Israel returned to its former proactive approach after outbreak of war - Expert
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Israel has decided to return to a strategy it has followed for many years. From now on, Tel Aviv is not "responding," but "initiating," according to political scientist and Bar-Ilan University professor Zeev Khanin in an interview with RBC-Ukraine titled "One year since Hamas attack: How Israel wages war against terrorists and what's to come."
"Now, as you can see, Israel’s leadership has decided to return to its previous approach—one it has adhered to for many years—that actions should not be reactive, but proactive. In other words, don’t just respond to what’s happening; initiate the process," Khanin explained.
According to the expert, Israel has previously conducted airstrikes on enemy military targets, but today's attacks have become more massive. He specifically recalled that Tel Aviv has:
- eliminated Hezbollah's leadership;
- paralyzed the movement's communication system by exploding pagers;
- launched a ground operation against Hezbollah;
- carried out a large-scale strike on Houthi infrastructure in Yemen in recent days.
Operation in Gaza Strip
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of more than a thousand people, with hundreds taken hostage. In response, Israel initiated a military operation against terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Soon after, Hamas released approximately 120 hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The United Nations confirmed incidents of sexual violence against women during the attack.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Homeland Security warned that the approaching anniversary of the attack, combined with the escalating situation in the Middle East, could lead to new acts of violence by extremist groups.
Meanwhile, military expert Yigal Levin discussed how Hamas' combat capabilities have changed since the start of the war.
