17 October 2023
By Daeun Lee
Hamas, the Palestinian armed group, launched an unprecedented "full-scale attack" on Israel, leading to shockwaves across the Middle East and the world. Israel, for the first time in 50 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, immediately declared "war" and initiated a full-scale invasion of Gaza.
This situation has a significant impact on ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and broader "great power diplomacy" in the Middle East. It emphasizes that the resolution of the Middle East issue is intertwined with addressing the Palestinian problem.
On the 7th, Hamas militants breached barriers and fences surrounding Gaza, penetrating Israeli territory in what they termed the "Al-Aqsa Flood Operation." They engaged in random gunfire, attacked civilians, and took hostages. Israel counterattacked, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The conflict marked Israel's most extensive attack since 1973. Israel announced a large-scale military operation, disrupting supplies to Gaza, mobilizing reserve forces, and deploying additional troops, hinting at a potential ground operation.
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