Under the Dome: Unpacking the Israel Gaza Conflict with Dr. Haiduc-Dale

As part of Centenary University’s “Under the Golden Dome Series”–a collaboration with Campus Ministry–students and faculty gathered at Taylor Memorial Library on Monday, Oct.7 2024, for a thought-provoking lecture on the Gaza-Israel conflict. The guest speaker, Dr. Noah Haiduc-Dale, an associate professor of history and Centenary’s Archivist, drew on his extensive knowledge and research to provide an in-depth analysis of the conflict on the one-year anniversary of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. 

This was Haiduc-Dale's second lecture on this topic as part of the “Under the Golden Dome Series,” his previous talk taking place nearly a year ago on November 7, 2023.

Haiduc-Dale, a historian of the modern Middle East with a specific focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, brought an exclusive perspective to the discussion, having studied the region for over 15 years. His presentation explored the geopolitical complexities surrounding the conflict, as well as the global response to the violence.

While the event attracted 20 attendees in person and 14 participants via Zoom, the relatively low turnout from students—less than 10 in total—raised concerns about student engagement with such a significant international issue. Haiduc-Dale himself noted this gap, reflecting on the importance of student involvement in global discussions. He noted that only two of his approximately 70 current students attended his discussion—despite encouraging them to come that evening.

Understanding the Complexities of the Gaza-Israel Conflict

Haiduc-Dale began his presentation by sharing his background and experiences with the Gaza-Israel conflict. His first visit to Israel was as a high school student, when he spent a month living in a Palestinian village. Since then, he has returned multiple times, conducting dissertation research in Jerusalem. These experiences, along with his academic work, help him understand the conflict's deep causes.

“I’ve been studying this conflict for a long time—15 to 20 years,” Haiduc-Dale said. 

One of the key themes of his lecture was the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas. He emphasized that both parties have shown little interest in de-escalating the conflict. 

“Neither Israel nor Hamas believe it’s in their best interest for a ceasefire,” he remarked.

Haiduc-Dale also touched upon the role of other actors in the region, such as Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon. He noted that Hezbollah was formed in response to Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon and has since played a vital role in providing social services like healthcare and education to the Lebanese population. 

“We’ll start seeing more of them [Hezbollah] soon,” Haiduc-Dale predicted, hinting at the group’s growing involvement in the region.

While some nations in the Middle East, like Iran, possess the military strength to challenge Israel, Haiduc-Dale pointed out that Iran has shown little interest in escalating the conflict into a broader war. 

“The only country that could put up a real fight is Iran, but they’ve shown little interest in a big war,” he explained.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Haiduc-Dale emphasized the severe humanitarian toll the conflict has had on Gaza. Citing a United Nations-World Bank report, he noted that the damage to Gaza's infrastructure amounts to a cataclysmic $18.5 billion, which shows the serious extent of the destruction, particularly in response to Israel's military actions following Hamas attacks. As of October 7, 2024, Al Jazeera reports that more than 41,800 people have been killed over the past year in Israel’s war against Palestinians in Gaza.

“Hamas has shown that Israel is not invincible,” Haiduc-Dale stated, referencing the 2023 Hamas-led attack that exposed Israel’s vulnerabilities for the first time in years. 

He emphasized, however, that Israel has made it clear it has no intention of pursuing a two-state solution with Palestine. Following the tragic events of October 7, 2023— when Hamas launched attacks resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, including 46 Americans and citizens from over 30 countries— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is resolute in his determination to eliminate Hamas. That day also saw Hamas take 254 hostages, including 12 Americans. 

In light of these developments, Netanyahu remains opposed to a two-state solution, raising significant questions about the future of the conflict.

Haiduc-Dale also touched upon the challenges facing Israeli leadership, particularly Prime Minister Netanyahu. A poll conducted by The Times of Israel revealed that only 4 percent of Jewish Israelis trust Netanyahu to be truthful about the war. Haiduc-Dale discussed the implications of this distrust and how it might influence Israel’s political landscape moving forward.

A Thoughtful Discussion with the Audience

After concluding his presentation, Haiduc-Dale opened the floor to questions from the audience, both in person and on Zoom. One guest asked whether Israel would be held accountable for war crimes committed during the conflict. Haiduc-Dale responded, “It’s hard to imagine at this point in history. Maybe someday, but it’s hard to imagine right now.”

Dr. Battistini, Dean of the School of Education and Humanities, raised a poignant question by asking what the possible endgame of the conflict might be. Haiduc-Dale responded candidly, “No one knows. Netanyahu won’t say what the endgame is beyond saying he wants to destroy Hamas. This is just going to go on. How long? I don’t know.”

One attendee inquired about whether the Israeli people desire to remove Netanyahu from power, to which Haiduc-Dale replied, “Very much so, but it’s very hard to figure out a way to get rid of him in the midst of this crisis.”

A Call for Student Engagement

While the lecture provided attendees with an informed and detailed analysis of the Gaza-Israel conflict, the low turnout of Centenary students was notable. Haiduc-Dale, as well as student leaders, expressed concern about the lack of student engagement with such an important issue.

Elizabeth “Liz” Sandlin, a sophomore and president of the Centenary History Club, shared her thoughts on the event: “I wanted to come to this lecture last November, but I had class. I was happy to hear [Haiduc-Dale] was giving this talk again. I think it’s an important topic—history can repeat itself. We don’t want what’s happened there to happen anywhere else.”

In a brief post-event interview, Haiduc-Dale also offered his thoughts on how the ongoing conflict might impact the 2024 U.S. presidential election. He speculated that the Biden administration’s pro-Israel stance could harm Vice President Kamala Harris in key states with large Arab-American populations, such as Michigan. 

“The Arab-American vote is nothing to joke with these days. It’s very strong,” he commented.

For students interested in learning more and staying informed, Haiduc-Dale recommended reading widely from reputable sources such as The New York Times and Al Jazeera and tuning into NPR. He also urged students to focus peacefully on any political or social issue that matters to them.

A Look Ahead

The night left attendees with much to ponder about the Gaza-Israel conflict and its potential global implications. Haiduc-Dale’s thoughtful and informed discussion provided valuable context and spotlights the importance of continued dialogue on the subject. While student engagement remains a challenge, events like these offer an opportunity for the Centenary community to deepen its understanding of complex global issues.

As the semester progresses, it remains to be seen whether more students will attend future events like this, taking advantage of opportunities to engage with important topics beyond the classroom.