Understanding the Chronic Conflicts: A Cultural-Strategic Analysis of the Israel-Hamas Conflict in 2023

Bigonah, Mahdie; Qorashi, Yousof

doi:10.22034/igq.2025.525717.2041

Understanding the Chronic Conflicts: A Cultural-Strategic Analysis of the Israel-Hamas Conflict in 2023

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mahdie Bigonah ¹

Yousof Qorashi ²

¹ Political sciences, Law &amp;amp;amp; Political sciences Department, Shiraz university, Shiraz, Iran

² Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

10.22034/igq.2025.525717.2041

Abstract

Chronic conflicts have long been a focal point for researchers, and in this context, the Middle East serves as a compelling case study. Analyses reveal that Israel has frequently been a pivotal actor in many of these conflicts. A closer examination of the nature of its conflicts reveals a preferred engagement pattern: short -term conflicts. This pattern has underpinned Israel’s behavior over eight decades; however, this strategy does not apply to the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict. Thus, the question is: What are the causes of the protracted nature of the 2023 Israel -Hamas conflict?

The hypothesis is that elements of Israel’s strategic culture—including the dominance of the conflict subculture among leaders, cumulative deterrence, eschatological view of war , the pursuit of strategic depth, and control over energy resources—have contributed to the chronic nature of the conflict with Hamas. This study adopts an explanatory-causal approach and is based on secondary data analysis.

Keywords

Israel

Hamas

conflict

October 7 attacks

strategic culture

Subjects