Dr. Levi West discusses the history and strategy of Hamas, exploring the likelihood of its tactics spreading. The discussion also delves into the enduring friction between Israel and Iran and its broader impact on the geopolitical environment. The podcast highlights the importance of studying well-established terrorist organizations like Hamas to gain insights into irregular warfare.
Hamas seeks to establish a militant interpretation of Islam-run state in Palestine, not a democratic one, highlighting the historical context of Hamas within the broader Palestinian resistance movement.
Terrorist organizations like Hamas can display high levels of sophistication and strategic thinking, emphasizing the importance of studying their tactics and operations as valuable case studies for future practitioners and policymakers.
Deep dives
The Definition of Terrorism and Hamas' Objectives
Terrorism, defined as the use of violence or the threat of violence for ideological purposes by non-state or illegitimate actors, is discussed. Hamas, established in 1987, is a militant Islamist organization committed to the destruction of Israel and the establishment of a militant Islamist Palestinian state. Unlike most Sunni jihadist organizations, Hamas also has nationalist ambitions. The podcast highlights that Hamas seeks to establish a militant interpretation of Islam-run state in Palestine, not a democratic one. The episode emphasizes the historical context of Hamas within the broader Palestinian resistance movement.
Tactical Success of Hamas and Factors Contributing to It
The tactical success of Hamas in the recent attack is explored. The podcast points out some factors that contributed to their success. Firstly, there were errors in the Israeli counterterrorism and intelligence assessments of Hamas' intentions and capabilities. Secondly, the attack demonstrated remarkable tactical sophistication, integrating air, land, sea, cyber, and information operations seamlessly. The surprise element and targeting of key infrastructure resulted in a high number of casualties. Additionally, Hamas strategically aimed to provoke an emotional response from Israel, potentially leading to a ground invasion which could have negative consequences for Israeli decision-making.
Regional Implications and the Impact on Saudi-Israel Relations
The podcast delves into the regional implications of the attack and its effect on Saudi-Israel relations. It is suggested that one of the objectives was to disrupt the normalization of Saudi-Israel relations as part of the Abraham Accords. The attack achieved this, as it created a situation that necessitated Saudi involvement and hindered their ability to proceed with normalization. The episode also highlights the broader strategic goal of Iran, through its support of Hamas and other regional actors, to fracture the Saudi-Israel relationship. The regional dynamics are discussed, including the potential use of information operations by Hamas and the significance of media coverage in mobilizing public opinion.
Lessons Learned and Takeaways
The podcast concludes with key takeaways for operators and practitioners in the irregular warfare domain. It emphasizes the importance of not underestimating the capabilities of well-established terrorist organizations like Hamas. Such groups can often display high levels of sophistication and strategic thinking. The episode also emphasizes the importance of studying terrorist tactics and operations, treating them as valuable case studies for future practitioners and policymakers. Overall, the podcast sheds light on the complex nature of terrorist organizations and the geopolitical implications of their actions.
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In the first installment of a three-part miniseries on irregular warfare in Israel, Adam Darnley-Stuart speaks to Dr. Levi West, a renowned counterterrorism analyst, about the history and strategy of Hamas. Dr. West offers nuanced insights into Hamas operations and the likelihood that the organization's tactics might spread and be adopted by other groups around the world. The discussion links the tiers of national security together from tactics to strategy, exploring the effects of current events on the enduring friction between Israel and Iran, for example, and the broader impacts on the geopolitical environment.