Why did Hamas attack Israel on October 7, 2023? An act of David versus Goliath.

Understanding the key issue behind the entire conflict: the surface logic of "David and Goliath." Hamas has a very clear strategic calculation.
Hamas's strategic goal — not to win, but to break the deadlock.
Background before 2023:
1️⃣ Gaza has been under blockade for 16 years, with 2 million people trapped in an open-air prison.
2️⃣ Israel and Saudi Arabia are secretly advancing a tariff agreement (Abraham Accords 2.0).
3️⃣ If Israel and Saudi Arabia successfully establish diplomatic relations, the Palestinian issue will be completely marginalized — the largest Arab country will officially recognize Israel, and there will be no need for Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite.
4️⃣ Hamas's judgment: If they do not act now, the Palestinian issue will disappear from the international agenda forever.
So their thinking is very clear:
Goal 1: Disrupt Israel-Saudi normalization
Success. Negotiations immediately halted and have not resumed since.
Goal 2: Incite Israel to overreact
This is the coldest calculation — Hamas knows Israel will retaliate, and overreact. Large-scale civilian casualties will provoke anger in the Arab world and the international community, pushing the Palestinian issue back onto the global agenda.
Goal 3: Trigger regional escalation
Lure Hezbollah, Houthi, and Iraqi militias to open fire simultaneously, forcing Iran to choose sides, and breaking Israel’s strategic isolation.