Context:

• The recent Hamas attack on Israel is being termed as Israel’s 9/11 moment. It is a massive intelligence failure for a nation that has achieved fame as one of the mighty security apparatus.

Hamas Attack on Israel

• All Front Attack: Hamas attacked Israel  in a synchronized manner by using sea, land and air.
• Israel’s Failure: For both intelligence and the operational system. 
• Intelligence: Israel’s overseas intelligence agency Mossad failed to warn about the Hamas attack.
  • Operational Failure: Hamas militants disabled the Israeli surveillance cameras mounted on the border walls and destroyed their remote-controlled machine guns using drones.
• Overpowered Iron Dome: Hamas fired several thousand missiles, even if Iron Dome was 100% effective against the incoming threats, a large number of missiles were going to get through it.
• Use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs): Hamas destroyed military communication towers by dropping IEDs on electrical generators with the help of drones. 

Also read: Operation Ajay – Bringing Indians Home Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict

Hamas Attack on Israel: Lessons for India and World

• Focus on Growing Terrorism: Even as the world is focused on great power contestation, the threat from such non-state actors has only grown. 
• Check State Supported Terrorism: Technological advancements are helping non-state actors too, especially those who have the support of states like Iran and Pakistan. 
• Unity Within Countries: Ensuring a united stand by both ruling government and opposition in case of internal security. 
• Improving Border Surveillance: Ensuring border surveillance by both human and technological resources is must to get optimum results and reduce reliance on single source.
• Better IED Management: Increasing awareness to counter suspected IED, there is a need to adopt the five “Cs” i.e., Confirm, Clear, Call, Cordon, and Control.
• Crisis Response: There is a need to have a framework of crisis management response at the national level on extreme terrorist scenarios.
• Skill Upgradation: There is a need to invest in skill upgradation as advancement in technology needs to be complemented by highly skilled personnel. 
• Drone Warfare: Drones can relay crucial information on enemy movements, locations, and positions of strategic targets.

Conclusion:

Security agencies should always be thinking the unthinkable if they are to remain ahead of their adversaries and there is a need to constantly invest in the defense and intelligence upgradation. 

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