Operation Breaking Dawn: On Renewed Violence Between Israel and Radical Islamists

Operation Breaking Dawn: On Renewed Violence Between Israel and Radical Islamists

by Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman

August 7, 2022

Last Friday evening Israel initiated a preemptive strike against the terrorist organization Islamist Jihad in Gaza. This followed several days of ground actions by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) against the group, culminating in the arrest of its leader in the Jenin area, Bassam al-Saadi. Over the past few months, analysts pointed to a surge in military buildup among militants in the West Bank. Specific and accurate information pointed to imminent violent terror attacks, leading to Israel’s actions. The Islamic Jihad vowed revenge, and rather than wait, Israel decided to take decisive action and eliminate the Gaza-based leadership of the organization.

Currently there are four large political/religious/military groups leading the Palestinian violence against Israel: Hamas, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.

In a violent takeover, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip after Israel's evacuation in 2005. It then initiated attacks against Israel, leading to four wars and several additional smaller battles. 

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was created in 1964, three years before the Six Day War. Yasser Arafat assumed leadership in 1969. For the last 18 years ago Mahmoud Abbas ("Abu Maazen") has led the organization, maintaining the Palestinian Authority—the PLO’s political arm—in charge of the West Bank. For all the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric emanating from the PA, they are not interested in escalating the violence between Israel and the Palestinians. The recent visit by President Biden served to reinforced this status quo.

Hezbollah is the terrorist organization based in Lebanon. It is estimated that currently Hezbollah—armed and financed by Iran—has around 12,000 missiles and rockets with the capacity to reach all major cities and population centers in Israel. Since 1992 it has been led by Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah is responsible for several military actions and wars against Israel. Following the immense destruction that followed the 2006 war, and more recently the disastrous 2020 explosion in the Beirut port—largely blamed on Hezbollah—this organization has seen its power in Lebanon lessened to a large extent. In recent talks between Israel and the legitimate government of Lebanon—talks aimed to determine and define the maritime border (and the vast offshore gas fields) that the two countries share, Hezbollah has threatened violence but so far has done nothing beyond issuing declarations. 

In the proxy war between Iran and Israel, that leaves the Islamic Jihad. Based in Syria, with branches both in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority (PA), the goal of the Islamic Jihad is not only the total destruction of the State of Israel, but also the unification of the entire Mideast under one radical Islamist leadership similar to the Islamist State.

So what has led to the current escalation?

Hamas is still recovering from its military confrontations with Israel, including the Guardian of the Walls Operation in May 2021. The destruction that these encounters inflicted on Gaza has been enormous. Only now is Gaza showing signs of stabilization and recovery. Hamas is not interested in wreaking further havoc among its population. In the past year, thousands of Gazans have been issued permits to enter and work in Israel; water and power supplies, though controlled by Israel, have been largely restored--though the current climate crisis has caused inevitable shortages. Hamas has so far refrained from involvement in the conflict, happy enough to let Israel do its work in eliminating challenges to its supremacy in the region. Without a doubt, however, it will take advantage of the situation to enhance its power and authority.

The Islamist Jihad has thus become the current de-facto chief agent of violence against Israel, aided monetarily and militarily by Iran.

In the current conflict, Israel's advantage is not only its military power. Months of intelligence gathering and analysis preceded the current outbreak of violence. Technological development enables Israel to carry out ultra-precise attacks, with a minimum of collateral damage. 

Still, there are risks.

First is the risk of striking civilians. Gaza is one of the most concentrated civilian population centers in the world. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have taken advantage of this, placing missile launchers in high rise apartments, next to schools and kindergartens, hospitals and mosques, intentionally and cynically increasing the risk of civilian casualties. Additionally, several of the missiles targeting Israel have misfired and landed in Gaza proper, causing injuries and loss of life. Under the guise of moral equivalency, “objective” news organizations are quick to seize on such disasters, placing the blame on Israel even before any investigation of the facts takes place. 

Second is the danger of the broadening of the conflict. Israel is taking precautions not to attack Hamas strongholds or individuals. Israel has delivered its intentions to the Hamas leadership both directly and through Egyptian negotiators.

Adding to the obvious tensions is the fact that today is Tisha B’Av—the commemoration of the destruction of the Jerusalem temple as well as other national calamities. Jewish ultra-nationalists declared their intention to enter the Temple compound on this day, much to the consternation of the Muslim population. The hope is that rioting in Jerusalem and other areas in Israel will not erupt (as happened  during the May 2021 conflict, when hundreds of Jews, synagogues, Jewish homes and schools were stoned and firebombed). 

As always, the situation in Israel continues to be volatile. Today— Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av—we grieve not only for events that took place hundreds and thousands of years ago, but also for the continuing violence and hatred waged against Israel and Jews all over the world. With all our hearts we pray: May peace return to our borders and stability within all the lands and nations of the Middle East and the world.

© 2022 by Boaz D. Heilman