Attack on Israel — Intelligence Failure and a Failure of Intelligence
The massive intelligence failure points to MOSSAD which has been a much venerated security organisation that had once been held in awe by other agencies. Investigations will need to be made and tough questions will need to be asked on how they could have missed the surprise attacks by Hamas yesterday. The failure of intelligence points to something quite different and disturbing. The failure of intelligence of fellow Muslims who should have condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas because of the stance that our religion takes against terrorism and harming civilians, but hesitate to do so because of the pseudo-religious manipulation by Hamas. When its leader stated that they were carrying out the Prophetic mission and called on Muslims to support them, this was followed by a video of him and his comrades praying for victory; rotten-to-the-core misuse of religion in the same way that Saddam Hussein tried to galvanise the Muslim world to attack Israel after it sent scud missiles to Tel Aviv during Gulf War 1, was seen praying in a mosque and declared that he was a descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
The paragraphs below are responses to some of the commentators on Linkedin and other social media sites that have appeared to support the Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel. The comments sections are restricted in space, so I have captured ongoing dialogue in this article, which will be continually updated.
- Original Linkedin post by Prof. Tahir Abbas (Professor of Radicalisation Studies at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs of Leiden University in the Hague (8th October 2023): In my latest blog, I analyse the “Aqsa Typhoon,” a massive coordinated attack launched by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in retaliation for escalating Israeli aggression and human rights abuses. Over 5,000 rockets and armed infiltrators have struck targets across Israel, seizing control of towns in southern Israel. It highlights the determination of the Palestinian resistance and their endurance through decades of violence. I argue that this offensive represents a turning point, transforming the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the chaos unleashed, it carries a message of the indomitable Palestinian spirit and their ongoing quest for justice. As the region grapples with the uncertainties ahead, the international community must acknowledge the resilience of the Palestinian people. Their rising tide of resistance points to an inevitable reshaping of the status quo.
- My response to Prof. Tahir Abbas (this was a generic response that was posted in response to Prof. Abbas’s post and other posts on various Youtube channels, 8th October 2023): Salams. Come on brothers, Hamas should be condemned for targeting civilians in the rocket attacks and kidnapping and killing some of these civilians. And everyone knows that when Hamas attacks and targets civilians, there will be blowback by the IDF twice as hard, where Palestinian civilians will die in the cross fire. Who would be to blame for the provocation? Hamas. Islamic rules of engagement in warfare does not allow targeting and killing of civilians. Period. Even if Israel had oppressed Palestinians, there is no recourse for revenge against civilians. We as Muslims have rules and higher principles set down by our Creator. The Hamas leader dared to say that the attacks are part of the Prophetic mission. How dare he misuse Islam. If you can’t adhere to the noble rules of engagement under Shariah, then get the fuck out of our religion. Shame on you so-called Muslims supporting Hamas terror, you are nowhere near the levels of Salahuddin or Khalid bin Walid let alone the Prophet (S) and his Companions (R) who NEVER targeted civilians. We are meant to be the best community amongst mankind which enjoins the good and forbids evil…but we see animals. Come on scholars and Imams who are meant to be guides, grow some balls and man-up!
- Response from Prof. Abbas (8th October 2023): Nobody supports the attack on innocent civilians, yet Hamas knows what they are doing when they attack residents in southern Israel with rockets. There should not be a degree of equivalence in order to legitimise what Hamas has done in response to what has happened to Palestinians, especially in Gaza but also in the West Bank, for many decades. The targeting of innocent lives is unacceptable on all sides, yet few condemn it when extremist Israelis carry out daily attacks against Palestinians in ways that are institutional, ideological, falsely religious, and deeply systemic, so much so that the Palestinians know only oppression, persecution, and exclusion. Is all this enough for Hamas to suddenly launch rocket attacks to attack innocent Israelis? No. However, despite the fact that Palestinians have appealed to every court in the world and have received verbal support from every country, they still endure unacceptable daily suffering. After this surprise attack, the Israelis will respond with severe aggression, and many more innocent lives will be lost. It’s unlikely that there will ever be peace because, on balance, the Palestinians have no real voice left except to fight. This is the sad truth, but nobody wants to hear it.
- Response from me (9th October 2023): Salams professor. Many thanks for taking the time to respond to my comments, it is appreciated. Your reply was a very measured and intelligent response compared to my original comment above. So, let me respond in kind.
a) Attacking civilians. You said that nobody supports attacking civilians. But many do. How many Arabs or Muslims have you come across that condemn Hamas’s indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians and kidnapping some of them? When many of them, especially pro-Palestinian advocates are asked about their stance on the Hamas attacks, they usually default to whataboutery or contextualisation or generalisation of their comments to 75 years of Israeli oppression and occupation. I have heard very few Muslims, including scholars and Imams who are meant to be guiding our communities based on religious principles, condemn the attacks. But if you were to ask them if they condemn Israeli oppression of Palestinians or Jewish settler activity, they would do so in a heartbeat and would not resort to contextualisation or whataboutery. So, why is there brainfog in our psyche to condemn an injustice from our (Muslim) side when there are clear religious precepts that condemn harming civilians and even encourages us to call out our own families if they engage in injustices?
b) Hamas Knows. You stated that Hamas knows what they were doing when they launch rockets to target civilians. This is what is so disturbing. They knew that they were specifically targeting civilians, which goes against Islamic rules of engagement, yet they had the audacity to state that they were fulfilling the Prophetic mission. How does this work? What is even more disturbing is that they knew perfectly well that when they fire rockets into Israel, the IDF would fire back with exponential retort resulting in greater casualties on the Palestinian side. Hamas knew this. So, why did they launch a barrage of rockets knowing full well there will be severe retaliation and mass casualties? This would be Armageddon level retaliation compared to the ‘Aqsa Typhoon.’ Congratulations to these Hamas ‘freedom fighters’ who have eliminated the freedom of civilians in Israel and Palestine to live. I’m sure the world is in awe of their heroism, bravery and justice.
c) Few condemn Israel? You claimed that few condemn Israel when they attack Palestinians daily in ways that are “institutional, ideological, falsely religious, and deeply systemic.” I beg to differ. There is constant condemnation of the Israeli government or the IDF in they way they treat Palestinians. There are no media blackouts. And there is certainly no Western or Zionist media conspiracy to keep these under wraps. Many groups, governments, the UN and even Israelis themselves have criticised their own government for oppressing Palestinians. What is interesting is that Israelis can condemn their own government openly without the fear of arrest, but what would happen to a Palestinian who condemns Hamas? He would be assassinated. Whilst there is justification to condemn Israel on a few matters relating to the treatment of Palestinians, there are areas where Israel should be credited; for creating a society where Israeli Arabs (which consist of 20% of the Israeli population) live in relative peace with their Jewish brothers within its borders, where Israeli Muslims have access to Shariah courts (which is looked down on by Europe and the USA because of increasing Islamophobia), where an Arab Muslim Israeli judge had sent away the ex-Prime Minister of Israel to jail, where there are Muslim soldiers who serve in the IDF…these things do not happen in an apartheid state. I am glad you did not use the word, ‘apartheid’ in your response but this is the narrative that constantly plays out generally in the media (they are not so Zionist controlled after all). There is one thing that Hamas probably did not know. When they were firing rockets into Israel, they were also targeting at their own Arab Israeli brothers. You could not make this up. Coming back to your phrase, “institutional, ideological, falsely religious, and deeply systemic.” This is more applicable to Hamas and their supporters. The destruction of Israel and driving Jews out to the sea is in their charter. So, their hatred of Jews/Israelis is both institutional and ideological. They are definitely falsely religious, as we have established that they have mutilated Islam by doing the exact opposite of what it says when engaging in warfare whilst claiming this is part of a Prophetic mission. The way they have captured and hijacked the goodwill and emotions of the Muslim world because of our deep connection with Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque, is mind-bendingly remarkable. But hopefully, the sympathy for them from the Muslim world will dissipate as more Muslim countries start to recognise Israel’s right to exist. This does not mean abandoning Palestinians. Quite the opposite, it means taking responsibility for them directly, away from Hamas which has brought them nothing but misery. More Muslim countries should intervene to look after the welfare of Palestinins because Hamas won’t. Finally, Hamas’s hatred for Israel and Jews is deeply systemic by virtue of the fact that they want to destroy it and have no shame in targeting civilians when firing their ‘Aqsa typhoons.’
d) Palestinian voice. You stated at the end of your response that the Palestinians don’t have a real voice, which is why they have no choice but to resort to violence. Except that they do have a choice. That they, and all Muslim countries recognise the state of Israel instead of trying to destroy it. It will then be easier for a new state of Palestine to be created where Palestinians and Jews (Jewish settlers would become a part of new Palestine) live in peace under Abrahamic brotherhood. No more rockets fired and no more retaliation. No lives lost and everyone lives in peace. Peace is the only viable choice here. The fact that more Muslim countries are starting to recognise Israel, is a step in the right direction. I hope to God that the Muslim state of Saudi Arabia does finally recognise the Jewish state of Israel, the leadership of Prince MBS is crucial in order to make this happen.
e) Armageddon Hellfire vs Aqsa Typhoon. As everyone knew, when Hamas fires rockets into Israel and provokes the IDF, the result is greater casualties on the Palestinian side. Yet, for some reason Hamas saw fit to sacrifice Palestinian lives. The Aqsa Typhoon will unleash Armageddon Hellfire. EVERYONE knew this would happen. Just as it was painful to see Israeli civilians being killed, and women and children being kidnapped with threats of execution, it is painful to see Palestinian civilians suffer as a result of the Israeli retaliation. The pictures of injured babies going to hospital should cause profound sadness and anger to anyone with an ounce of humanity. When Israel gave advance warning for Gaza civilians to leave the area, it was the duty of Hamas to organise refuge for its citizens outside of Gaza. Yes, they could have done that given they planned the attacks months in advance which means they could have planned civilian refuge outside Gaza in advance. Israel knows how to protect its citizens, Hamas doesn’t. Israel has built shelters and the Iron Dome, Hamas has done neither other than to purchase rockets to kill Israeli civilians and also Palestinian civilians (by provoking Israeli retaliation).
f) Strange psychology of radicalisation experts. I was interested in your background and experience of studying radicalisation. I enjoyed watching the video of your inaugural lecture on the ‘Four principles of Radicalisation Studies in the 21st Century’ and your interview with Dr. Anthony Richards of the ‘Combating Jihadist Terrorism and Extremism’ organisation. Your eruditeness, scholarship and intellect are impeccable and I look forward to acquainting myself with more of your materials. I have an interest in radicalisation as I have engaged with Muslim extremist groups over the last 30 years (with an attempted recruitment in the 1990s by a well known terrorist) and I was a trainer with the UK Government’s counter terrorism strategy, Prevent. I had also given talks to Mental Health professionals on extremism. The reason for giving the sub-title that I have for this section is that I am at a loss to understand how you and other experts on security and de-radicalisation (who have liked your post) could support the Hamas incursions. Or have I misunderstood? Terms such as ‘indomitable Palestinian spirit…quest for justice…resilience of the Palestinian people’ may reflect the experiences and aspirations of the general Palestinian communities but does not reflect the values of Hamas. I think you have conflated genuine Palestinian struggle and aspiration with Hamas’s actions. The actions of Hamas and statements made by them are key indicators of a radicalised organisation. This is extremism par excellence, yet for some reason your interpretation is that of Palestinian resilience and bravery. I would like to understand this thought process further. In my view the Hamas ‘resistance’ is more aligned with ISIS and Al-Qaeda than it is with the resistance movement of Nelson Mandela’s ANC or the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King or the independence movement of Mahatma Gandhi. What is it about the Hamas organisation and its recent actions that seems to attract praise from the very radicalisation and security experts who would be expected to condemn it?
My contribution on LBC Radio (UK) on the issue of Hamas and Israel can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/hBdCyW_V2MM?si=9KVYbjPrwWbkFxYL
Thank you again for your considered response and I look forward to further engagement. Salams.
