Unveiling the Unseen: The Secret Motive Behind Hamas Attacks
Hamas' recent attacks, comprising missile strikes from Gaza and ground combat in Israel, hold the power to disrupt a crucial diplomatic agreement, potentially reshaping the entire region
Peter Bergen, CNN's national security analyst and a vice president at New America, warns that Hamas' surprise weekend attack, which included firing thousands of missiles from Gaza and engaging in on-the-ground fighting in Israel, has the ability to significantly disrupt an ongoing diplomatic agreement that has the potential to redefine the region.
Hamas is carrying out attacks on civilian and military targets in Israel, while also holding an undisclosed number of Israeli soldiers and citizens hostage. This is presumably done with the intention of exchanging them for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. In previous instances, Israel has released significant numbers of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israelis held captive by Hamas.
The presence of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas will further complicate any potential military response from Israel in Gaza. The hostages are expected to be dispersed strategically to deter Israel from launching air strikes that could endanger their lives.
However, it seems that there is a bigger agenda at play here - a deliberate move to disrupt the progress made in fostering a closer relationship between Israel and the Arab states under the Trump Administration through the Abraham Accords.
Under the guidance of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, the "Abraham Accords" successfully paved the way for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish official recognition of the state of Israel, a historic first. Additionally, Morocco and Sudan also took steps to normalize their relations with Israel.
Rockets are fired from Gaza City as Israel's Iron Dome air defence system attempts to intercept them on October 7, 2023.
Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images
US officials raise concerns over Israeli intelligence after Hamas attacks
The accord was a remarkable milestone as Arab nations had previously cited Israel's treatment of Palestinians as their reason for not acknowledging the Jewish state. In order to prevent their cause from being overlooked, Palestinians objected to the agreements.
However, the Abraham Accords did not bring significant benefits for the Palestinians. Despite Kushner's promise to secure $50 billion for Palestinian initiatives, this did not materialize due to the Palestinians' boycott of an investment conference organized by him in Bahrain in 2019.
The US embassy's relocation from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the Trump administration, an action deemed provocative to Palestinians claiming parts of East Jerusalem, was a significant move. The Biden administration has followed suit by keeping the embassy in Jerusalem and is actively working towards facilitating a potential agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a development that could have an even greater transformative impact on the Middle East than the Abraham Accords.
This deal appears to have made steady progress, with Israeli planes now granted overflight rights over the Saudi kingdom. Additionally, a cabinet minister from Israel recently visited the kingdom, marking an unprecedented event. Furthermore, a Jewish prayer service in Saudi Arabia was conducted by an Israeli official last week, another historic first.
Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
Netanyahu says Israel is at war after Hamas launches surprise air and ground attack from Gaza
A normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, particularly given the significance of the two holiest sites in Islam being located in Saudi Arabia, would carry immense symbolism and provide substantial security advantages for Israel. It is worth noting that approximately fifty years ago, during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israel encountered hostile attacks from two Arab nations, Egypt and Syria. Furthermore, Israel and Saudi Arabia currently share a strong common interest as they perceive Iran to be their most dangerous adversary.
While the specific details of the Israeli-Saudi agreement are still being finalized, the Palestinians, who felt neglected by the Abraham Accords, may have concerns about whether their interests will be adequately considered in any future Israeli-Saudi accord.
Israel's government is currently the most right-wing in its history and shows minimal sympathy towards the political goals of the Palestinians. Likewise, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, appears to be less invested in the Palestinian cause compared to his father, King Salman, who is recognized as the nominal leader of Saudi Arabia but is reportedly in poor health. MBS effectively holds the reins of power.
During a seldom-seen interview two weeks ago, MBS declared to Fox News, "We are edging closer every day" to establishing normalized relations with Israel.
Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter
Sign up for CNN Opinions newsletter
Content
Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. This could potentially shed light on the motivation behind Hamas militants' recent unexpected attack on Israel. Given the ongoing conflicts in Israel and the Israeli strikes in Gaza, it is possible that a previously arranged Saudi-Israeli deal mediated by the US could be jeopardized in the foreseeable future.
Iran, which has historically strained relations with both Israel and Saudi Arabia, would greatly benefit from this development. Notably, the US State Department's 2020 report on terrorism also confirms Iran's backing of Hamas.
Top Iranian officials have issued public warnings against forging closer ties with Israel. In a recent statement, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized that countries engaging in normalization with Israel would face detrimental consequences, referring to their actions as a misguided bet on a doomed course. Furthermore, Khamenei's principal military adviser expressed Iran's unequivocal backing of Hamas attacks in Israel, highlighting their unwavering support until the eventual liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem.
