Tactics of Israel and Hamas in Final? Phase of Gaza War

Image Courtesy Yourcommonwealth.org

The Israel and Hamas war may be entering the final phase at least in this iteration. The intense rivalry may conflagrate again but for now may be going through a deep political negotiation phase.

Reuters reported that Israeli hostages may be released as early as on October 10 under a US Plan with the first part of the partial withdrawal by Israel to commence within 24 hours of the agreement being accepted by both sides.

This comes just a day after the second anniversary of ghastly terrorist attack by the Hamas in Israel on October 07, 2023.

Like all wars, partial exhaustion of warring parties leads to accepting the process of negotiations.

How did this exhaustion come about though both Israel and Hamas would loathe to accept that they are negotiating from a position of weakness.

War tactics in what can be called as the final phase of the operation would denote that indeed exhaustion had taken place.

A brief look at these tactics would prove useful from purely a military perspective.

Firstly, Israel Defence Forces [IDF] followed the classic clear, hold and secure strategy expanding from one bound to another into the devastated panorama of Gaza city.

Employing air and artillery fire pockets were cleared and a pivot established from where drone and aerial surveillance was carried out essentially electronically to identity Hamas small teams and neutralise them.  This was always a difficult task given that the resistance group had by now split into smaller cells and operated mostly underground.

This turned out to be a long and tiring mission frequently boring for the leading elements of the IDF.

Now the Hamas, with a denuded strength but never short of new recruits primarily because many young men who have lost their homes and families in the devastating attacks by the IDF in the past 24 months of war have nowhere to go except for embracing anti-Israel terrorist groups. The promise of the gun, money and revenge are ideal motivators.  The old maxim kill one and create 100 terrorists holds sway here.

Organised in small cells of three to four these foot soldiers with little training but high level of motivation operates stealthily without providing an open target for the IDF.

Equipped with sniper rifles and rocket launchers the fighters pop up when the IDF front line troops are exhausted or bored thus providing an easy target, strike and disappear into the vast tunnel network of the group.

This is a war of exhaustion which can be exasperating for the conventional soldier but extremely enticing for the guerrilla fighter giving him a sense of victory over a vastly superior enemy.

Yet it would be evident to both sides that there are no wins in this long battle only death, destruction and fatigue.

It is not surprising then that when US President Donald Trump determinedly pushed, cajoled and threatened the leaders of the two sides they were willing to compromise at least for the time being.

The axiom that small tactics determine big strategy in an insurgency was once again proven, perhaps until the next phase of fighting.

Sadly, this is the wont of the people of Palestine and Israel who have chosen a path not to live and let live what ever be the politics behind these decisions.