Israel recently experienced a massive terror attack by the Hamas group. The attack involved the breach of Tel Aviv’s Iron Dome and the firing of over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip. Hamas terrorists utilized various means of transportation, including vehicles, boats, and paragliders, which caught Israel off-guard and resulted in a significant loss of lives. The attacks have once again shifted global attention towards the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel. In order to better understand the situation, let’s take a closer look at the power centers in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
In Israel, the two most influential figures at present are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. They hold the decision-making power in the country, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing terror attacks. Prime Minister Netanyahu was elected back into power in December of last year. His government, known for its right-wing policies, is facing significant pressure from coalition partners to take decisive action against Gaza.
Moving on to Gaza, it is an impoverished Palestinian enclave that has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. The strip of land, spanning 362 square kilometers, houses over two million people, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Currently, the power in Gaza resides with Hamas chief and political spokesperson Ismail Haniyeh, as well as his military counterpart Mohammed Deif. Haniyeh enjoys good relations with various Arab nations, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Qatar, which provides financial support to Gaza and the West Bank. On the other hand, Mohammed Deif is responsible for operational planning, execution of attacks, and overall defense on behalf of Hamas.
Lastly, we have the West Bank, a landlocked territory bordered by Jordan and the Dead Sea to the east and by Israel from the south, west, and north. It falls under the governance of President Mahmoud Abbas and is known as the Palestinian Authority. President Abbas has held this position for nearly two decades, and interestingly, India assisted with the last elections held in the West Bank. Hamas has called upon “resistance fighters in the West Bank,” as well as those in Arab and Islamic nations, to join the battle against Israel.
The situation in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank continues to evolve, and the world is closely monitoring the developments.