Download the full release here: No. 26-1160, Hamas Tactics in Gaza Lessons for the Urban Defense of Taiwan (June 26).pdf [PDF - 2 MB]
Introduction
This paper analyzes the tactical lessons from Hamas’s recent combat operations against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip. It explores how Hamas applied asymmetric warfare principles and assesses how the Republic of China (ROC) Army in Taiwan (Taiwan Army) could adapt these tactics to defend against a potential amphibious invasion by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Hamas’s actions demonstrate that a smaller, determined force can impose significant costs on a technologically superior adversary by leveraging asymmetric tactics, complex urban terrain, and a comprehensive subterranean network.
Taiwan’s own geography provides a powerful natural defense, perfectly suited for such a strategy. The island’s western plain contains dense cities that would bog down an invading force in difficult urban combat. In contrast, rugged, forested mountains make up the central and eastern two-thirds of the island. This terrain severely restricts the movement of large armies and creates ideal conditions for a defending force to employ irregular warfare tactics. The island’s blend of dense urban zones and mountainous wilderness creates a formidable defensive advantage.
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