18 Comments
User's avatar
Rebecca's avatar

What is the greatest misunderstanding about modern urban warfare you want gone?

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jeremy f's avatar

Do you believe that the war is protracted by the fact that Hamas can rely on other countries to supply aid to the people of Gaza? that is to say, since hamas does not have to provide for their civilians, they can turn their sole focus to fighting.

Also, what is the historical precedent for requiring Israel to provide aid to the civilians of a separate entity prior to the surrender of their government?

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Alan Appel's avatar

If you have not done so, what are your thoughts on the impact of drones on urban warfare? Are they likely to reduce collateral casualities? Does the presence of brick and metal structures in cities make them too difficult to control to be practical? And anything else that you have noted. Thanks.

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Geary Johansen's avatar

Great question. I've often wondered whether a long-term solution to the problem of Gaza terrorism and Hamas might be technological. Hamas are prolific on social media. A database, facial recognition and a fleet of drones, some recon, some strike, might be able to attrit Hamas and restrict their ability to operate openly with impunity, without requiring an occupation. However, I have absolutely no idea whether such a concept might be practically and pragmatically feasible.

Obviously males over 14 wearing masks or obscuring their faces would automatically make themselves targets...

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Marcel's avatar

Despite Israel's best efforts to avoid civilian casualties it is still being accused widely of genocide. What impact do you believe this war will have on the public's view of future wars and what impact will it have on the strategy employed by the militarily weaker side? In other words, should we expect other groups in the future to adopt Hamas' strategy of using their citizens as human shields? Alternatively, is this a situation where only Israel/Jews will be held to such impossible standards of warfare?

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Steve's avatar

Despite Israel's best efforts to avoid civilian casualties it is still being accused widely of genocide

I like to ask those (ignorant) people, What Did You Expect Israel to do? Hamas knew what Israel was going to do an spent Years preparing for it.

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TheBlues's avatar

Wikileaks showed us the sense of irritation and fatigue the Arab League has with Hamas. Could the recent pressure from the League calling for Hamas to disband and disarm, perhaps not change the mindset and charter of Hamas; but should Hamas comply, and Israel acquiesce to terms, make them a pariah within the Arab world scotching any hopes of return. Or is the eschatology inescapable?

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Ori Gershon's avatar

The Israeli war cabinet decided to conquer the entire Gaza Strip. Militarily, what would it look like? And to what can it lead??

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Frédérique's avatar

France attempted to prevent Israeli companies from exhibiting at two major arms exhibitions in Paris while other countries with real human rights violations continue to receive global acceptance : have you been surprised by the depth of antisemitism that has resulted in Israel not only being penalised for trying to defend itself against their surrounding enemies who’ve publicly declared that they intend to destroy Israel & to kill all jews? But how globally, people now feel that it’s open season to attack Jews & Israelis because they want to believe the propaganda?

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Steve's avatar

" have you been surprised by the depth of antisemitism"

Actually I Was.

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Frédérique's avatar

Sadly I wasn’t - every generation of my family has witnessed a pogrom & my grandparents also had to flee Paris so they survived the Holocaust - the painful part was realising that Jews have been in Europe for centuries enduring antisemitism & suddenly we are yet again considered to be the bad guys; despite all the evidence & what happened to the Yazidi - Syria the Druze - Sudan - Nigeria- Afghanistan - Iran - ISIS - Al Qaeda everything is israels fault despite fighting 7 wars. Worst was being betrayed by friends who my family gave shelter to - fed watered - helped - it’s been a devastating experience - to not even be allowed to talk about it & yet Ukraine that’s different that’s really terrible & the poor Palestinians - a very sobering experience & reminder how antisemitism is an incurable disease that keeps raising its ugly head

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Steve's avatar

31: 18 Hamburg Germany July 1943...Tokyo Japan 9–10 March 1945. Q: Wee those unacceptable?

Thing is waaaaay too people don't really know anything about war, other than its BAD. And urban combat is THE WORST.

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Arved von Brasch's avatar

I work in positioning, so it's been interesting how much GPS jamming has rapidly becoming a major issue in the wake of widespread use of drones. How has that been affecting strategies on both sides?

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Steve's avatar

I wouldn't believe UNICEF if they told be today was Aug 6 2025.

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Daniel Mashta's avatar

Do you think a double standard applies to Israel and the gaza war, in terms of

a. The expectation that Israel allows aid to its enemy,

b. The expectation Israel provide free water and electricity to its enemy

c. The media and many international governments are assuming the worst of Israel and its intentions, but the best of Palestinian intentions.

If this double standard exists, why do you think it does?

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dd's avatar

How reliable is the information on this war?

I have followed how this conflicts are reported since Hezbollah/Israel war in 2006? and to me, the quality of information, as reported by the BBC/NYTimes/CNN is not reliable. Does Mr. Spencer have recommendations in terms of information source?

I bring this up specifically due to the printing of that far more than dubious photograph couple of Sundays ago all over world media of that ill child portrayed as starving, and his nearby visibly better fed brother not pictured in the famous photo:

https://x.com/IsraelMFA/status/1950129300654436855

And the cumulative refusal by major media to picture a starving Israeli captive of Hamas:

https://x.com/persianjewess/status/1953117059442983340

Many other examples as you know. Thank you for inviting Mr. Spencer.

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Richard Y's avatar

We should not forget the people of Gaza voted in Hamas…

It was in January 2006 that the Palestinian territories held what turned out to be their last parliamentary elections. Hamas won a bare plurality of votes (44 percent to the more moderate Fatah party’s 41 percent) but, given the electoral system, a strong majority of seats (74 to 45).

Why haven’t the population risen up against Hamas?

Do Hamas have any intention of surrendering or striking a peace deal?

Why don’t Israel air drop more aid to reduce chance Hamas intercepts?

What should Israel do with all the tunnels?

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TommyTP's avatar

Did you ever call Ray Reardon 'Dracula' to his face?

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