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How Israel Should Prepare to Counter Hamas' Cognitive Campaign

(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Kobi Michael and Gabi Siboni - Israel's cognitive counter-effort must be formulated around three principal messages: first - the Hamas leadership has failed in its management of Gaza, and has failed in its responsibility toward its citizens, preventing them from receiving the aid they need so badly to alleviate their humanitarian predicament. It attempts to absolve itself of any responsibility and channel the frustration to provoked friction with Israeli troops along the border, making cynical use of the civilian population and endangering it, as it did in previous wars when it used them as human shields. The second message: Israel will defend its borders and its sovereignty and prevent Palestinian civilians from damaging the border fence or crossing into Israel, in accordance with international law. Finally, Israel calls on the Hamas leadership and the international community to avoid endangering the lives of the Palestinian population unnecessarily, warns the Hamas leadership of the price it may have to pay for its direct responsibility for clashes that could develop, and warns Gaza's citizens of the unnecessary risk to human life in the service of Hamas interests. Kobi Michael is former deputy director general of Israel's Ministry of Strategic Affairs. Col. (ret.) Gabi Siboni is director of the Military and Strategic Affairs Program at INSS.
2018-03-21 00:00:00
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