I have a 2 part answer.
Part 1 -
Asymmetric warfare is a type of “Irregular Warfare” conducted between belligerents whose relative military power, strategy, or tactics differ significantly. This type of warfare often, but not necessarily, involves insurgents or resistance movement militias who may have the status of unlawful combatants against a standing army. Asymmetric Warfare, is strategically dictated by the environmental, geographical and political landscape.
I recently watched an interesting presentation by Nick Frietas, a US Republican politician. He raised several important issues regarding the current Israeli war in Gaza. He made a comparison to the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War raised the question of why the Vietcong won over the "Hearts and Minds" campaign, very much in the way we are currently seeing Hamas achieve success. During the Vietnam War, the US Government's "Hearts and Minds" policy was, as Secretary of Defense McNamara stated, based upon forced displacement of villagers into South Vietnamese controlled areas, in order to isolate the Vietcong, partly achieved by B52 bombing raids and the deforestation program.
Ultimately, this was flawed. It did not provide the villagers with a safe environment or an improved life. As a result, eventually, the Vietcong won the "Hearts and Minds" campaign. The US and International community became aware, as stated, through media and academia. The rest is history.
Part 2 -
However, we now see history repeating itself, this time in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, again with forced displacement. In 75 years, the Israeli Government has never developed a pro-Palestinian "Hearts and Minds" campaign. Throughout history the only successful counter-insurgency conflicts had cohesive, positive "H and M" policy. Give the populous what they want and in turn, they will isolate the insurgent/terrorist for you. Examples of where a lack of a cohesive "H and M" policy has not worked in recent decades are the 50's Cyprus EOKA insurgency and the Kenyan Mau-Mau Rebellion, the Vietnam War, Afghanistan and, of course, the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict.
These conflicts are, by nature, complex. Simplistically, when a successful "H and M" policy has been implemented there has been peace. Examples are the 50's Malayan Campaign, the 60's Aden Emergency, Northern Ireland and to a certain degree, Iraq.
Without an effective "H and M" policy, even if defeated, Hamas will be replaced and this tragic conflict will, no doubt, continue.
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