____________________________________________ 8 IICC Perspectives In 2023, Hamas chose the dates of Passover, and later, Simchat Torah, both in a year of controversy in Israeli society regarding a legal/systemic reform, which they assumed reflected a society weaker than ever. Choosing those times was meant to exploit IDF's very limited order of battle; the holiday quiet; and the difficulty of recruiting reserves, since during the long vacations many Israelis are on holiday and traveling, both at home and abroad. It is possible Simchat Torah's falling on a Saturday, after the long Succoth holiday, made Hamas choose the day to surprise and shock Israel, a choice which proved itself correct, at least during the first day. Hamas invasion into the western Negev (Source: media office/Handout via Reuters) The Israeli hostages still kept in Gaza (Source: the headquarters of the Israeli kidnapped)
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