Israel's Strategy in the Middle East Conflict

Israel's current strategy in the Middle East conflict is characterized by shaping operations, which aim to degrade Hamas through the destruction of key leaders, logistical sites, tunnels, and weapons platforms. This approach draws parallels to the surge strategy implemented by General David Petraeus in Iraq, which focused on countering the bad idea of terrorism rather than solely targeting individuals. Israel acknowledges that a bombing campaign alone will not eliminate Hamas, emphasizing the need for ground operations. The challenging nature of the conflict lies in Hamas' deep knowledge of Gaza City, extensive tunnel systems, use of human shields, and willingness to employ suicide attacks.