Hamas, Israel and limits of military intelligence | Top 10

+ health effects of spicy food; psychedelic churches US Edition - Today's top story: The Gaza Strip − why the history of the densely populated enclave is key to understanding the current conflict [View in browser]( US Edition | 15 October 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Happy Sunday − and welcome to the best of The Conversation. Here are a few of our recently published stories: - [Reflections on hope during unprecedented violence in the Israel-Hamas war]( - [Molecule that triggers urge to scratch also turns down inflammation in the skin]( - [Deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust spurs a crisis of confidence in the idea of Israel – and its possible renewal]( Events unfolding in the Middle East have riveted the world over the past week, ever since Hamas invaded Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing over 1,300 people and taking an estimated 150 hostages. In response, Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, which have so far killed over 2,000 people. So it’s hardly a surprise that many stories that readers and editors were especially drawn to last week provided context to better understand the conflict and its long, often tragic history. As Israel prepares to invade Gaza with ground forces – after ordering an evacuation of over a million people from the north to the south – an article detailing the history of the city-sized enclave provides a valuable backdrop to the conflict. In the story, University of Arizona Mideast scholar Maha Nassar [describes Gaza’s ancient origins](, the over 2 million Palestinians who call it home and how it became a hotbed of militancy. But how did the leader of that militancy, Hamas, manage to pierce Israel’s highly sophisticated defensive measures to stage the largest attack in half a century against the Mideast’s most powerful army? “The problem for the Israelis, and many modern militaries, is that [they have become too reliant]( on intelligence instead of knowing the goals of their enemy and developing a deeper understanding of how they think and operate,” wrote Liam Collins, founding director of West Point’s Modern War Institute and a former colonel in the U.S. Army. We at The Conversation U.S. and our global network [will continue to provide scholarly context and expert analysis]( as the conflict evolves. Bryan Keogh Managing Editor Readers' picks Destruction from the latest siege of Gaza. Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images) [The Gaza Strip − why the history of the densely populated enclave is key to understanding the current conflict]( Maha Nassar, University of Arizona The enclave abutting Israel has been described as the world’s ‘largest open-air prison.’ Conditions have deteriorated for the population there under a 16-year blockade. - [Claudia Goldin’s Nobel Prize win is a victory for women in economics − and the field as a whole]( Veronika Dolar, SUNY Old Westbury Goldin is showing the world that economics is about more than just finance. - [Spicy food might burn in the moment, but it likely won’t harm your health in the long term]( Paul D. Terry, University of Tennessee After a 14-year-old died doing a viral spicy chip challenge, many parents have called for more awareness about the risks of these challenges. - [How ‘nones’ − the religiously unaffiliated − are finding meaning, purpose and spirituality in psychedelic churches]( Morgan Shipley, Michigan State University A scholar who studies alternative expressions of spirituality visited secular, atheist and psychedelic churches and interacted with attendees. Here is what he found. - [Hamas assault echoes 1973 Arab-Israeli war – a shock attack and questions of political, intelligence culpability]( Dov Waxman, University of California, Los Angeles Failings leading up to the Arab-Israeli War of 50 years ago cost the then Israeli prime minister their job. Could history repeat? Editors' picks Israeli soldiers ride on a transport vehicle near Re'im, Israel, on Oct. 10, 2023. Marcus Yam/ Los Angeles Times [Intelligence failure or not, the Israeli military was unprepared to respond to Hamas’ surprise attack]( Liam Collins, United States Military Academy West Point A special forces officer explains why an overreliance on intelligence is a recipe for disaster. - [Horseshoe crab blood is vital for testing intravenous drugs, but new synthetic alternatives could mean pharma won’t bleed this unique species dry]( Kristoffer Whitney, Rochester Institute of Technology; Jolie Crunelle, Rochester Institute of Technology Horseshoe crabs play a unique role in medicine, but they’re also ecologically important in their home waters along the Atlantic coast. Can regulators balance the needs of humans and nature? - [Exxon, Apple and other corporate giants will have to disclose all their emissions under California’s new climate laws – that will have a global impact]( Lily Hsueh, Arizona State University California is the world’s fifth-largest economy. Laws tested there often spread across the U.S. and around the world. - [The Israel-Hamas war: No matter who loses, Iran wins]( Aaron Pilkington, University of Denver The Palestinian fighters who launched deadly attacks into Israel on Oct. 7 are not Iranian puppets – but they are doing the work Iran wants done. - [Israel has no good options for dealing with Hamas’ hostage-taking in Gaza]( James Forest, UMass Lowell An estimated 150 hostages were taken by Hamas in Israel and brought back to Gaza. The government of Israel faces tough choices in dealing with the crisis. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Test your knowledge with a weekly quiz drawn from some of our favorite stories. This week's quiz: Friday the 13th, Hamas and bison Like this newsletter? 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