For the first episode of a new season of Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood is joined by Crisis Group experts Joost Hiltermann, Mairav Zonszein and Azmi Keshawi to discuss Hamas’s shock attack on Israel over the weekend and its potential consequences.

The attack saw Palestinian gunmen rampage through southern Israel killing some 1,200 Israelis, many of whom were civilians, including women, children, the elderly and entire families.

In response, Israel has bombed and blockaded Gaza, and is gearing up for a ground offensive.

Richard first talks to Azmi in Gaza about life for Gazans under the Israeli bombardment and their views of Hamas.

He then talks with Mairav about Israelis’ shock at the horrific attacks, the intelligence failures that Hamas exploited and the mood among Israelis.

He and Joost discuss what Hamas hoped to gain, outside actors’ involvement, how the war affects Arab politics and Israeli-Saudi normalisation talks, and the dangers of escalation, particularly involving the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah.

At the end of the episode, Richard speaks to Azmi again after his displacement from Gaza City. 

Join Crisis Group’s Executive Vice President Richard Atwood as he dives deep into the conflicts that rage around the globe with Crisis Group analysts and special guests. These experts bring a unique, on-the-ground perspective to understanding both why those conflicts persist — and what could bring them to an end.

Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

For more analysis of the conflict in Israel-Palestine, you can check out our latest commentary A Second October War in Israel-Palestine and our Israel/Palestine page.

NEWS PROVIDED BY International Crisis Group October 13, 2023, 19:22 GMT