The surprise attack launched by Hamas over the weekend is just the latest chapter in a seventy-year-long saga of war and strife between Israelis and Palestinians, with far-reaching consequences that have involved external powers and created turmoil in the broader Middle East.

Why does this conflict stand out as uniquely complicated compared to others? Unlike more straightforward conflicts with defined boundaries, the West Bank is a mosaic of distinct pockets, housing Palestinian and Jewish communities side by side.

To truly understand the complexities, it's important to not ignore its historical context. In this episode, our host, Dev Goswami, and "Def Savvy" Abhishek Bhalla, explore what triggered the conflict, scrutinise Israel's security intelligence, and ponder what the future holds.

There's a growing concern regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu's handling of Israel's security intelligence, as he was “caught off-guard”. Could this crisis erode faith in Netanyahu's leadership among the Israeli populace, as critics argue that his focus on judicial reforms might have distracted him from security matters. How has this attack impacted the global perception of Israel's defense capabilities?

The duo also discuss Hamas' motivation for launching an attack when they knew they wouldn't emerge unscathed. What drove this ‘strategic’ attack?

And then, there's the broader international context: how can the West support Ukraine but not extend similar support to the Palestinians in their quest for self-determination and security?

Join us as we seek to make sense of this ongoing crisis.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound Mix by Nitin Rawat