Timing of Hamas attack on Israel has 'symbolic value', expert says In this edition of Perspective, we look at the developing situation in Israel and Gaza to understand some of the deeper underlying issues behind the unprecedented weekend incursion by Hamas. Why did the offensive happen now? What triggered the attack, and how much of a factor was the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, when Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack on Israel? Dr HA Hellyer is a Middle Eastern Affairs analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He's been talking to FRANCE 24's Gavin Lee.