending stream of terrorists sent into India by Pakistan are clear indications of its permanent state of war with India and Hindus.
China desires domination of Asia and the world. India is an obstacle. The series of attacks on India both major and minor from 1962, cannot be wished away.
Overconfidence breeds complacency.
India cannot rest on its laurels if defeating Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and in the Kargil operation in 1999, will deter Pakistan from invading India again.
Past victories are just history. India must be prepared for future conflicts. Continuous assessment of enemy capacity, capability and intentions are necessary. India needs to review Upgrade and evolve its security doctrines, cover all dimensions, including space and electronic warfare.
3. Media Management & Diplomacy
“Through artful propaganda and intensive use of media, villains can conflate their identities with the genuine victims.”
The recent demonstrations across the Muslim world, in the American Universities and UK and Canada against Israel and the support to terrorist organisation Hamas indicates the power of a biased media to paint victims as villains.
The open challenges to law and order by Khalistanis in Canada, UK and USA, denigration of Hindus and their places of worship has not invoked any action against the criminal acts of Khalistanis. Support od Trudeau government and of the State department in USA indicate the need for aggressive diplomacy on behalf of India.
This lack of action against Hindu bashing, goes side by side with support to an extremist Pakistani state whose Prime minister calls for Jihad against India and which throws out a million Afghan refugees.
5. The Dangers of Domestic Disunity
“By Hamas’s own admission, domestic disunity in Israel contributed to the timing of Hamas’s invasion — with the Israeli government distracted by fierce political battles and daily protests.”
Pakistan continues to support separatist organisations of Khalistanis, Mizo National Front, SIMI, PFI, Hurriyat etc. It is no secret Political Parties in India have been receiving funds from institutions inimical to Indian national interests from abroad.
Sri Ram Mandir
The current propaganda by opposition parties (with an eye on the vote bank?) against the consecration of Ram Mandir on 22 January, Prime Minister Modi and Hindu beliefs appears to be an act that will incite the Muslims against the Hindus in this country.
This is a sensitive moment in the History of India. The central government cannot afford to take a recess or a lenient view of anti-national organisations and individuals. We The people of India must realise the dangers posed to our social fabric and security from inimical agencies both without and within and support our democratically elected government to discharge its functions effectively and efficiently, especially on issues of National Security.