The Point One year into the Israel-Gaza War: how has this conflict changed...
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and more than 250 hostages taken by the group. Israel responded with a large-scale military operation in Gaza.
Looking back over the past year, what has this war, triggered by theHamas attack, actually changed?
First, Hamas attack challenged some long-held perceptions about Israel.
According to an article by Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) on the anniversary of the attack, many Palestinian and Middle Eastern scholars believe that what made this Hamas attack unique was its direct assault on Israeli soil. Some have even compared it to the 1973 Yom Kippur War, marking the first time since then that Israel was attacked so aggressively.
The October 7th, 2023, raid not only caused significant Israeli civilian casualties but also killed and captured Israeli soldiers and temporarily seized military bases.
For decades, Israel has been seen as a country with highly accurate intelligence, strong military capabilities, and secure defenses. The Hamas attack shattered this perception, leaving a lasting psychological impact, even as Israel swiftly retaliated with severe blows to Hamas.
Second, Here are the consequences.
The immediate consequence was Israel's massive retaliation, which brought immense suffering to the refugees in Gaza, while Israel itself faced attacks from multiple fronts.
A report by the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations highlights that Gaza's population of around 2.3 million was severely affected, with 86% of residents displaced during the war, and 63% of Gaza's buildings damaged or completely destroyed.
This humanitarian crisis became a Focal point of international concern over the past year.
Third, over the past year, Israel's attack has gone fiercer.
After nearly leveling much of Gaza, In September this year, Israel launched a fierce offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, deploying tactics such as large-scale jamming of communication devices like pagers and walkie-talkies, sparking significant controversy.
Despite efforts by the United Nations and the Biden administration to restrain Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu has remained firm in his military approach.
During a recent visit to the Lebanon-Israel border, Netanyahu told Israeli soldiers that their actions would provide Israel with "a generation of security."
Fourth, the conflict also shifted the regional dynamics, Placing Israel in a more precarious position.
Prior to October 2023, israel's relations with Arab nations were steadily improving. In September 2023, Netanyahu boasted in a United Nations speech about a "new Middle East" emergingunder Israel's diplomatic efforts, with reconciliation between Israel and Arab nations as a result of Israeli diplomacy.
However, theHamas attack and Israel's retaliatory actions, which resulted in civilian casualties, Have indefinitely stalled the normalization process between Israel and the Arab world. Israel now faces mounting international criticism, and its global reputation has taken a hit.
Although Hamas and Hezbollah have suffered heavy losses, israel's strategic and diplomatic setbacks have been more significant.
Ultimately, civilians have borne the brunt oF this conflict. A Reuters article on the anniversary of the attack noted that the most fervent wish of Gazan civilians is for the war to end so they can return to their pre-war lives.
加沙戰爭一週年,這場衝突究竟改變了什麼?
2023年10月7日,哈馬斯對以色列發動襲擊,導致約1200人死亡,另有250多人淪爲哈馬斯人質。以色列隨即對加沙發起大規模軍事行動。
回看過去一年,哈馬斯突襲引發的這場戰爭,究竟改變了什麼?
首先,哈馬斯的突襲打破了有關以色列的一些神話。
土耳其廣播電視公司(TRT)7日的文章稱,很多巴勒斯坦和中東的學者認爲,哈馬斯這次襲擊之所以特別,是因爲他們襲擊了以色列本土。甚至可以說,這是1973年戰爭以來,以色列第一次首先遭到襲擊。
而哈馬斯去年10月7日的突襲,不僅造成以色列平民傷亡,也打死並俘虜了一些以色列軍人,還短暫佔領了以色列兵營。
過去幾十年,以色列給外界的印象是其情報準確、軍事強大、防線穩固。但哈馬斯的襲擊打破了這個印象。雖然以色列很快報復重創哈馬斯,但哈馬斯襲擊造成的心理影響仍然巨大。
其次,這次襲擊帶來的後果。
直接後果是以色列的猛烈報復,加沙難民遭受巨大苦難。同時以色列也遭受多方襲擊。
據美國外交關係委員會的一份報告,加沙人口約爲230萬,其中86%的人在加沙戰爭中被迫遷移,63%的加沙建築都被破壞,有些完全摧毀。
過去一年,加沙人道主義危機是國際社會關注的焦點。
第三,過去一年,以色列“越打越瘋”。
以色列報復哈馬斯的襲擊“越打越瘋”。以軍幾乎將加沙地區夷爲平地之後,今年9月開始對黎巴嫩真主黨發動猛烈襲擊,並採取大規模引爆傳呼機和對講機等手段,引發強烈爭議。
而且無論是聯合國決議,還是拜登政府的勸阻,都不能改變內塔尼亞胡的決策。
內塔尼亞胡近日在視察黎以邊境時對以色列士兵說,他們的行動將會給以色列“帶來一代人的安全”。
第四,這場戰爭改變了中東地區的趨勢,令以色列更被動。
去年10月份之前,以色列和阿拉伯國家的關係正不斷改善。2023年9月,內塔尼亞胡在聯大發言時,還不無得意地說,在以色列的外交努力下,出現一個“新中東”,即以色列和阿拉伯國家和解的中東。
但哈馬斯襲擊,以色列展開報復,造成平民傷亡,以色列和阿拉伯世界的和解進程被無限期耽擱。以色列面臨國際上的輿論壓力越來越大,在全球民衆中的形象也越來越負面。
所以,雖然哈馬斯和真主黨遭到重創,但以色列的戰略損失和外交損失更大。
當然,戰火中最受傷的還是平民。路透社7日的一篇報道稱,加沙戰爭一週年之際,加沙平民最希望的是,戰爭儘快結束,他們可以回到戰前的生活狀態。
文丨羊城晚報國際評論員 錢克錦圖丨範英蘭翻譯丨趙凡英文審校丨林佳岱