Israel was caught completely off-guard and took long hours to transport its forces to the field to defend the locales under attack. These are six main failures that dictated the developments in combat

Over half the residents at Kfar Aza still barricaded in security rooms as Israeli soldiers sweep the kibbutz for terrorists

Hamas, a 'small' terror organization exposed the nakedness of Israel, a regional superpower. While the failure is first and foremost that of the Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet security service, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be able to wash his hands of this travesty

News of the attack in Egypt, where anti-Israeli sentiment runs especially high during bouts of violence, arrives as Israel battles Palestinian militants after a major incursion from Gaza

Beyond the shock that the attack evoked, and the failures of Military Intelligence and the army’s readiness, Israel is left with a hard nut to crack

The organization has long been torn between its commitment to resistance and its obligations to Gaza’s 2-million-plus residents, including tens of thousands of government employees

Dozens of Palestinian militants infiltrate Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air ■ Some 2,500 rockets fired from the Strip ■ At least 250 Israelis killed, some 1,600 wounded ■ Army strikes Hamas targets in Gaza; 230 Palestinians reportedly killed ■ 'Substantial' number of civilians and soldiers held hostage in Gaza