DOŚWIADCZENIA Z OPERACJI WOJSKOWYCH PROWADZONYCH W STREFIE GAZY W XXI WIEKU
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 21ST CENTURY MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA

Summary/Abstract: The Gaza Strip has been an area of military operations in the 21st century bythe Hamas organization and Palestinian Islamic Jihad against Israel. In response to theactivity of the Islamic groups, the Israeli armed forces have conducted four majormilitary operations. The purpose of this paper is to present this asymmetric conflictconducted in urban terrain and the new types of military technology used there. Theevaluation is based on the experience of the military operations conducted there. Theadvantage that Israel gained was due to, among other things, the use of intelligence andreconnaissance methods, as well as the use of software based on artificial intelligence.However, Israeli troops suffered heavy human losses, which indicates that in urbancombat tactical and technological superiority does not always work. By preparingunderground installations and tunnels, the Palestinians were able to neutralize theIsraeli army’s advantage by using ambushes, stealthy maneuvers by subdivisions, exits tothe rear of the Israeli army, or the ability to make a quick escape. However, they lackedeffectiveness against the ultra-modern Iron Dome anti-aircraft system, or againstarmored vehicles. This contradicts opinions about the unsuitability of armoured weaponsin urban combat. Experience gained in described military operations should be used infuture military conflicts conducted in urbanized Europe.

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