By Munmun Majumdar
The 7 October assault on Israel by Hamas has mired the Middle East into greater chaos, complicating the already complex and politically charged nature of the intractable Israeli-Palestinian issue. Besides underscoring the fragility of peace in the region the 7 October assault on Israel by Hamas is an eyeopener to the latter’s advanced offensive capabilities. The unexpected attack on Israel by Hamas forces from the Gaza Strip has been unprecedented with devastating consequences. Israel has responded forcefully to this violence. No matter what one’s political affiliation is, any deliberate attack on civilians for a political reason or cause cannot be made allowance for or justified. As the current conflict unfolds, it appears that death and destruction on both sides of the border unfortunately will increase in the days ahead.
India has its own share with terrorists’ acts. Therefore, it is crucial for India to draw lessons. Firstly, does maintaining vigilance as peace a permanent situation? The answer is without a doubt no. Terrorist attacks anywhere in the world can be expected anytime in the future. Hamas’ attack happened at a time when Israel had made peace with several Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, while peace negotiations were going on with Saudi Arabia. The Palestinian issue had faded for a while as the world attention was engrossed on the larger US-China rivalry and the Russia-Ukraine war. Hence, what clearly emerges is that even when peace seemingly prevails the importance of constant vigilance even during times of peace must be emphasized and that peace must never be taken for granted.
Secondly, While the de-escalation of terrorism gives immense respite it is important to continue to remain vigilant and prepared for sudden escalation. No Government can afford to play down the threat and take its eyes away from terrorism even if it is dormant. More so since peace has never been a permanent condition. Although of late in India terrorists have reduced their terrorist activities one has to be prepared for any sudden escalation. No country should be lulled into a false sense of overconfidence and ultimately complacency. This incident is a lesson for all that one cannot afford to let your guard down ever.
The presence of long-entrenched terrorist groups will have to be recognized and multifaceted steps must be taken to tear down such networks without getting too caught up in retaliatory measures and blame games.
Thirdly, the use of paragliders by Hamas fighters on 7 October has potentially changed how terrorists exploit the aerial dimension to launch attacks. The aerial domain has always been appealing for the terrorist. Earlier the preferred modus operandi of many terrorist groups has been airplane hijackings. With the advent of aerial drones and new technology, terrorist groups have been able replace the need for suicide bombers. Terrorist groups have been able to take advantage of this new technology as drones have the ability to deliver payloads to their targets with precision and are highly adaptable to any last-second adjustment. It is these attributes and the ability of the user to control it remotely, that drones of various forms are being extensively used. The successful use of paragliders by Hamas fighters on 7 October has potentially changed how terrorists are taking advantage of the aerial dimension, to launch attacks, cross over by air and to capture terrain as well. The use of paragliders is alarming because they are easy to produce, cheap, and easy to deploy. Therefore, the use of drones and paragliders to attack the outdoor music festival or to destroy Israels Merkava Mk4 tanks calls for an urgent review the rules of engagement for non-state parachuters. Given the nature of terror threat India faces it must take cognizance of the consequences of the aerial attacks, especially the use of power gliders and draw the lessons relevant for India. India must draw up counter-terrorism strategies that will need to be reoriented as circumstances evolve. Just as with the use of AI against terrorism is increasingly bearing fruit, what must not be lost sight of is that it is the very same technology that terrorist also uses. Therefore, since it must ultimately be reinforced with manual review from trained experts India must ensure to train people in this direction.
Fourthly, the role of the media. Undoubtedly it has a prominent role to play. The use of social media to shape global perception is not new. One saw how Ukraine had benefitted greatly from its adroit use of the media and enabled it to garner international support. The world is now seeing Hamas broadcasting violent videos and graphic images of the group’s attack on Israel on social media, particularly on Telegram and X designed to attack Israeli morale and buildup the deterrent leverage of the Israeli hostages the group is holding. The consequence will significantly impact not only on the real-world conflict but also while shaping future debates over social media regulations.
Therefore, significance and salience of the digital battlefield in modern day warfare and combat, cannot be undermined. The internet as a global civic space has facilitated the use of the internet for participation and mobilization and the creation of an environment conducive for circulation of different narratives. Hence, it is important to teach the students, public how to separate fact from fiction in the digital age. Just as the media must gear up to prevent dissemination of incorrect information as much as possible. In the end it is essential to read these indicators correctly and take deterrent measures to prevent and mitigate any development that takes international resources away from humanitarian needs.
(The writer teaches Political Science in North-Eastern Hill University Shillong)