EXCERPT
Hamas’s Cognitive Warfare Campaign
Maintaining public support has long been recognized as a key element of a nation-state’s ability to conduct combat operations. This is particularly true today in democratic nations where leaders must maintain popular support to stay in power. Despite the brutality of Hamas’s 7 October 2023 terrorist attack and the continuing national security threat it poses to Israel, Hamas has effectively shaped the public narrative in such a way that Israel may be prevented from achieving its strategic objectives despite power overmatch. This was not a fortunate byproduct of circumstances but rather an asymmetric advantage that Hamas exploited from the outset of the conflict.
The 7 October terrorist attack was distinctly brutal. Hamas terrorists killed over 1,200 Israeli citizens and committed rape, torture, and corpse desecration against civilian victims. Further, Hamas took over two hundred hostages who have been tortured and many killed. Many of the hostages (or their remains) remain in Hamas’s possession at the time of writing this article. Hamas has expressed intent to conduct future similar attacks against Israel.
Source:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/March-April-2025/Information-Operations/