The eleventh day of ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,’ a surprise offensive against Israel, marked a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict. This operation, characterized by a broad and coordinated attack on Israeli settlements and sensitive military positions through ground, sea, and aerial means, deviated from the traditional roles and positions of Palestinian resistance groups and the Israeli military in previous decades of conflict.
From a military and operational perspective, the first phase of ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,’ executed by Palestinian resistance groups around the Gaza Strip, was both qualitative and integrated. From the standpoint of Israeli security theory, it delivered a devastating blow.
According to initial assessments by Israeli security officials speaking to The New York Times, the success of the surprise attacks can be attributed to a series of security and military failures by the Israeli intelligence and armed forces. These failures include the inability to monitor and control the primary communication channels utilized by Palestinian factions and the fighters who carried out the attacks.
In addition, there was an overreliance on the efficiency of remote sensing devices and border surveillance equipment, which the resistance elements were able to swiftly disable. This enabled them to infiltrate and raid military bases, catching officers and soldiers off guard in their quarters.
Testimonies from Israeli security leaders also indicate that they made inaccurate assumptions about the threat posed by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and other Palestinian factions in Gaza. They had assumed that these factions had adopted a policy of “self-restraint,” particularly in the wake of the “Unity of Battle” in August 2022, launched by the Islamic Jihad Movement and left to be confronted by Hamas alone, in their estimation.
This led to the ultimate dismantling of the Israeli security theory, which had long held that Israel was superior to all its adversaries. It also challenged the concept of deterrence, which rested on the fear of a formidable force.
