Hamas Launches Unprecedented Attack on Israel, Raising Questions About U.S. Security in the Middle East

At daybreak on Saturday, the ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel. Thousands of rockets were fired, while dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border by air, land and sea. The attack occurred on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll.

The attack has exposed deficiencies in Israeli intelligence, while raising questions about what the U.S. is getting in return for the time spent building surveillance capabilities and partnerships in the volatile Middle East. The armed conflict that broke out in Israel threatens to undercut Joe Biden’s argument that his foreign policy expertise is making the world more secure.

At least 250 people have been killed and hundreds more wounded, according to Israel’s national emergency service. Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer and Middle East specialist, has called the attack an “enormous intelligence failure” by the Israelis and the Americans.

In response to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “we are at war.” He has since ordered a massive military operation against Hamas, while the U.S. has offered to help mediate a ceasefire.

The attack has left the international community in shock, with many questioning how such a large-scale attack could have gone undetected. It is clear that the attack has had a major impact on the region, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming days.