Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • Israel-Hamas
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
    • North Korea
  • Research
    • Briefs
    • Explainers
    • Reports
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Israel-Hamas / Hamas is dragging Israel toward the abyss
Israel‑Hamas, Israel, Middle East

October 13, 2023

Hamas is dragging Israel toward the abyss

“When a war like this begins and casualties start to mount, there is always the question of what level support can be maintained domestically. Israel doesn’t have to worry as much in this instance because the scale of the Hamas attack was so shocking to Israelis that even the more dovish ones will not object to such a conflict,” said Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy program at the D.C.-based think tank Defense Priorities. “But it could take weeks and months of fighting in a very dense urban area controlled by an armed group that has anticipated this attack and is ready to make you bleed as they go down. It could take a very, very long time.”

“Israel may turn Gaza into rubble, but it would create a humanitarian catastrophe of the first magnitude.”

Read at The Intercept

Featuring

Photo of Rajan Menon

Rajan
Menon

Former Non-Resident Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

More on Middle East

op-edIran, Middle East, Nuclear weapons

Maximalism will doom diplomacy with Iran

By Rosemary Kelanic

May 8, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Middle East

As Donald Trump prepares for Middle East visit, his efforts there aren’t inspiring

By Daniel DePetris

May 6, 2025

Press ReleaseHouthis, Air power, Middle East, Military analysis, Yemen

Ending strikes on Yemen: Good news if it sticks

By Rosemary Kelanic

May 6, 2025

op-edIran, Middle East

Trump needs his team on the same Iran page

By Daniel DePetris

May 5, 2025

op-edYemen, Air power, Houthis, Iran, Middle East

In Yemen, Trump risks falling into an ‘airpower trap’ that has drawn past US presidents into costly wars

By William Walldorf

May 5, 2025

ExplainerMiddle East, China, Europe and Eurasia

China can’t dominate the Middle East

By Rosemary Kelanic

May 5, 2025

Events on Israel-Hamas

See All Events
virtualHouthis, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Middle East, Yemen

Past Virtual Event: Houthi conundrum: defend, degrade, or defer

March 28, 2024

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved