Connect with us

Published

on

On 7 October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1200 people, seizing over 230 hostages, and committing a series of atrocities. The appalling act of violence shocked the world and led to Israel declaring war on the militant group.

Hamas – despite military support from Iran – would have known that it was no match militarily for Israel, yet its vast network of tunnels has provided the fighters with an asymmetric advantage in this war.

Do the tunnels represent a flagrant misuse of financial resources intended to provide aid to Palestinians, or are they a very astute investment by Hamas on behalf of the Palestinian people?

Follow the latest on the Israel-Hamas war as Gaza now ‘different colour from space’ after bombardment

Nothing can justify the atrocities committed by Hamas on that fateful October day; however, this was no “spur of the moment” attack – it was well planned, over several years, with a specific aim in mind.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘Gaza a graveyard for children’

Over many decades, traditional political dialogue and negotiation to establish a way for Palestinians and Israelis to co-exist peacefully has failed. Meanwhile, Israel has increasingly exploited its military dominance to ramp up pressure on Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank.

Palestinian residents of Gaza have seen unemployment soar to 50%, standards of living decline consistently, and in the absence of any tangible political progress to address this cycle of decline, Hamas capitalised.

More on Gaza

Hamas offered hope. When conventional politics fails, a fresh approach is required. Israelis and Palestinians are no longer capable of seeing beyond the red mist of conflict, so an enduring peace will only be achieved through external international engagement – specifically the US and Saudi Arabia.

But what would be the catalyst to provoke international engagement in such an intractable issue?

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

Hamas would have known that its 7 October attacks would incur the wrath of Israel and precipitate a major conflict that it could not win.

But it would also know that US intervention had ended previous conflicts, so by initiating a major conflict Hamas would shine a spotlight on the region and perhaps kick-start progress towards an enduring two-state solution.

Read more:
UN Security Council agrees resolution to speed up Gaza aid

Sky News witnesses chaos of Israeli drone strike – as dead child pulled from rubble
British destroyer to join international task force protecting the Red Sea

However, Hamas also knew that Israel would be determined to destroy the group, so it needed to find a way to survive against a vastly superior military force. The answer lay in the tunnel network.

Experience had shown that a well-designed network with power, comms, security and protection, could provide Hamas with an asymmetric advantage, and they invested accordingly.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Israel military destroys Gaza tunnels

In 2014 alone it is estimated that Hamas spent up to $90m (£70m) and poured 600,000 tonnes of concrete on developing the tunnel network. The strategy has succeeded in creating a subterranean stronghold for Hamas.

But the war provoked by Hamas has resulted in huge casualties – over 20,000 Palestinians (including Hamas fighters) killed and over 50,000 injured. Would Palestinians believe this was a price worth paying?

Despite the IDF’s military response to the 7 October attacks, Hamas has increased in popularity from 38 to 42% of Gaza residents. And although Hamas does not control the West Bank, decades of growing Israeli pressure on Palestinians living in the region has led to a surge in popularity for Hamas from 12% to 44%. Why?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘Senior Hamas operative driven in tunnel’

The war has led to Israel admitting that it has no intention of pursuing a two-state solution. If Hamas had not acted, would Israel’s undeclared end-state have eventually denied Palestinians their right to self-determination and peaceful co-existence?

In contrast, Hamas’s stated intent to destroy the Israeli state is widely condemned as extremism; however, away from the extremist rhetoric, is Israel’s pursuit of a one-state solution any more palatable?

Hamas’s investment in the tunnel network might have diverted from the aid budget for Gaza, but if its intent was to attract international attention to ensure a more sustainable long-term solution for the region, history might judge that a prudent strategy.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘Safe’ Gaza areas hit

This in no way justifies Hamas’s brutal atrocities on 7 October.

However, if an enduring solution is to be found, the international community must look beyond the polarising acerbic rhetoric and recognise the huge weight of responsibility on its shoulders. If the Palestinian “cry for help” goes unheeded, the cycle of violence looks destined to continue.

Hope must replace despair, with opportunity inspiring a new generation. Failure – or indeed just “doing nothing” – will perpetuate the decades of violence, provide a recruiting ground for extremism, and risk the very future of Palestinians in the region.

This is not about taking sides. It is about placing humanity as the primary focus, and changing the narrative from one of conflict, anger and hatred, to one of compromise, accommodation and hope.

Continue Reading

World

Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv – as commander ‘sacked for lying about war progress’

Published

on

By

Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv - as commander 'sacked for lying about war progress'

Russia launched a large drone attack on Kyiv overnight, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning the attack shows his capital needs better air defences.

Ukraine’s air defence units shot down 50 of 73 Russian drones launched, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries as a result of the attacks.

Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs and around 460 attack drones in the past week.

Warning that Ukraine needs to improve its air defences, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “An air alert has been sounded almost daily across Ukraine this week”.

“Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state.

“But Russia still continues its efforts to kill our people, spread fear and panic, and weaken us.”

Russia did not comment on the attack.

More on Russia

It comes as Russian media reported that Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, the commander of the country’s southern military district, had been removed from his role over allegedly providing misleading reports about his troops’ progress.

While Russian forces have advanced at the fastest rate in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, forces have been much slower around Siversk and the eastern region of Donetsk.

Read more:
Russia ‘ready to hit UK with cyber attacks’
Lack of defensive shield must ring alarm bells
Putin threatens West with ‘unstoppable’ missile

Russian war bloggers have long complained that units there are poorly supported and thrown into deadly battles for little tactical gain.

Russia’s ministry of defence has not commented on the reports.

Continue Reading

World

Russian forces capture ‘former British soldier’ fighting for Ukraine – reports

Published

on

By

Russian forces capture 'former British soldier' fighting for Ukraine - reports

Russian forces have reportedly captured a British man while he was fighting for Ukraine.

In a widely circulated video posted on Sunday, the man says his name is James Scott Rhys Anderson, aged 22.

He says he is a former British Army soldier who signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion after his job.

He is dressed in army fatigues and speaks with an English accent as he says to camera: “I was in the British Army before, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Signal Regiment.”

He tells the camera he was “just a private”, “a signalman” in “One Signal Brigade, 22 Signal Regiment, 252 Squadron”.

“When I left… got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion webpage. I had just lost everything. I just lost my job,” he said.

“My dad was away in prison, I see it on the TV,” he added, shaking his head. “It was a stupid idea.”

In a second video, he is shown with his hands tied and at one point, with tape over his eyes.

Read more:
Russia ‘ready to hit UK with cyber attacks’
Lack of defensive shield must ring alarm bells
Putin threatens West with ‘unstoppable’ missile

He describes how he had travelled to Ukraine from Britain, saying: “I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border.”

Russian state news agency Tass reported that a military source said a “UK mercenary” had been “taken prisoner in the Kursk area” of Russia.

The UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment at this stage.

Continue Reading

World

Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE – as Israeli PM says he was murdered in ‘antisemitic terror incident’

Published

on

By

Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE - as Israeli PM says he was murdered in 'antisemitic terror incident'

The body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been found, Israel has said.

Zvi Kogan, the Chabad representative in the UAE, went missing on Thursday.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office on Sunday said the 28-year-old rabbi was murdered, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident”.

“The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death,” it said.

On Saturday, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad said it was investigating the disappearance as suspicions arose that he had been kidnapped.

The Emirati government gave no immediate acknowledgment that Mr Kogan had been found dead. Its interior ministry has described the rabbi as being “missing and out of contact”.

“Specialised authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the interior ministry said.

Mr Kogan lived in the UAE with his wife Rivky, who is a US citizen. He ran a Kosher grocery store in Dubai, which has been the target of online protests by pro-Palestinian supporters.

The Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism, said Mr Kogan was last seen in Dubai.

Read more:
Hamas claims Israeli hostage killed in IDF attack on Gaza
No 10 indicates Netanyahu would be arrested

Israeli authorities reissued their recommendation against all non-essential travel to the UAE and said visitors currently there should minimise movement and remain in secure areas.

The rabbi’s disappearance comes as Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October.

While the Israeli statement on Mr Kogan did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have previously carried out kidnappings in the UAE.

The UAE diplomatically recognised Israel in 2020. Since then, synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners have been set up for the burgeoning Jewish community but the unrest in the Middle East has sparked deep anger in the country.

Continue Reading

Trending