On Oct 8, 2023, Gaza’s militant Hamas leaders launched a surprise attack on Israel, catching the country off guard. The attack involved air, land, and sea strikes, causing millions of Israelis in the south to wake up to the sound of incoming rockets and air raid sirens. The militants were able to breach Israel’s heavily fortified separation fence and enter Israeli communities along the Gaza border. This unprecedented escalation created terror among residents and led to violent clashes with Israeli soldiers. The conflict resulted in a rising number of casualties, with at least 200 deaths and 1,100 injuries reported in southern Israel, and at least 198 deaths and 1,610 injuries in Gaza. Israel retaliated against the attack, which further escalated the tensions. The surprise attack raised questions about Israel’s intelligence capabilities, drawing comparisons to the intelligence failure during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It posed a significant challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and put his leadership at risk. Netanyahu and his government faced criticism for their response to the attack, with political analysts questioning their handling of the situation. Hamas claimed to have captured several Israelis in Gaza and released disturbing videos showing militants mistreating captured soldiers. This tactic reminded many of previous incidents, such as the capture of Gilad Shalit in 2006. The motivations for the attack were attributed to long-standing tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. The dispute over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, settlement expansion, and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners were cited as contributing factors. Recent violent protests along the Gaza border and ongoing talks about normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia may have also played a role in the attack. The unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel with its impactful visuals has brought the region to the brink of a major crisis and poses significant challenges for future peace negotiations.