{"id":2560,"date":"2023-10-17T12:49:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T13:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malvinartley.com\/blog.malvinartley.com\/?p=2560"},"modified":"2023-10-17T12:49:14","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T13:49:14","slug":"operation-al-aqsa-flood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malvinartley.com\/blog.malvinartley.com\/2023\/10\/17\/operation-al-aqsa-flood\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation Al-Aqsa Flood"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the morning of 7 Oct 2023 Hamas launched its response to the storming of the Al-Aqsa mosque by Israeli settlers, with its Operation \u2018Al-Aqsa Flood\u2019. There were claims that over 5,000 rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza. Israel has declared \u2018a state of war\u2019. In response, Israeli forces launched \u2018Operation Iron Swords\u2019 into the Gaza Strip. For more, read on\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Another title for this post would be \u201cThe Great Gaza Jailbreak of 2023\u201d. We\u2019ll get to that. This will be a preliminary report in two parts on what is a rapidly escalating situation. This first part will cover the event itself and the world reaction to it. In the 2nd<\/sup> part we will look at the effects on Israel and where this will be headed into the immediate future.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a quick note before we begin, however. Some Western media (like Wikipedia) call this operation by Hamas, \u2018Operation Al-Aqsa Storm\u2019. It\u2019s a quibble, I know, but from the Arabic news sites I have seen, they are calling this \u2018Operation Al-Aqsa Flood\u2019. While I am not a native Arabic speaker myself, and this is a simple matter of semantics, it is mentioned because we want to keep the situation clear in our heads. With this in mind, we begin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Aqsa Flood began at 6:34 local time, though times seem to vary on the order of a few minutes. It won\u2019t matter in considering the chart. The accounting of events on the day was as follows, from a preliminary Wikipedia post (before they had a chance to modify it):<\/span><\/p>\n

“The attack began at 06:34 in the morning with a widespread launch of Palestinian rockets towards Israel, from Dimona in the south to Hod HaSharon in the north and Jerusalem in the east. Hits were observed in many places, and some resulted in casualties, especially in the Bedouin communities<\/a> [in Hebrew]. With the rocket fire, dozens of Palestinian militants infiltrated communities in the Gaza envelope<\/a> [not referenced in article], including through drones and breaches in the IDF fence, riding on motorcycles and ATVs [and also hang-gliding]. The IDF was completely caught off guard by the attack<\/a>. The militants were seen in Sderot, Ofakim, and Netivot. According to Israel’s Police Commissioner, Kobi Shabtai, there are still 21 active hotspots in the southern region<\/a>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Defense Minister Yoav Galiant approved a wide-scale call-up of reserves and declared a special state in a radius of up to 80 kilometers from the Gaza Strip border. About an hour after the attack began, the IDF spokesperson instructed residents of the south and central regions to stay close to protected areas, and within the Gaza envelope, in a protected space. About two hours after the attack began, the IDF began its offensive in the Gaza Strip.<\/span><\/p>\n

The chart for the event is below (bigger<\/a><\/span>):<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The main standout in the chart is the Mars\/Pluto square, which in itself can denote extreme violence. That also forms a t-square with the nodal axis, with an added feature \u2013 Eris conjunct the north node, opposed by Mars. Eris was said to accompany Mars on the battlefield<\/a><\/span>. That is certainly the case here, and the event has sown discord across the region, if not the world. In addition, Mars has two companions (its moons) on the battlefield \u2013 fear (Phobos) and panic (Deimos). Eris was said to be insatiable in her desire for bloodshed. It is a very powerful t-square, and not a good omen for peace talks. But it also shows the calls for massive bloodshed from the Israeli side. Hamas is looking at a war of liberation rather than wholesale destruction. It is doubtful there will be any talk of peace in the coming days.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Operation was well-planned, probably over years, denoted by the trine of Mars (warfare) to Saturn (planning). Venus opposes Saturn in the event chart, showing the emotional heaviness and grief in the event, on all sides, amplified by the semisquare of Saturn to Chiron. It is doubtful we will see any attempts at a real resolution of this war (which it is, and in fact is a civil war) until Saturn goes direct in about a month.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Horizon axis (Ascendant\/Descendant) denotes the belligerents \u2013 Hamas and Israel in this case \u2013 with the attacker (Descendant) being ruled by Mars, with Eris and the north node in the 7th<\/sup> house (open enemies). This shows a provocation, and it was<\/em> provoked, covered in a bit. We find Uranus and Jupiter in the 8th<\/sup> house (death, transformation, foreign finance), showing this as a sudden and transformative event, moreover denoting a new order to be established at the outcome of hostilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u2018conditions at the end of hostilities\u2019 is ruled by Saturn (4th<\/sup> house ruler), itself in the 5th<\/sup> house (ambassadors, the ruin of one\u2019s credit, social affairs and functions, children and schools), showing diplomatic efforts will be difficult, that events will be very difficult for children, and the ruining of goodwill that had been developing between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The latter is a significant point, a principle behind the conflict, addressed shortly. Saturn in the 5th<\/sup> in a mundane chart shows difficulties and slow movement in diplomatic relations. Hamas has decided diplomacy between themselves and Israelis is a dead end. They are not responding to any calls for such at this point.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Saturn in the 5th<\/sup> in this case denotes something else \u2013 the fact the attacks started at a peace party held just outside the border with Gaza<\/span><\/a>. The peace party (a rave party) is shown by Venus in the 11th<\/sup> house (friends, hopes and wishes), while Saturn (karma, grief, revenge) opposes it from the 5th<\/sup>. The massacre at the party was an act of vengeance, as well as a message to Israelis. But part of the massacre was the result of IDF forces present there firing into the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rave party was the first area to be hit by rocket fire and militants. There were many deaths<\/a><\/span> and hostages taken<\/span><\/a>. In times of war targeting civilians is a war crime, and should be condemned. On the other side Hamas was speaking the language of violence the Israelis taught them<\/span><\/a>. It is worth mentioning, too, that military service in Israel is compulsory for all citizens \u2013 men and women \u2013<\/span><\/a> and that the great majority of people at the party were either in the IDF or had been through it as conscripts. You can draw your own conclusions for what that might mean in the eyes of the Palestinians. Are all people in Israel over the age of 18 thus legitimate targets? But an eye for an eye only provokes more hatred, makes both parties blind to realities and greatly lessens the possibilities for conflict resolution. This has been the story between the Israelis and Palestinians all along.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is far more we could say, but we close this part out by mentioning the midpoints to the Horizon axis:<\/span><\/p>\n