Within moments of Israel and its allies shooting down a fusillade of Iranian missiles and drones this weekend, many began wondering what the latest exchange between Israel and Iran would mean for the war in the Gaza Strip.
But it occurred against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, where Israel is battling Hamas, a militant group funded and armed by Iran.
Israeli military analysts were divided on whether a more direct confrontation with Iran would alter the war in Gaza, now in its sixth month.
Some analysts argued that the implications for Gaza would depend on whether Israel responded with a major counterattack against Iran.
In the case of a significant regional conflagration, General Brom said, Israel might choose to delay its plans to invade Rafah, which Israeli officials describe as the last Hamas stronghold.
Persons:
Israel, Shlomo Brom, General Brom
Organizations:
Hamas
Locations:
Israel, Iran, Gaza, Israeli, Damascus, Rafah