Analysis: Hamas's asymmetric warfare against Israel – lessons from Ukraine

Fighting in Gaza between the Israeli army and the armed faction of Hamas is a textbook example of modern asymmetric warfare. Whenever fighting ends, it will be studied by strategists and tacticians. The term "asymmetric warfare" has been used for less than 60 years, but the concept is much older. Asymmetric wars are usually bloodier and more savage than those between regular armies: In a state versus non-state conflict, the latter's fighters are not recognised as "proper" combatants and thus not considered protected by international conventions and laws of war. The regular army will use weapons and tactics that might be legally unacceptable in a "proper war".