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.
加沙战争一周年,这场冲突究竟改变了什么?
2023年10月7日,哈马斯对以色列发动袭击,导致约1200人死亡,另有250多人沦为哈马斯人质。以色列随即对加沙发起大规模军事行动。
回看过去一年,哈马斯突袭引发的这场战争,究竟改变了什么?
首先,哈马斯的突袭打破了有关以色列的一些神话。
土耳其广播电视公司(TRT)7日的文章称,很多巴勒斯坦和中东的学者认为,哈马斯这次袭击之所以特别,是因为他们袭击了以色列本土。甚至可以说,这是1973年战争以来,以色列第一次首先遭到袭击。
而哈马斯去年10月7日的突袭,不仅造成以色列平民伤亡,也打死并俘虏了一些以色列军人,还短暂占领了以色列兵营。
过去几十年,以色列给外界的印象是其情报准确、军事强大、防线稳固。但哈马斯的袭击打破了这个印象。虽然以色列很快报复重创哈马斯,但哈马斯袭击造成的心理影响仍然巨大。
其次,这次袭击带来的后果。
直接后果是以色列的猛烈报复,加沙难民遭受巨大苦难。同时以色列也遭受多方袭击。
据美国外交关系委员会的一份报告,加沙人口约为230万,其中86%的人在加沙战争中被迫迁移,63%的加沙建筑都被破坏,有些完全摧毁。
过去一年,加沙人道主义危机是国际社会关注的焦点。
第三,过去一年,以色列“越打越疯”。
以色列报复哈马斯的袭击“越打越疯”。以军几乎将加沙地区夷为平地之后,今年9月开始对黎巴嫩真主党发动猛烈袭击,并采取大规模引爆传呼机和对讲机等手段,引发强烈争议。
而且无论是联合国决议,还是拜登政府的劝阻,都不能改变内塔尼亚胡的决策。
内塔尼亚胡近日在视察黎以边境时对以色列士兵说,他们的行动将会给以色列“带来一代人的安全”。
第四,这场战争改变了中东地区的趋势,令以色列更被动。
去年10月份之前,以色列和阿拉伯国家的关系正不断改善。2023年9月,内塔尼亚胡在联大发言时,还不无得意地说,在以色列的外交努力下,出现一个“新中东”,即以色列和阿拉伯国家和解的中东。
但哈马斯袭击,以色列展开报复,造成平民伤亡,以色列和阿拉伯世界的和解进程被无限期耽搁。以色列面临国际上的舆论压力越来越大,在全球民众中的形象也越来越负面。
所以,虽然哈马斯和真主党遭到重创,但以色列的战略损失和外交损失更大。
当然,战火中最受伤的还是平民。路透社7日的一篇报道称,加沙战争一周年之际,加沙平民最希望的是,战争尽快结束,他们可以回到战前的生活状态。
文丨羊城晚报国际评论员 钱克锦
图丨范英兰
翻译丨赵凡
英文审校丨林佳岱