Gentlemen, the concept is back

Doron Hadar, former commander of the IDF's negotiation unit, warns in an opinion piece that the concept that led to the October 7 failure is returning. He argues that the assumptions that Hamas is deterred and weak are repeating themselves, and that Israel is failing to understand the enemy.

Doron Hadar, former commander of the IDF's negotiation unit, warns in an opinion piece that the concept that led to the October 7 failure is returning. He describes how the assumptions that Hamas is deterred, weak, and interested in quiet led to an intelligence failure, and that similar assumptions are now recurring. Hadar argues that Hamas has not changed its terrorist ideology even after becoming a governing body, and that governmental responsibility served as another tool to fulfill its ambitions. He notes that weakening the 'devil's advocate' factors eliminates the ability to challenge basic assumptions, and that good intelligence is not just the ability to see but the ability to doubt interpretation. Hadar warns that Hamas is strengthening and rehabilitating, and recommends establishing an alternative government in the Strip that will push Hamas out of power centers.