1、A MAJOR PIVOT IN HAMASSTRATEGYDEVORAH MARGOLINOCTOBER 16,2023COMMENTARYThe Oct.7 attack launched by Hamas along with other factions including Palestinian Islamic Jihad wasunprecedented in its nature and scope,as news reports have made clear in the days since.On the Israeli side,the deathtoll from th
2、e initial attack passed 1,300 as of Friday,and thousands more have been injured.Hamas and PalestinianIslamic Jihad are estimated to have also kidnapped more than 199 Israelis,mostly civilians,and transported them intothe coastal territory.In response,Israel has launched airstrikes in Gaza,with casua
3、lties reaching 2750.The Hamas-led attack,in turn a massive intelligence failure for Israel,not only was well-planned(and well-supported),but also constitutes a major deviation in Hamas strategy since the group took control of Gaza in 2007.Built on violence,Hamas declared in its 1988 charter that“the
4、re is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad.”However,for the past 16 years,Hamas has worked to present itself to the international community as a legitimatepolitical entity.While it has never stopped espousing violence in pursuit of jihad,it has also garnered popular supportt
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