Expert Analyzes Hamas October Attack as Strategic Trap Exploiting Israeli Vulnerabilities
Dr. Yaakov Altman analyzes the October 7 Hamas attack as a calculated strategy designed to trap Israel in a prolonged conflict from which Hamas could benefit. He explains that Hamas aimed to inflict severe damage on Israeli civilians and infrastructure, capture many hostages, and potentially draw in allies like Iran, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Arabs from the West Bank and possibly Israeli Arabs. Hamas anticipated that such a blow could cause panic and destabilize Israel, leading to mass civilian flight. Alternatively, if Hamas faced a swift Israeli military response alone, the group planned to use its tunnel networks as shelters for its leaders and fighters, relying on Israel's prioritization of hostage safety to limit military actions.
Altman describes Hamas’s plan as a "win-win" scenario where Israel loses either way: either through initial shock and destabilization or through a prolonged, exhausting war that drains Israel physically, economically, and morally. He warns that the international community, led by the U.S. and others, may pressure Israel to allow Gaza’s reconstruction in exchange for hostages, effectively enabling Hamas to establish a hostile Palestinian state that refuses to recognize Israel’s legitimacy.
The expert identifies three critical Israeli vulnerabilities exploited by Hamas: extreme sensitivity to hostages, legal constraints that limit military operations, and a persistent left-wing belief in the inevitability of peace with neighbors. These weaknesses, Altman argues, have been strategic pillars enabling hostile actors to wage war against Israel. He calls for a fundamental shift in Israeli priorities, advocating for appointing leaders with strong Jewish-Zionist resolve in the military, judiciary, and political spheres to strengthen Israel’s deterrence and combat capabilities.
Altman concludes by urging Israelis to use the upcoming elections as an opportunity to enact this change, emphasizing that such a transformation is essential for Israel’s survival and future strength. He closes with a hopeful message for the Jewish people as the new year approaches.
