From ‘groupthink’ to ‘killology’: The Ethical and Psychological Dimensions of Warfare in Gaza

Written by Elijah J. Magnier:

The imperative to present an unbiased and impartial account of the events in Gaza becomes crucial when considering the power of the Israeli occupation forces juxtaposed with the actions of the resistance in Gaza. For many years, the narrative that the Israeli army is “the strongest in the Middle East” has been widely spread, a reputation that was particularly cemented after it triumphed over the combined Arab forces in 1973. Subsequently, a statement by Moshe Dayan, the Chief of Staff, who later served as Defence Minister, boasted that “Israel could conquer any Arab nation with just an Israeli band”. However, recent events in Gaza over the past five months or so are making history and forcing a severe and strategic reassessment. This reassessment is driven by the observed excessive brutality of the Israeli military and its apparent struggle against the tenacity of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. This is in the face of the widespread devastation and the significant toll that the Israeli war machine has taken on Palestinian society. The question arises: What makes such a “strong” army, despite its numerical and technological superiority and the support of superpower countries, resort to such excessive brutality? Is it simply to serve as a deterrent to those who might consider aggression against Israel in the future?