Israel declares war after Hamas attack; understand
The Hamas attacks against Israel this Saturday (7) come a day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war that almost led the country to defeat. The socalled Yom Kippur War began with an attack by Arab neighbors, led by Egypt and Syria, against Israel.
The name “Yom Kippur” refers to the Day of Atonement, an important Jewish holiday. In 1973 it was celebrated on October 6th (when the attacks began). In 2023, the holiest day for Jews was celebrated between September 24th and 25th as it follows the lunar calendar.
What was the Yom Kippur War?
At the start of Yom Kippur, on October 6, 1973, Egyptian and Syrian forces launched coordinated surprise attacks against Israel. Egypt attacked the Sinai Peninsula and managed to retake part of the territory under Israeli control. Syria launched attacks on the Golan Heights and managed to advance.
The Egyptians and Syrians wanted to retake the two areas that Israel had captured in the SixDay War in June 1967.
The Israeli army was unprepared and had many soldiers on vacation. Several of Israel’s leaders fought in the war in their youth, including conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Labor Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
The country initially had difficulty containing Arab attacks. But he managed to organize himself and began to launch counterattacks.
The United States and the Soviet Union entered the conflict to avoid escalation. International pressure led to a ceasefire on October 25, 1973. The Yom Kippur War claimed a high number of casualties on both sides and caused great international outrage.
More than 2,600 Israelis were killed. On the other hand, the exact number of victims is not known, but it is estimated that 15,000 Egyptians and 3,500 Syrians died.
Five years later, Israel signed a peace agreement with Egypt, the first with an Arab country, and in 1974 the IsraelSyria troop withdrawal agreement.