EXPERT COMMENT
Israel has been taken by surprise despite warnings by communities on Gaza's border. Serious questions will be asked about Israel's preparedness.
Almost to the day of the 50th anniversary of the traumatic Yom Kippur war, when Israel was caught by surprise on two fronts, its military establishment was once again taken completely off guard by a Hamas-coordinated land, sea and air attack.
Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israel and infiltrated Israeli towns, villages and kibbutzes, massacring hundreds of civilians and soldiers and taking scores hostage, on what was supposed to be a joyous Jewish holiday.
This represents a massive security and intelligence failure which has led to one of the darkest days in the country's history.
For years residents of the area bordering Gaza alerted Israel's government of their security vulnerability, but to no avail. Today, it is not only those who live facing Gaza feeling vulnerable, but the entire Israeli population. While the physical damage is visible and hard to comprehend, the psychological impact will remain for a long time.
For months, the perception in Israel was that Hamas' interest in breaking the impasse in Gaza had been reduced, due to the recent improvement in economic conditions - Israel has granted tens of thousands of work permits for Gazan people to work in Israel and allowed more commodities to enter the Gaza Strip.
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