Decoding Hamas’s Hidden Tactics in Gaza

The Hidden Tactics of Hamas in Gaza

Hamas fighters in Gaza have adopted a strategic approach that involves hiding in plain sight within residential neighborhoods. They cleverly conceal their weapons in an extensive network of tunnels, as well as in various unexpected locations such as houses, mosques, sofas, and even children’s bedrooms. This tactic blurs the line between civilians and combatants, making it challenging for Israeli forces to distinguish between the two.

When engaging in combat, Hamas militants often emerge in civilian attire, sometimes even wearing sandals or tracksuits, before launching surprise attacks on Israeli troops. These attacks range from ambushing soldiers to attaching explosives to vehicles or firing rockets from launchers strategically positioned in civilian areas.

Moreover, Hamas fighters have been known to booby-trap abandoned homes with explosives and tripwires, enticing Israeli soldiers to enter these buildings by leaving signs of Hamas presence. This deceptive strategy puts Israeli forces at risk and demonstrates the guerrilla warfare tactics employed by Hamas in Gaza.

Throughout the conflict in Gaza, Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, has operated as a decentralized and elusive force. Rather than engaging in direct confrontations with Israeli troops, most Hamas fighters have opted to retreat from their traditional bases and outposts. Instead, they launch surprise attacks on small groups of soldiers, utilizing the element of surprise to offset Israel’s technological and numerical superiority.

One of the most striking features of Hamas’s tactics is its reliance on a hidden underground network. Hamas’s fighters, often armed with rocket-propelled grenades, emerge swiftly from tunnels to engage Israeli forces and then retreat back underground. This ghost army remains elusive, occasionally blending in with the few civilians who choose to remain in conflict zones despite evacuation orders, or accompanying returning civilians to areas previously captured and abandoned by Israeli forces.