Israel-HAMAS Conflict: Indian Defence, security apparatus to deeply analyze orchestrated attack

The Indian Defence Forces are studying in detail the deadly attack on Israel by HAMAS two days back in which scores of Israelis and foreign nationals were abducted, raped and killed by the terror group. “We are studying these attacks in detail as the way these attacks were carried out and how the terrorists managed to keep their activities hidden from the agency tasked to track them.

As the situation pans out, the Israeli response to the large-scale attacks is also being observed, they said; the issue is also likely to come up for detailed discussion during the Indian Army commanders conference planned in the third week of this month from October 18, 2023.

HAMAS Attack on Israel

The forces are likely to study the possible intelligence gaps that the terror outfits could have exploited to carry out the mission at a large scale, they said, As per reports, the terrorists first fired missiles at the Israeli cities and then entered Israeli cities and firing indiscriminately at the citizens there.

As Israelis were wrapping up the seven-day-long Jewish festival of Sukkot on October 7, 2023, sirens echoed across the country just before dawn, and citizens realised that it was not a false alarm. A fully-fledged surprise attack was being waged from air, sea and grounds by hoards of HAMAS militants

The attackers simultaneously intruded into Israel in paragliders and motorboats near beach towns. According to the latest updates, at least 900 people have been killed, and 2600 people were wounded in one of the worst terror attacks in the Jewish Country.

Palestinian terrorist group HAMAS launched a barrage of rocket attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1600 lives on both sides. At least 900 people have been killed and 2600 injured in Israel. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 704 people have been killed, including 143 children and 105 women and 4000 injured in Israeli air strikes.

Lessons for India

There are two very straightforward lessons for the Indian counter-terror agencies. The first lesson is that in times of asymmetric warfare, one can never let the guard down. Second, there is no good substitute for good old human intelligence. And lessons for India are very clear.

Can the Indian security apparatus allow it to let its guard down due to the current peaceful environment in Kashmir? Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it very clear through surgical strikes and the Balakot attack that punishment for Pakistan for any escalation will be severe, but will it deter Pakistan-based terror groups, too?  The attack by HAMAS is akin to that of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and also somewhat similar to the 9/11 (World Trade Towers in the US

Can Indian counter-terror officials allow themselves to think that all terror groups operating in Pakistan will always follow the dictate of its intelligence service ISI? Will smart fencing on the border ensure that Pakistani terrorists cannot cross it?