Lawfare Exposed: Countering Hamas' Shield Tactics in Gaza

Aftermath of a 2014 IDF bombing on the family home of a Hamas activist; despite IDF warnings to the inhabitants to leave the building; 2 adults and 6 children died following the drone strike. IMAGE – WIKIMEDIA / Muhammad Sabah and B’Tselem

 Hamas' human shields pose multifaceted threats to Israel's security, leveraging lawfare in asymmetric warfare.

Critical functions: Politically, casualties tension allies, pressuring ceasefires. Militarily, limits IDF power. Socially, frictions left-right over outcomes. Infrastructure threatened by unrestrained Hamas attacks.

Vulnerabilities: Israel's law commitment, international dependency, casualty sensitivity exploited.

Threats: Shields offset supremacy, forcing avoidance, warnings, or riskier ground ops.

Effects: Politically, damaged image via reports, investigations like Goldstone accusing both, ignoring shields. Criticized by allies, hostiles; arrest warrants strained relations. Socially, deepened rifts, trust erosion; intensified boycotts. Militarily, mechanisms like restrictions, precision, warnings balance objectives but lose surprise. Economically, minimal sanctions impact. Informationally, dead civilian images hinder justifying actions, occupation.

Despite distress, Hamas likely continues shields amid Hezbollah ties.

Conclusions: Israel multifaceted avoidance: restrictions, precision, warnings. Counters lawfare via Dabla approvals, explanations. But narrative lost to images over arguments. Created offensive lawfare section.

Recommendations: Strategically, justify positions, document, message channels, target civilians refusing shields. Coherent activities.

Lawfare measures: Defensive - investigate claims, engage revise law, include advisors. Offensive - gather proof, publicize tribunals.

Prevention: Avoid statements questioning law; demonstrate commitment; refrain moral arguments; collect evidence.

Mitigation: Identify lawfare, mitigate losses via participation, counter-reports, dialogue, transparency. Quick transparent investigations, convictions, communications.

Integrated communications: National coordination, joint forces, simulations, partnerships.

PsyOps planning: Assess success, foment dissent, produce rejection. Gaza challenges: duress ties to Hamas, engrained views limit influence. Inter-conflict strategic, wartime tactical.