On October 7, 2023, a land attack by Hamas surprised Israel, with militiamen overcoming security barriers and attacking cities and kibbutzim, causing 1200 victims and seizing hundreds of hostages. Israel responded by mobilizing military forces and placing a total siege on Gaza, with serious humanitarian consequences and numerous casualties.
On March 22, 2024, four attackers opened fire and used incendiary devices at the concert hall Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, resulting in 144 deaths and over 551 injuries. The videos released by the Amaq agency showed the brutality of the attack, with point-blank shootings and acts of extreme violence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack a "barbaric terrorist act" and declared March 24 a day of national mourning, also attempting to link the attackers to Ukraine. The United States has reiterated that ISIS is solely responsible for the attack, denying any involvement by Ukraine.
Eleven people were arrested in connection with the attack, including the four suspected of carrying it out. The event was the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia since the Beslan school massacre in 2004.
At what point is the escalation of the ongoing global conflict?
But what is terrorism?
Does it return to being a political weapon of the state?
Does Europe, still unprepared for war, still have old Cold War antibodies to save it?
Will our country, which has often protected itself in the past by remaining ambiguously "neutral", ever be able to concretely take a stand against terrorism and take a clear and resolute position (not just in words...)?
We'll talk about it Monday 8 April at 18.00pm with Dr. Eli Karmon (researcher atInternational Institute for Counterterrorism of the Reichman University of Herzlya in Israel) e Claudio Verzola (AISS cyber security sector manager).
See you there!
