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After a horrific Hamas strike, India expressed its support for Tel Aviv. Let’s look at what the South Asian nation might take from the battle. Following the attack on Israel this weekend by the Palestinian armed movement Hamas, two strategic affairs experts headquartered in New Delhi have stated that India has every reason to be concerned, worried, and gazed upon.
The Attack
In what was the worst attack on the Jewish state in the 75 years since its founding, Hamas militants unleashed a brutal attack on the Mediterranean nation on Saturday while all of Israel was celebrating the holiday of Sabbath. Over 1200 of its inhabitants were slaughtered. The attack happened on the same day as the Yom Kippur War of 1973, which broke out on October 6, 1973, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Hamas asserted that it launched 5,000 rockets in retaliation for the destruction of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the continuous siege of Gaza.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the most venerated locations in both Islam and Judaism. Jews refer to it as Temple Mount, while Muslims refer to it as Al Haram Al Sharif (Noble Sanctuary). The complex is located in East Jerusalem, the future capital of the Palestinian state that the Palestinians desire. For many years, it has served as a hot spot for conflict.
Nearly 1,400 people have perished in Israel’s shelling campaign, which started right after the Hamas onslaught on the country in West Asia, according to the health ministry of Palestine. According to recent reports, Israel has activated 300,000 reservists for combat duty and is preparing a large ground attack to “destroy Hamas” in the area.
Lessons India Should Learn
- Intelligence Failures in the Face of a Coordinated Attack
There would have had to be extensive planning for such an attack of this magnitude to occur. Israel’s national intelligence service, Mossad, is regarded as one of the best. Neither Mossad nor the IDF were able to foresee or stop such an attack, which constitutes a failure of intelligence. This indicates that once again, the value of both human and electronic intelligence has been emphasized.
- The importance of a crisis management response framework
General M.A. Ganapathy, director of the National Security Guard (NSG), stated on Thursday that India has to establish a crisis management response framework at the national level on catastrophic terrorist scenarios in light of the terror assault in Israel. He asserted that, despite developments in technology, it is ultimately the difference between a man and a weapon.
- Dynamic Threat Assessment and Preparedness
Threat assessment is an ever-changing process. The collection of intelligence must be widespread. It must be uninterrupted and continuous. The big picture of political leadership is required. India must prepare for both state and non-state threats, as well as their combinations. For such occurrences, India must be prepared with response alternatives. Building capability is another ongoing task. This is a planned endeavor that also needs finance. Punitive capabilities must be evident and even promoted in order to serve as a deterrent.
- Promoting Diplomacy and Equality in Conflict Resolution
Research fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and expert on West Asian affairs Fazzur Rahman Siddiqui remarked that every country, including India, should understand that diplomacy and dialogue are the best means of resolving a conflict. Additionally, he said that no party should be viewed as weaker or more susceptible than another, and warring parties ought not to hinder peace negotiations.
- Enhancing Border Security with the Help of Technology
The management of borders must make substantial use of technology. Motion sensors, thermal imaging, day and night cameras, and electronic gates are necessary. Drones are crucial for surveillance. India needs to be ready for multiple cyberattacks at once. Building electronic redundancy is necessary. For intelligence and surveillance, it is necessary to take advantage of air and space vantage points.
India has long recognized that each war is her own. India cannot rely heavily on outside assistance and must defend itself independently. Trigger events can occur suddenly. Weapon stockpiling, training, and military capabilities must always be available. Drones and the ability to defend against a bombardment of missile and rocket attacks from the air are crucial. An entire country-wide system-of-systems approach to security is necessary. It needs to be dealt with collectively. India has to reexamine higher defense management. It’s also important to educate and awaken the public. Last but not least, ‘aatmanirbharta’ in defense is crucial.
