Episode 93 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines irregular warfare in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Our guests begin by delving into Hamas and its hybrid strategy in Gaza before addressing Israel’s traditional counterterrorism approach in the Middle East. They then discuss the risks associated with an invasion of Gaza, and the importance of addressing lawfare and humanitarian considerations head on. Finally, our guests conclude with recommendations about operating in urban terrain and navigating a complex geopolitical environment that may require the U.S. and its allies to relook its global force structure.
General (ret.) Joseph Votel is the current distinguished chair of West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center. He is a retired Army Four-Star officer who, in his last active duty assignment, served as the Commander of U.S. Central Command. During his 39 years in the military, he commanded special operations and conventional military forces at every level.
Dr. Raphael Cohen is the director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE, and a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. He works on a broad range of defense and foreign policy issues, including defense strategy and force planning, Middle East and European security, and civil-military relations. In 2017, Dr. Cohen and his colleagues published a report entitled, “Lessons from Israel’s Wars in Gaza,” which serves as the anchor for today’s conversation.
Ben Jebb and Alisa Laufer are the hosts for Episode 74. Please reach out to Ben and Alisa with any questions about this episode or the Irregular Warfare Podcast.
The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a production of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI). We are a team of volunteers dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners in the field of irregular warfare. IWI generates written and audio content, coordinates events for the IW community, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows. You can follow and engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
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