U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School The U.S. Army’s Special Operations...

U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and SchoolThe U.S. Army’s Special Operations Center of Excellence

The overall classification of this brief is: UNCLASSFIED

Briefer:Type of Brief:

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NON-OPERATIONAL STUDENT EXERCISE BRIEF

Laakso, Mizak, Puhr, Perrone, McMullenInformation Brief28 February 2014V1

Gaza Smuggling Routes

UNCLASSFIED NON-OPERATIONAL STUDENT EXERCISE BRIEF

• Purpose: Present an information brief on the complexities of the smuggling tunnels that connect the Gaza Strip to Egypt

• Agenda– Thesis Statement– Area Overview– Historical Background– Operational Variable Analysis (PMESII)– Key Systemic Linkages– Summary– Questions and Comments

Purpose and Agenda


Gaza Strip smuggling tunnels that connect Egypt and the

Gaza Strip, bypassing the international border, threatens the

region and the US National Security. Yet, they are vital to

the Palestinians for their social, political and economic

necessity.

Problem Statement


Area Overview


Gaza Strip - Egyptian Border


• 1890’s through World War One:

• Late 19th century saw a rise in Jewish and Arab nationalistic movements

• First issues arose from Jewish immigrants to Palestine acquiring land from Arab owners for settlement in the early 20th century

• In WWI, the Arab population joined the Central Powers, Jewish population joined the Allied Powers

• With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after WWI, Britain was granted the mandates to Palestine and Transjordan

History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict


• Post World War One through 1948:

• First major riots against the Jewish people occurred in 1921

• The 1936-39 Arab Revolt. Thousands of Jews murdered

• Arab leadership in Palestine allies with Germany in WWII

• On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion (first PM of Israel) declared the area as, “the State of Israel”

• On May 15, 1948, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt invaded Israel

• The 1949 armistice gave the Gaza strip to Egypt



• 1949 through 2000:

• Between 1950-1967, Egypt funds Palestinian attacks against Israel

• In 1967, Israel attacks Egyptian armed forces in Sinai, starts the Six Days War

• In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched surprise attacks on Israel

• Many attempts at peace in 90’s and early 2000’s. This includes 1993 and 2000 Camp David peace accords

• In 2000, a major uprising began against the Jewish state, and continues to this day



• Why tunnels exist between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.– Hamas in power since 2007. US and Israel view Hamas as terrorist

organization

– Israel and Egypt sealed borders with Gaza

– Majority of seaports/land routes closed. Only option for imports is tunneling

• Historical and current uses of tunnels– Tunnels in 80’s used for consumer goods and drugs

– Starting in 1987, the tunnels used for weapons and militants

– Recently, the tunnels have been used to move construction equipment, consumer goods, medical supplies, weapons, and militants

• Israeli and Egyptian responses and policies toward tunnels.– Egypt under Mubarak turned a blind eye to the tunnels until Hamas took Gaza

in 2007. The Muslim Brotherhood allowed the tunnels under their control.

– Israel and Egypt have pledged to stop/slow tunneling operations

– Israel uses airstrikes. Egypt floods the tunnels with water /underground fence

Historical Background


• The Palestinian Authority may use the closure of Gaza Strip tunnels to regain political power inside of the Gaza Strip changing the political dynamic of the region.

– As long as Hamas opposes negotiations with Israel, the Israeli blockade of Gaza will remain in effect

– Increasing hardships inside of Gaza will put pressure on the Hamas government to move toward reconciliation with Israel

– If Hamas is unable to keep tunnels open and Gaza supplied, Fatah could regain political control of the Gaza Strip

Political


• Tunnel closures and increased hardships in Gaza may cause radical elements inside of Gaza to increase attacks on Israel or Egypt. This could destabilize the region and set back the Israeli/Palestinian peace process

– Previous attacks from inside of Gaza lead to a 2012 incursion by the IDF

– Palestinian gunman are responsible for attacks on Egyptian border guards in response to Egypt flooding smuggling tunnels

Military


• Gazan’s have experienced an economic roller-coaster in recent years

– Who has profited and how? During the Muslim Brotherhood’s reign tunnel owners became millionaires

– Distribution of wealth has been and remains to be disproportionate

• Lack of mobility has led to the current economic hardships

– Gaza imports and exports are extremely limited

– Inflation has risen significantly

– Unemployment and underemployment are increasing

Economic


• Long term dependency on tunnels as main logistical means have created tensions and classes among the population

– Wealthy in society have been living lives of luxury, separating themselves from the majority

– Social unrest and instability are on the rise

• Social and political linkages with the Muslim Brotherhood have led to unstable times in Gaza following their ouster

– Renewed reliance on Israeli supply routes

– Continued distrust remains between Israeli’s and Palestinians

– Hamas is becoming increasingly isolated, swaying public opinion

Social


• Since Hamas took power in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, journalists have suffered as a result of the power struggle between Fatah and Hamas in the Palestinian Territories

– Palestinian reporters are subject to abuse by the Palestinian government and Israeli occupation forces

– Palestinian journalists self-censorship

– Fears of losing freedom of press

Information

• This creates instability with journalists reporting the news and presents resentment from journalists towards the government


• The Palestinian infrastructure is affected by the restricted Israel international border

• Public facilities– Hospitals (UN Relief & Work Agency)

• Utilities– 12 hour blackouts

• Roadblocks

• Tunnels

Infrastructure


• National Security Strategy, chapter 3, section A5

• Universal Declaration Human Right, article no.13

– “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state”

– Hospital access and travel is restricted.

USNSS


• Functioning tunnels keep Hamas armed and funded

• Contraband and tax revenue aids Hamas towards the primary goal of its founding charter- “destruction of Israel” and “the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine”

• Hamas’ current ideology guarantees instability and anti-Western extremism around the region

• Closed tunnels can potentially ruin Hamas’ core capabilities

Key Systemic Linkages


• What we know

- Hamas is a terrorist group currently controlling Gaza funded in part by a series of tunnels

- Materiel and capital moved through tunnels

- USNSS: “[W]e will always seek to delegitimize the use of terrorism and to isolate those who carry it out”

- Tunnel closings hurt Hamas and possibly sway public opinion towards Fatah

• What we don’t know– Depth of Hamas’ budget (e.g. how much Iran is willing to provide in

place of lost tax revenue)

• Conclusion– Support finding & keeping tunnels closed

Summary


Importance of Public Opinion

UNCLASSFIED

Backup Slides


bib

Masters, Jonathan. "Hamas." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 27 Nov. 2012. Web. Feb. 2014.

"Chapter 6. Foreign Terrorist Organizations." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 31 July 2012. Web. Feb. 2014.

Akras, Farem. “Delivering KFC by Tunnel.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 May 2013. Web. Feb. 2014.


Questions?

Guidance?

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Backup Slides


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