When Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the militant group had hoped it would develop into a full-scale war and that its allies would back it up. Although Hezbollah heeded Hamas call and, along with Iran and Yemen’s Houthis, joined in shortly afterward, the Lebanon-based militant group’s response was hardly as powerful as it could have been, FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Jerusalem Noga Tarnopolsky explained, noting that despite being heavily armed, it never made any attempt to invade Israel for example. With the ceasefire deal in place, Hamas has “virtually been left alone” by its allies, she said.