Hamas’ assault on Israel exemplifies the nature of violence in many ways. Hundreds of people have been killed and abducted as a result of the team’s size incursions into Israeli towns. When it comes to inciting feelings of despair and escalating the situation, the book seems to have done this.
However, it also serves as a reminder that violence depends on the unique circumstances of the condition from which it arises, and that its effects frequently extend well beyond national borders, as pioneering antiterrorism expert Martha Crenshaw teaches.
Three of the many measurements that could be made are noteworthy. Terrorism is first and foremost a greatly developed form of psychological warfare by character.
Compared to disease, automobile accidents, and cardiovascular diseases, violence kills far fewer people, but polls consistently indicate that many people are still very worried about it.
Privacy, fraud, and surprise are the foundations of terrorism. Extremism is like a stage for getting media attention, so whenever possible, it should be impressive, destructive, and uncontrolled.
For terrorists, striking on symbolic dates and saturating the internet with creative, bone-chilling videos( including fake ones ) is essential. It gives them the ability to exaggerate events and give life to person’s worst nightmares. In this feeling, Hamas handled everything.
ability and desire
Second, the likelihood of a terrorist strike depends on the desire and skills of jihadists, as well as popular counter-terrorism scientist Boaz Ganor has argued.
Hamas evidently still has an unyielding, partially spiritual motivation despite the ceasefire that was agreed upon at the end of the 2014 Gaza battle. Its founding charter, which states that” There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through jihad ,” is consistent with its use of violence. Global events, activities, and ideas are all a waste of time.
However, in addition to having a very strong desire that justifies mass murder, Hamas also possesses numerous capabilities, such as weapons, money, intelligence, and political coverage, much of which is provided by Iran.
The team’s arsenal includes paragliders to avoid more technologically advanced defense systems as well as less traditional methods to improve casualties, such as bulldozers that tear down fences.
Hamas is alleged to have used tunnels, booby traps and hundreds of individuals who are not always affiliated with the group but are still prepared to fight to the death to elicit lethal resistance from Israeli troops in past conflicts. Israel may anticipate a comparable outcome if it invades Gaza once more.
Its criminal attacks are quite likely to continue cyclically because it has the capacity to fight a protracted conflict and the desire to eliminate as many people as possible.
eliciting a response
Second, the attack emphasizes terrorism’s desire for reaction and escalation, particularly in light of the group that commits it receiving dwindling domestic and international assistance.
Hamas probably needs this increase in a twisted method. Growing numbers of Gazan citizens have apparently been protesting the team’s leadership in recent weeks, accusing it of corruption and failing to improve living conditions.
Most importantly, however, because it would immediately negate Israel’s anti-Israel stance, the growing likelihood of an arrangement between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be a serious blow to Hamas’ reputation within the Muslim world.
Hamas can divert Palestinian attention from its issues and gain points in its competition with the rival Palestinian Authority ( PA ) now that it has successfully incited Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed” mighty revenge.”
Hamas did quell criticism from PA and others in the West Bank, who will never support Israel, if Israel attacks, by uniting the Arab people behind its symbol. The Israeli-Saudi agreement is probably going to fall apart.
There’s more. Hezbollah, the criminal organization in charge of the area, also wants to escalate the conflict, so it could spread to southern Lebanon since well.
Due to accusations of corruption, involvement in the Palestinian conflict, and tampering with the criminal investigation into the 2020 Beirut port fire, Hezbollah, like Hamas, has been losing control over various facets of Palestinian society.
Iran may also view war as a fantastic opportunity to weaken Israel and severely jeopardize pacts with Saudi Arabia, Tehran’s another major regional rival.
Israel runs the risk of becoming mired in a terrible, protracted fight in which its soldiers must search door-to-door for Hamas agents. By turning them into Palestine’s sole, genuine supporters in the eyes of its people, this may cause hundreds, if not hundreds, of deaths and accomplish what Hamas and Hezbollah seek.
Numerous soul-searching concerns are frequently raised by large-scale, sensationalized criminal problems. This may require re-examining knowledge sharing and analysis functions in the case of Israel and its supporters.
What are the best ways to combat this kind of violence, and what does success actually entail? They might come to the conclusion that a defense reaction is crucial as the idea of winning becomes more and more hazy. However, nobody will try to escape this by bombing or using the officers.
Michele Groppi teaches security studies at the Defense Studies Department of King’s College London.
Under a Creative Commons license, this post has been republished from The Conversation. Read the original publication.