At a time when the Israeli government seeks to portray the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) as being on the verge of collapse in the Gaza Strip, experts say that complex urban warfare will prolong the fighting and make victory less clear, according to a report by the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post.
The newspaper quoted Dr. Michael Milstein, head of the Forum for Palestinian Studies at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, saying, “We suffered severe damage, and we are still far from overthrowing Hamas, as the majority of its fighters are still alive, and it still possesses rockets.”
Although he stressed that bombing “government symbols such as parliament, courts, and mosques has largely symbolic value,” Milstein admitted that “Hamas does not need this to continue its fight,” saying, “For Hamas, resistance is much more important than governance. As long as it has weapons and fighters, It does not care whether it can rule Gaza or deliver humanitarian aid.”
In addition to Hamas’ above-ground military capabilities, experts believe – according to the newspaper – that it has an extensive network of underground tunnels in which its ammunition is manufactured and stored. It is believed that these tunnels contain detainees as well as Hamas leaders who are conducting the war, and in light of this, the challenges of urban warfare are multiplied.
After the end of a week-long ceasefire, the Israeli army launched a ground operation in the southern Gaza Strip, where it is believed to be the hub of Hamas’ military infrastructure. It is also believed to be the supposed location of the detainees. Israel also vowed to kill the head of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to be holed up in tunnels in the same area, according to the newspaper.
Very complicated process
For his part, military historian from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Professor Danny Auerbach, said, “This will be a very complex process, will require more patience and time, and will likely cost more lives for Israeli soldiers,” adding that “Israel is looking to dismantle Hamas’ governance mechanism.”
Auerbach added, “The Israeli army’s plan is to use overwhelming air force, then encircle the targeted areas, and make a more intense incursion into Hamas areas so that it can control them over time.”
He pointed out that neither Israel nor Hamas are focusing their efforts on all areas equally, which creates pockets that Israel has already controlled, and other areas where Hamas has focused its resistance, making it more difficult for the Israeli army.
“There is a gap between what politicians say and that Hamas is on the verge of collapse, but the countdown to the end of Hamas is premature,” Milstein said, adding that “even if Sinwar is assassinated, there will still be resistance.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said on Monday that Hamas was approaching a “breaking point” in northern Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Hamas fighters to “surrender or die.”
Milstein said, “There are many goals on the way, and there are many expectations for the Israelis, but this will be a long and exhausting war, and we will not see a mass surrender of Hamas, and there will be no specific point in time at which Israel can say that it has reached its goal.”