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Was Pakistan’s drone, missile attack inspired by Hamas’ October 7 assault?

Was Pakistan’s drone, missile attack inspired by Hamas’ October 7 assault?

FP Explainers May 9, 2025, 11:07:37 IST

Is Pakistan copying Hamas? It is a question raised after Islamabad fired a swarm of drones and missiles into India on the night of May 8, targeting civilian and military infrastructure in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan. Here’s why

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Was Pakistan’s drone, missile attack inspired by Hamas’ October 7 assault?
A resident inspects the debris of his house that was destroyed by Pakistani artillery shelling at the Lagama village in Uri, about 100 km from Srinagar, on May 9. Pakistan launched a swarm of drones and missiles on India in retaliation to Operation Sindoor. AFP

May 8, 2025 and October 7, 2023. The two dates are far apart but bear some similarities.

What are we talking about?

Analysts and defence experts have noted that Pakistan’s attempt to escalate tensions on the night of May 8, a day after India’s Operation Sindoor, bears a striking resemblance to Palestinian group Hamas’ dastardly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Here’s how.

Pakistan’s missile, drone attack on India

A day after India carried out precise and coordinated military strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Islamabad upped the ante by launching drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling, targeting civilian and military targets in India on the night of May 8.
On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan with drones and missiles. Government officials have stated that Islamabad fired at least eight missiles, targeting Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia in Jammu and Kashmir.

Additionally, it also launched a swarm of drones at the border areas of Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Bikaner. Residents in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Pathankot reported loud explosions after drones were intercepted in the sky. Air raid sirens blared across Chandigarh, adding to the atmosphere of heightened alert.

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Villagers walk past the debris of a missile at a field on the outskirts of Amritsar. India’s government said that Pakistan launched an overnight air attack using “drones and missiles”, before New Delhi retaliated to destroy an air defence system in Lahore. AFP

In addition to this, Pakistan also initiated unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control in Kupwara and Baramulla. According to reports, 16 civilians, including three women and five children, have died in the Pakistani shelling.

However, India activated its air defence system and shot down the swarm of drones and eight missiles that were directed at vital installations. Moreover, reports state that India shot down Pakistan’s F-16 supersonic fighter jet, as they repelled the coordinated aerial attack.

The Indian Army in a statement said that it has given a befitting reply to Pakistani provocations. “Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Indian Army said in a statement on Friday morning.

“The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs.”

Reminiscent of Hamas attack

Many defence experts observing the visuals of Pakistan’s attack stated that it was similar to the Hamas attack in 2023. “Visuals over Jammu remind of exactly Hamas-style attack on Israel. Like multiple cheap rockets,” they were quoted as saying.

They added, “Pak Army is operating and behaving like a terror organisation Hamas.” Incidentally, previous intelligence reports have reportedly revealed that the Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) held a meeting with Hamas last month.

Analysts also noted that not Pakistan’s terror factory has also been copying tactics that Hamas have used in the past. From the way they train new recruits to the position of their training camps, all of it it seems is copy-pasted from the Hamas playbook.

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Hamas attack on October 7

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a coordinated incursion from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. It all began when Hamas fired a barrage of rockets, distracting Israel’s military and used that as a cover to breach the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking military bases and massacring civilians in 21 communities, including Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim.

Israeli officials claim that Hamas launched over 5,000 missiles towards Israel. While Israel’s defence system, the Iron Dome, blocked some of the missiles it was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of them.

Israeli soldiers stand near a vehicle following a mass-infiltration by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel on October 7, 2023. File image/Reuters

The Hamas members also attacked the Nova music festival, which was taking place near kibbutz Re’im on the Negev desert. Visuals show how a dance festival turned to confusion then fear and chaos when Hamas arrived and began to kill partygoers.

The following March, a United Nations report acknowledged there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that rapes were committed during the attack. It also found “clear and convincing information” that some hostages taken on that day had been raped.

The attack prompted Israel’s strongest response in decades, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launching airstrikes and a ground invasion aimed at dismantling Hamas and its capabilities that continue to this day.

The Gaza Strip has suffered widespread destruction and heavy damage to its infrastructure. Since the war began, some 41,000 people have been killed. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with Gazans facing massive food shortages, the spread of disease, and the displacement of 1.9 million people from their homes.

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With inputs from agencies

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