BLUF

Hamas attacked Israel over provocations, regional peace deals, internal rivalries, symbolic anniversaries, and to gain wider Muslim support.

Summary

KEY POINTS:
  1. Israeli Actions: Temple Mount visits seen as desecrations.
  2. Diplomacy: Reduced pressure from Abraham Accords.
  3. Symbolism: Attack aligns with Yom Kippur/Ramadan War's 50th anniversary.
  4. Competition: Hamas asserting dominance over Gaza extremists.
  5. Appeal: Aiming for broader Muslim world support via Al-Aqsa focus.

NOTE THIS FROM 2022: 17 FEB 2022 ABC AUSTRALIA--Hamas to be listed in entirety as a terrorist organisation by Australian government - ABC News   ..........The military wing of Hamas was already listed by Australia, but the federal government will now join the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel and others in extending the designation to the fundamentalist Islamic group's political branch.

READ: Why did Hamas attack, and why now? What does it hope to gain?