Recent attacks by Hamas on Israel have exposed significant weaknesses in the country’s security and defense systems, leading to a loss of confidence in the state system among the Israeli public.
According to various security analysts and various sources, Hamas managed to launch a surprise attack on Israel by breaching the border wall and breaking the border fence along with hundreds of armed militants.
Hamas also used drones, anti-tank missiles and bulldozers to disable Israeli vehicles and widen the fence with Israeli bulldozers.
For the first time, Hamas landed its guerilla fighters inside Israel by paragliding, who carried out surprise attacks and caused serious damage.
Hamas targeted key locations such as the Erez crossing, a surveillance and communications center, and took several Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage.
The attacks were unprecedented in their scale and ambition and shocked Israel. Israel did not expect such a complex and coordinated operation from Gaza.
Israel, meanwhile, was focusing on the West Bank, where there has been more violence and clashes with Palestinian armed groups.
Snarled on the streets of Jerusalem
Harinder Mishra, a journalist based in Jerusalem (al-Quds), said that despite four days of the attack, the streets and alleys are still quiet.
People are not coming out of their homes. Offices, schools and markets etc. are all closed.
Speaking to BBC Urdu, he said that people are still trying to understand how such a big attack was possible.
Israel is very proud of two things, one is its army and the other is its intelligence. At the same time, there is another thing that Israel is very proud of and that is high technology, which it also exports.
According to Mishra, “Locals say that the recent attacks have shaken the confidence of the Israelis in their military, intelligence and technology.” The Israeli people want to know how it all happened.
Parendra Mishra says that when people approach Israeli defense sources about this, they avoid saying anything openly.
Checkpoints with advanced technology
Sections of the Israeli border where Hamas fighters entered Israel from Gaza are manned by checkpoints or security barriers.
These checkpoints monitor the border with the latest technology and various sensors are also installed to detect any movement.
This technology system was recently installed at a cost of one billion dollars.
Israeli officials were confident that this advanced security system, developed with the help of sensors, would be able to prevent any intrusion from Gaza, but this system has proved to be a dismal failure.
Hamas secret training at the barriers
Harinder Mishra says that now questions are being raised on Israel’s security system. According to reports now coming out, Hamas fighters have been training for attacks on security barriers for the past few months.
“Their pattern of congregating at the barriers for training has been interpreted by Israeli security officials as Hamas officials trying to negotiate for more facilities and more permits for Palestinians coming to Israel from Gaza. ‘
About 17,000 Palestinians from Gaza have been traveling to southern Israel for work and employment. Israeli officials completely failed to understand the gathering of Palestinians at security checkpoints.
Thus, Israel’s defense, intelligence and advanced technology systems were a complete failure.
Release of hostages
Other analysts say Israel’s intelligence services failed to detect the preparations and plans of Hamas, which spent months, if not years, gathering information about Israeli operations along the border.
Israel’s high-tech outpost system was disabled by Hamas within hours. The system cost billions of dollars to build and was designed to prevent tunnels.
The attack has shaken Israelis’ confidence in their security and military superiority, and questions are being raised about the efficacy and effectiveness of their deterrence strategy against a seemingly weak adversary.
The attack also complicates the prospect of a ground operation in Gaza, as Israel must also consider protecting its hostages there.
The attack showed that Hamas is capable of adapting its strategy and exploiting weaknesses in Israel’s defenses.