Israel is still reeling from a massive and depraved Hamas killing spree – current estimates place 700 Israelis dead with over 2,200 wounded and an estimated 100 kidnapped. This would mark Israel’s greatest loss of life since its reestablishment in 1948, and the murder of more Jews in one day since the Holocaust. Additionally, at least nine Americans have been killed, and according to Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Hamas has captured Americans as well.
Some key developments are below.
Abraham Accords Partners Distancing from Israel, to the Pleasure of Palestinians and Iran
Hamas is believed to instigate the attack to quash prospects of a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Even US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conceded that “it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
Israel’s environmental minister was slated to visit Riyadh, the third of Israel’s ministers to do so in recent weeks.
The Wall Street Journal had also recently reported that Saudi Arabia was offering to increase oil output in exchange for a defense agreement with and more arms from the United States.
The attack has achieved its goal of putting normalization on ice, at least in the short term. America’s allies, some of whom have condemned Hamas in the past, have issued statements that are tepid at best. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry called on all sides to respect international law. The UAE called for an immediate ceasefire, although who its asking to do so is unclear from the statement. Morocco opposed targeting civilians “from any side.” Kuwait and Indonesia, once prospects for joining the Abraham Accords under the Trump administration, blamed Israel.
Iran Directed Attack
Despite Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that the State Department did not have information of Iran coordinating the attack, an article in the Wall Street Journal stated that yes, Iran had been planning this attack for weeks.
Further, a Hamas spokesman admitted that Iran directly supported the attack. And a spokesman from the Izzuddin Al-Qassam Brigades has also thanked Iran for its material support. Additionally, a senior Iran Revolutionary Guard Corp (IGRC) member said that “we support this operation…until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem.”
Palestinian Authority Supports Attack
Fatah supported the attack, calling it “a morning of victory, joy [and] pride.”
And the Palestinian Authority helped to incite violence against Israel immediately preceding the attacks. A Fatah spokesman stated on PA TV that “the only way to liberate Palestine is the rifle.”
President Abbas’ religious advisor called for Palestinians “to resist the occupation by all means.”
Fatah posted on one of its Facebook pages that Palestinians “will not avoid sacrificing the best of its sons for freedom and independence.”
Hamas Has, May Have Used US Weapons
Some analysts are referencing a June report from an “ Israeli commander” that American weapons left during the retreat from Afghanistan ended up in the hands of Hamas. American weapons ending up in the hands of Hamas and being used against Israel, if true, would represent a further setback for American foreign policy in the region and a confined abandonment of our Allies by the Biden administration.
While too early to tell lasting impacts, Hamas has scored a short term victory by putting the Abraham Accords on ice. It is becoming clear that Iran helped coordinate the attack, which was in turn enabled by inflammatory rhetoric from the PA. The Biden administration should at the very least cease funding the PA, and withdraw from negotiations with Iran.
