US Markets
Monday, October 16th, 2023 1:57 pm EDT
Key Points
- Israeli Ground Offensive in Gaza: Israel is preparing for a major ground offensive into Gaza with the aim of “demolishing” the Palestinian militant group Hamas. This move comes in response to coordinated attacks on southern Israeli border towns, creating significant political tensions in the region.
- Gaza’s Unique Geography: The Gaza Strip is a densely populated coastal enclave sandwiched between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea. It is heavily urbanized and features a network of underground tunnels. The region’s geography presents significant challenges for any military operation, as it involves crowded city streets, tall buildings, basements, and a complex system of tunnels.
- Geology and Warfare Intersection: Military geography specialist Francis Galgano emphasizes the role of geology in the conflict. Israel’s ground offensive will involve dealing with underground tunnels, and geologic information becomes essential for locating and destroying these tunnels without sending soldiers inside, which can be dangerous. The interaction of geology and warfare is a unique aspect of this operation.
- Hamas is expected to use its tunnel system as a defense against the ground offensive, making the conflict a “cat and mouse game.” Ultimately, Israel’s understanding of the region’s geology will play a crucial role in regaining control, but it will require a considerable effort.
Israel is anticipated to launch a major ground offensive into Gaza to target the Palestinian militant group Hamas following coordinated attacks on southern Israeli border towns. In response to these attacks, Israel has urged 1.1 million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate south in preparation for a large-scale ground invasion, but the United Nations has expressed concerns about the feasibility of such an evacuation due to potential humanitarian consequences.
The geography of the Gaza Strip plays a crucial role in any potential conflict. It is a densely populated, flat, heavily urbanized coastal enclave with an intricate network of underground tunnels. This forthcoming urban warfare is expected to be a challenging “cat and mouse game,” involving crowded city streets, tall buildings, basements, and underground tunnels in a compressed geographic area.
Military geography specialist Francis Galgano highlights the importance of geologic information in this type of warfare, including identifying tunnels and determining how to destroy them safely. Hamas is likely to use its tunnel system as a defense against the Israeli ground offensive.
Former Israeli National Security Council head Yaakov Amidror emphasized the need for a ground offensive to eliminate Hamas, which has invested in an extensive tunnel network. This intersection of geology and warfare poses unique challenges for both sides, with the Israelis relying on their knowledge of the area’s geology to locate and neutralize tunnels. Despite the challenges, it is expected that Israel will eventually gain control of the situation, but it will require a considerable effort.
For full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/16/israel-hamas-war-how-geography-could-shape-a-ground-incursion-in-gaza.html
