Extremist group carried out attacks on security checkpoints that control traffic between Lebanon and Israel
The extremist group Hezbollah destroyed surveillance cameras at Israeli Army posts this Monday (October 16, 2023). The cameras were at 5 points on the border between Lebanon and Israel.
According to information from APthe group stated that the increase in attacks was “a warning” and it does not mean that Hezbollah has decided to go to war.
On X (formerly Twitter), Hezbollah posted a photo with the flag raised at the site of the attacks. “Indeed, we have given you a clear achievement”the group stated.
Shortly before the attack on the surveillance posts, the Israeli government announced that it was trying to displace residents living in towns located up to 2km from the border with Lebanon. According to the Israel Defense Forces, residents will be moved to government-financed housing.
Last week, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, spoke in contribute in the war against Israel and celebrated the action of Hamas that resulted in the current conflict. Hezbollah claims to have approximately 100,000 active military personnel.
Read more about the Hezbollah and Israel conflict:
UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT
The Palestinian group Hamas carried out a surprise attack on Israel this Saturday (Oct 7, 2023). When claiming authorship of the action, he stated in a statement that it is a response to “Zionist aggression”. The Israeli government has declared war and carries out retaliatory operations. Although it is the largest armed conflict in the region in recent years, the territorial dispute between Palestinians and Jews has been going on for decades.
The 2 groups claim the territory, which has important historical and religious landmarks for both ethnicities.
HAMAS
Hamas (Arabic acronym for “Islamic Resistance Movement”) is the largest Islamic organization operating in Palestine, with a Sunni orientation. It has a political arm and provides social services to the Palestinian population, who mostly live in poor areas with precarious infrastructure.
But the organization is best known for its armed wing, which fights for the sovereignty of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has already claimed the entirety of Palestine – which includes Israeli territory and the city of Jerusalem. The group does not recognize Israel as a country.
The United States and the European Union, in addition to Israel, classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Historical context
Here is a timeline summarizing the main episodes of the dispute:
- 1918: After the end of the First World War, the United Kingdom was responsible for creating a Jewish state without harming non-Jewish nations in the region. There is an increase in Jewish migration to the region and anti-Semitism gains strength;
- 1947: Unsuccessful, the British left the territory and transferred responsibility to the UN (United Nations), which proposed the division of Palestine into Arab (Gaza and West Bank) and Jewish (Israel) territories. Arabs refused division. They claimed to have been left with the land with the least resources;
- 1948: The State of Israel is recognized, which begins the 1st Arab-Israeli War. Gaza is occupied by Egyptians and its area has been reduced, with new limits demarcated;
- 1956: Suez Crisis. Israel manages to occupy Gaza, but the Egyptians regain control;
- 1967: 6 Day War returns control of Gaza to Israel, which also occupies the West Bank and East Jerusalem;
- 1973: during the Jewish holy holiday of Yom Kippur, a joint attack by Syria and Egypt caught Israel off guard and left more than 20,000 dead; the attack led Israeli nationalist parties to unite to create Likud, owned by current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu;
- 1987: 1st Intifada, Palestinian uprising against Israeli troops;
- 1993: The Oslo Accords create the ANP (Palestinian National Authority) to assume the political administration of the Palestinian territories. But Israel continues to occupy the regions;
- 2000: 2nd Intifada;
- 2005: Israel leaves the Gaza Strip;
- 2006: the political wing of Hamas defeats Fatah in the parliamentary elections in the Gaza Strip. The power of the ANP decreases and there is friction with Fatah, which governs the West Bank;
- 2007: Hamas takes control of the Gaza Strip;
- 2012: The UN recognizes Palestine (made up of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank) as a permanent observer state. It paves the way for the recognition of Palestine as a State under the rule of law, which has not yet been done.
Conflicts are constant between Israel and Hamas. There are records of offensives in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019. In 2021, a conflict in East Jerusalem lasted 11 days.
In the same year, the president of the ANP, Mahmoud Abbas, postponed the legislative elections scheduled for May, citing uncertainty regarding the participation of Palestinians in the election due to Israel’s actions.
There is no new date for the election. Hamas condemned the decision.
Recent offensives
In January 2023, Israelis invaded a refugee camp and killed 7 Palestinian soldiers and 2 civilians. Muslims responded and fired 2 rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel, which carried out new airstrikes on Gaza.
The Israelis launched a new air strike in the region on May 9. The targets were Muslim military leaders. In addition to 3 soldiers, 10 other people died. The attack was carried out a week after a ceasefire was established with Palestinian armed factions.
Five days of intense armed conflict followed, resulting in the deaths of at least 33 people in the Gaza Strip and two in Israel. A new ceasefire was established on May 13.
On June 19, Israel carried out a new offensive on Jenin, the 3rd largest city in the West Bank. It was the first time that the country used military helicopters in the region since the 2nd Intifada.
At least 5 Palestinians died in the action. The following day, 2 Hamas members opened fire on an Israeli settlement in the territory. At least 4 died.
On June 21, Palestinian villages were targeted by hundreds of settled Israelis, vandalizing cars, houses and shooting civilians. Israel carried out a drone attack in the West Bank (the 1st since 2006). Three militants were killed.
The dispute escalated with the Hamas attack this Saturday (Oct 7) and Israel’s retaliation. At least 1,828 people died as of Tuesday (October 10) as a result of the offensives.
Several international authorities have positioned themselves against the Hamas attack, and the United States has stated that it is ready to support the Israelis.
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