Israel-Hamas Report by the US Congressional Research Service
In the October 10 report titled “Israel and Hamas: Major Conflict After Surprise Attacks” prepared by the US Congressional Research Center (CRS) for distribution to members of Congress, the factors that may affect the course of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
THE MOMENT OF HAMAS
Notable details are listed below:
– Possible factors driving Hamas attacks include the potential to disrupt US-mediated diplomacy aimed at Saudi-Israeli normalization (Abraham Accords).
– Strengthen Hamas’s internal political position against the aging Mahmoud Abbas and the weak Palestinian Authority.
– Take advantage of Israel’s internal turmoil; and force Israel to make concessions and use hostages for captives held by Israel.
– Hamas’s intention is to provoke massive Israeli retaliation and an escalation of the conflict: an uprising in the West Bank, attacks by Hezbollah, an uprising in Jerusalem.
THE ROLE OF HIZBALLAH
The report also said: “On October 8, Hezbollah exchanged fire with Israel on the Lebanese border, “in solidarity” with Hamas. “He did it again on October 9, in alleged retaliation for the deadly Israeli cross-border bombing after Israeli forces were involved in a deadly shootout,” he said.
“Given the power of Hezbollah and its arsenal of rockets and missiles, escalating tensions with Hezbollah will likely create great difficulties for Israel,” the document said.
“IT MAY AFFECT POLITICAL RESULTS”
“With its conventional military superiority, Israel’s decisions on how to conduct air operations and possible ground operations in Gaza can affect the duration of the conflict, who will control Gaza, its violence, and its humanitarian and political consequences,” the report says.
It was noted that opposition parties in Israel called for national harmony for a possible emergency unity government.
HOW WILL AMERICAN POLITICS REACT?
The report said: “President Joe Biden has pledged all appropriate support to Israel. He warned the parties who wanted to take advantage of the conflict. “The US Congress has promised Israel $3.3 billion a year in foreign military funding through fiscal year 2028 and $500 million for joint missile defense from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2023.”
It was noted that this decision also allowed funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense. Following the 2021 Israel-Hamas conflict, Congress appropriated $1 billion for additional missile defense during fiscal year 2022-2024.
In response to the Administration’s requests for Israel, Congress may consider providing additional support to Israel.
THE US MEASURE WAS MANDATORY
The report said: “Israel may also request to remove weapons from US arsenals in Israel. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin commented that “the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean was essential to maintain its ‘defense’ in the region and provide ammunition and other security assistance to Israel.”
In the report prepared in Congress, “US organizations and policymakers can also evaluate whether humanitarian support will be provided to the Palestinians. “The Biden Administration provided bilateral assistance to the Palestinian people following the 2021 conflict and made contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.”