The coordinated attack in which thousands of Hezbollah operatives' beepers were activated in Lebanon reverberated globally. This operation, blending multiple technologies, struck a critical blow to the enemy in mere seconds—without the necessity of a physical invasion. Known as the "Beeper Operation" of September 2024, this remarkable example of technological prowess stands in stark contrast to the events of October 7, 2023.

The earlier incident revealed vulnerabilities. Simple drones dropping bombs, tractors toppling the Gaza barrier—an advanced structure intended to prevent Hamas infiltration—showcased the limitations of modern defenses. Thousands of activated SIMs, designed to provide early warnings, were left unprocessed. Even a drone transmitting footage over Gaza failed to receive timely interpretation.

These scenarios raise an important question: Where does technology stand today? Can it truly offer the capability to prevent and warn against surprise attacks? Can it win a war without the need for a ground invasion?

As a patent attorney, these are the kinds of questions that frequently cross my mind, even in civilian contexts. Every day, I meet inventors who propose technological solutions to better our world—innovative methods to detect early disease symptoms, cutting-edge agricultural techniques that require no human intervention, radar systems capable of detecting invisible movements, and artificial intelligence transforming entire industries.

Are these technologies pushing us towards a world where the human touch becomes obsolete? While I don’t have a definitive answer yet, the events of October 7 and the Beeper Operation have shown us that no singular truth exists. Technology alone may not fully prevent surprise attacks, and at this stage, it may not decisively win wars.

Only time will tell—and perhaps sooner than we expect—whether technology will surprise us, surpassing even our wildest imaginations.