The Israel Defense Force moved into the center of Gaza City this week. Ironically, the better they perform on the ground, the worse they seem to perform in world opinion. Perhaps Israel needs to think more broadly about what war means today.
This week, Israeli leaders declared that they are in control of northern Gaza. IDF special operations teams found weapons and a tunnel network under the Al-Shifa hospital. And there are indications that a southern offensive is being planned. Meanwhile yesterday’s Aljazeera headlines reveal the news stories being shared with the Muslim world:
- Israel-Hamas war live: Thousands ‘in danger of death’ amid hospital siege
- Jordanian officials denounce Israeli strike on field hospital in Gaza
- What is the UN Genocide Convention?
- Biden told Israel’s war on Gaza undermines US ‘credibility’ around the world
- Israel bombs Gaza throughout the night
- ‘Genocide already happening’ in Gaza: International law expert
- Still no talk of ceasefire as Blinken discusses Gaza crisis with Israeli, Egyptian officials
- Gaza’s population faces ‘possibility of starvation’: UN’s World Food Programme
- Palestine Red Crescent: Gaza rescuers, paramedics facing ‘extremely harsh conditions’
Hybrid warfare broadly refers to the strategy of coordinating all elements of influence one society can exert on another to achieve an objective. This may include conventional warfare, irregular warfare, cyberwarfare, information warfare, propaganda, and even election interference. Russia calls it New Generation Warfare and successfully used it to seize Crimea in 2014 without firing a shot. Technology has created new channels, such as social media, and enables coordination in ways never before possible. In World Leadership, I identified the archtrend: Influence Instead of War. Societies have evolved to where they exert influence over other societies in ways other than threatening to destroy them. Hybrid warfare is one example of this.
If Israel decided it needs to implement hybrid warfare, it’s first task would be to start controlling the message. Messages Israel may want to consider include:
- Hamas could end the suffering in Gaza simply by surrendering.
- Fighting would be paused if Hamas released the prisoners.
- The Palestinian Authority is the rightful authority in Gaza—Hamas needs to cede power so work can begin toward a two-state solution.
- Civilians are not immune from the effects of bad government: tragically, Gazans are paying the price for allowing Hamas to remain in charge.
Crafting the right message is the first step in fighting the broader war of shaping world opinion.
Source:
Aljazeera, 17 November 2023; accessed from https://www.aljazeera.com/
CNN, 16 November 2023; accessed from CNN.com
“Hybrid Warfare,” Wikipedia, 16 November 2023
Mark Voyger, “What is Hybrid Warfare, Really?” Center for European Policy Analysis, 24 February 2021; accessed from https://cepa.org/article/what-is-hybrid-warfare-really/
“Countering Hybrid Threats,” NATO, 18 August 2023; accessed from https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_156338.htm
Michael Birnbaum, “US is Warned About its Global Standing as Toll on Civilians Rises,” Washington Post, 12 November 2023, A22.
Photo: Mark Voyger, CEPA