Unveiling Hamas: Tactics and Challenges in Gaza Conflict

Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a recent report sheds light on the tactics employed by Hamas fighters to resist Israeli forces. Through interviews with Hamas fighters, Israeli soldiers, and military analysts, as well as analyzing numerous videos released by Hamas's military wing, a clearer picture emerges of how Hamas is fighting in Gaza: through tunnels, traps, and ambushes. Hamas fighters have been found to hide beneath residential neighborhoods, storing weapons in a network of tunnels that span miles, as well as in houses, mosques, and even a child's bedroom. This strategic placement blurs the line between civilians and combatants, making it challenging for Israeli forces to distinguish between the two. The fighters often emerge from hiding in civilian attire, sometimes wearing sandals or tracksuits, before carrying out attacks on Israeli troops. These attacks range from attaching mines to vehicles, firing rockets from launchers in civilian areas, to rigging abandoned homes with explosives and tripwires. By creating booby-trapped buildings and scattering signs of a Hamas presence, the fighters aim to lure Israeli soldiers into dangerous situations. In contrast to previous attacks that involved large-scale maneuvers by uniformed commandos, Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, has adopted a decentralized and covert approach in the current conflict. Rather than engaging in direct confrontations with Israeli forces, most Hamas fighters have opted to retreat from their bases and outposts, launching surprise attacks on smaller groups of soldiers to counter Israel's technological and numerical advantage. The use of a hidden and decentralized force has allowed Hamas to operate as a ghost army, appearing fleetingly from underground tunnels armed with rocket-propelled grenades to target Israeli soldiers before swiftly retreating back to their subterranean hideouts. At times, the fighters have blended in with civilians who chose to remain in their neighborhoods despite evacuation orders, or accompanied civilians as they returned to areas previously captured and abandoned by Israeli forces. As the conflict in Gaza continues, Hamas's unconventional tactics pose a challenge for Israeli forces, requiring them to navigate a complex and dangerous battlefield where the lines between combatants and civilians are increasingly blurred. The evolving nature of Hamas's strategy underscores the need for continued vigilance and adaptability in the ongoing conflict in the region.