The United States and its allies have been ramping up calls for a cease-fire in Gaza. But according to RAND's Raphael Cohen, “the international community cannot dictate a solution to the Israel-Hamas war by fiat.” In fact, even if a cease-fire deal were reached, Israel would likely respond by tightening its blockade of Gaza, citing the threat from Hamas. This would potentially halt desperately needed reconstruction. Further, the fighting between Israel and Hamas would only resume. If the international community actually hopes to end the tragedy in Gaza, Cohen says, then it needs to offer feasible solutions that address both Palestinian grievances and Israeli security concerns. Read more »

There are growing concerns about America's ability to defend against a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. RAND researchers brought together technologists from the private sector and defense experts to explore technological solutions that could have a “game-changing impact” in such a contingency. The ideas considered include real-time translation tools to enable communication between U.S. and Taiwanese personnel; the use of deep learning to prevent China's information operations; and AI-enabled maritime mines that can reposition themselves and swarm targets. These and other solutions, the researchers write, “could meaningfully enhance America’s ability to defend against Chinese aggression.” Read more »