As we all now know, the usual tensions in Israel have exploded with a surprise attack on Southern Israel by air and land. It has been one year since the infamous October 7th attacks on Israel by Hamas. Hamas militants flew using powered gliders into Israel from Gaza, while others moved by light truck by land. Israel was caught entirely by surprise, and this resulted in 200 hostages and about the same amount of deaths, including an attack at a music festival where young people were shot in cold blood. Israel’s Iron Dome defense was overwhelmed by the number of rockets being shot out of Gaza and into Israel in a stunning defeat of a system thought to be nearly impenetrable. 14 Americans are being held hostage along with other Israelis.
In response, President Biden addressed the nation on 10 October 2023 and announced that the Gerald R. Ford Super-carrier (America’s newest carrier and the first of her class) into the area. She was already in the region, and she is currently making the best time to Israel. Shipments of arms from the US are already arriving to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome Defense system. In the intervening months, a new floating supply dock has been added to the mission to provide aid, and Israel has cornered Hamas and most of the Palestinian population in Rafah, the last bastion in Gaza. The way has stretched into nearly a year. But how did this all start and why did Hamas choose now to attack?
