On October 7, 2023, Hamas went to war with Israel. In fact, they mounted a major offensive, attacking by land, sea and air, from the Gaza Strip. Israelis are referring to this as their ‘’Pearl Harbour’’, or their ‘’Nine Eleven’’, as the surprise was so complete, and the attack was so effective. They were snapped out of their complacency! There were a great many Israeli casualties, civilian as well as military.
The offensive was supremely well planned, in complete secrecy, over a period of perhaps a year. The Israelis thought that the Gaza Strip was safely contained, as it is only forty one kilometres long, and twelve kilometres wide, at best. It has a total area of three hundred fifty square kilometres. With a population of over two million people, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
The Israelis built a most impressive wall, around this small strip of land, one which opens up onto the Mediterranean Sea. This Wall is six meters tall, or about twenty feet. There are also underground concrete barriers, to prevent tunnelling. It is fitted with hundreds of cameras, towers, radar, sensors, and guards stationed every one hundred fifty meters, or five hundred feet. It was thought to be a model of high tech, and impenetrable! They could not possibly have been more mistaken!
This ‘’high tech’’ defence proved to be about as effective, as the French Maginot Line! That Line was meant to stop the German offensive in World War Two! The Germans breached that Line with ease! Hamas just as easily, breached the Israeli Wall!
On that fateful day, using commercially available drones, Hamas bombed the towers and communication infrastructure, so that the Israeli Defence Force, the IDF, was effectively blinded. Then a wave of paraglides flew over the Wall. Bulldozers opened the Wall in numerous places, allowing bigger vehicles to drive through. The supposedly impenetrable Wall was pierced in no less that twenty nine positions, at the same time! Hundreds of Hamas fighters poured through, attacking Israel!
A great many IDF soldiers and civilians were killed. As well, numerous ‘’hostages’’ were captured, and taken into Gaza. As yet, no one knows the precise number.
At the same time, from within Gaza, a great many rockets were fired at Israel. Over a period of several days, perhaps five thousand rockets! Some of these rockets had a range of seventy kilometres or forty miles! Israel reports that most of them were shot down by their missile defence shield, referred to as ‘’Iron Dome’’. On the other hand, impartial observers report that most of the missiles hit their mark!
Israel responded with ‘’air strikes’’ against Hamas strong points, within Gaza. As it is so densely populated, this caused countless civilian casualties. They have also placed Gaza under a ‘’state of siege’’. Nothing and no one is allowed in or out. The electric power has been cut off. No food, water or medical supplies are allowed into Gaza. The fishers are not allowed to go fishing.
In fact, Doctors Without Borders are describing conditions within Gaza as ‘’catastrophic’’. The hospitals are currently running on generators, and will soon run out of fuel. Those same hospitals are already low on supplies, and without electricity, they ‘’risk turning into morgues’’!
The International Committee of the Red Cross said on October 12, that it ‘’stood ready to help’’. As they stated, ‘’We have people on the ground, and we are ready to play our role of neutral intermediator and contribute to release of these people’’.
As well, UNICEF is preparing to send humanitarian assistance to Gaza, through the Rafah border crossing, between Egypt and Gaza. Aid agencies in Egypt are preparing to send urgently needed humanitarian supplies into Gaza, and receive wounded Palestinians.
The Israeli energy minister made it quite clear that he is not interested. He is determined that there will be ‘’no pause in the siege’’ until Hamas releases the hostages in Gaza. As he stated, ’’Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals’’.
This tactic of ‘’total siege’’ is out lawed under international law! It amounts to declaring war on civilians! A crime against humanity! It necessarily leads to a humanitarian disaster! Yet the western powers are still supporting the Israelis!
The American Secretary of State made that most clear: ‘’The message that I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever, be alone. Israel has an obligation to defend itself.’’
Reality check, Mr. Secretary of State! You do not set government policy! It is the government agencies that set government policies! Not you!
As I write this, the IDF forces are massing on the border with Gaza. The journalists are reporting that it is not a question of ‘’if’’ the invasion of Gaza is going to take place, but ‘’when’’. They are convinced that the ‘’most brutal phase is about to begin’’. In this, they are so right!
History has shown that ‘’urban warfare’’ is supremely brutal! Such invasions have consistently back fired! Narrow streets and piles of rubble, have proven to be to the advantage of the defenders! As well, high buildings provide a fine vantage point for the defence. Not to mention providing nests for snipers! The Nazis learned this lesson well, in Stalingrad!
Hamas has been goading the Israelis! They welcome the bombing! It creates the very pile of rubble that is so important to their defence! It also infuriates the civilian population! Countless civilians are now motivated, consumed with hatred, determined to defend their homes! To repel the Israeli invaders!
As Hamas has a huge quantity of missiles, some of them of fine quality, it is reasonable to assume that they also have other modern weapons. These could well include anti tank mines, anti tank guided missiles, and rocket propelled grenades, or RPG’s. In urban warfare, in close quarters, such weapons can prove to be devastating!
As the invasion has proven, Hamas also has a great many drones. These drones have the virtue of being cheap and effective. They can be used for surveillance, and to drop explosives on people and machines.
No doubt, the Hamas fighters have been training, possibly for years, and are well aware of the terrain. They are also reported to have a most impressive network of tunnels.
The Americans can testify to the effectiveness of tunnels! In Viet Nam, the Vietnamese were able to hide deep underground, so that the American bombing was largely ineffective. Then, as the tunnels were extensive and elaborate, they were able to emerge at numerous places, to the shock and horror of their enemy! It is very likely that the Hamas fighters are safely hiding in their tunnels, while the Israelis bomb Gaza!
Hamas is likely also counting on receiving support from other Palestinians, as well as other countries in the area. The journalists are reporting that Israel also attacked military targets in Syria and Lebanon, as well as in Jerusalem and the West Bank! This is being referred to as a ‘’major escalation of the war’’! Israel is playing right into the hands of Hamas!
Strangely enough, this is not too surprising! As Lenin stated, in Imperialism, the Highest State of Capitalism, ‘’imperialism is reaction, right down the line’’! Israelis are monopoly capitalists, imperialists, and imperialists love war! They are also determined to drag as many other countries into the war, as they can! That includes America!
Yet the revolutionary movement is growing ever stronger. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that all working people, working class as well as middle class, get in touch with the politicians in Washington. Encourage the rank and file Members of Congress, to form an Independent Congressional Association. Remind them of their oath, to ‘’preserve, protect and defend the Constitution’’! They did not take an oath to protect the billionaires! It is the Party bosses, both Republican and Democratic, who are determined to serve the billionaires!
Remember your oath! Defend the Constitution! Do not allow Biden to go to war in the Middle East! That war does not concern Americans! Form an Independent Congressional Association!
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 