Hamas relies on aggressive guerrilla tactics and remains resilient

Hamas relies on aggressive guerrilla tactics and remains resilient

The deadly surprise attack in Gaza was almost as shocking as its location. On Monday evening, Israeli soldiers were crossing a battle route used by tanks and armored vehicles about a mile from the border fence when a bomb exploded.

The attack and its consequences

The remotely detonated bomb hit troops from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, a unit made up of ultra-Orthodox soldiers. Other Israeli forces quickly rushed to help when a second bomb, also remotely controlled, exploded. Just moments later, a third bomb detonated, followed by a hail of automatic gunfire from a Hamas cell hiding nearby.

Within minutes, five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 others were wounded, some seriously. The attack took place in the town of Beit Hanoun, in northeastern Gaza, clearly visible from the Israeli city of Sderot and in an area that was supposed to be under Israeli military control.

Change of strategy at Hamas

An initial investigation showed that the Hamas cell had planted the bombs within the previous 24 hours and was preparing an ambush against Israeli forces, which likely believed they were operating in relative safety so close to Israeli territory. This complex attack highlights Hamas' shift toward guerrilla tactics as the militant group, weakened after nearly 21 months of war, wages an insurgency against the Israeli military. Despite its weakened state, Hamas continues to carry out deadly attacks against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Attacks and loss numbers

Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have had to return to parts of Gaza several times, while Hamas has re-emerged in areas Israel deemed cleansed. The recent series of attacks shows that Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas remains very elusive. Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, described Monday's attack as one in an area the occupying force mistakenly believed was safe.

In a statement, Hamas called the war a "war of attrition" trying to recapture soldiers captured during the Oct. 7 attacks. “Even if it recently managed to miraculously free its soldiers from hell, it could fail later and leave us with more prisoners,” Hamas said.

Fight with modern means

On Wednesday, Hamas militants launched an attack on an Israeli engineering vehicle in Khan Younis, firing an anti-tank missile and attacking the vehicle while the driver tried to escape. According to the Israeli military, the militants attempted to kidnap the soldier, killing him in the process. The attempt was foiled by Israeli forces in the area. In a statement on Telegram two days later, Al-Qassam Brigades vowed that "the fate of the next soldier will be better as he will be our new prisoner."

Comparison of conflicts

The brutal and grueling war in Gaza stands in sharp contrast to Israel's rapid and precise operation in Iran, a campaign carried out without military casualties in the air and on land. At least 19 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, including the attack in Beit Hanoun, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On the day of the Israel-Iran ceasefire, a Hamas militant threw a firebomb beard into the open hatch of an armored engineering vehicle in southern Gaza, killing all seven soldiers inside. This attack was among the deadliest incidents for the IDF in Gaza in recent months.

The challenge for Israel

Former IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said in January that Israel had killed 20,000 Hamas fighters since the war began. Israel has also eliminated many of the terrorist organization's leaders. Still, Hamas has been recruiting new fighters, replenishing its ranks, according to a senior Israeli military official. In March, Israel's public broadcaster, Kan News, reported that Hamas had recruited "hundreds" of new fighters.

The current situation in Gaza

What remains is a loosely organized group of militant cells capable of carrying out ambush attacks and using what remains of Gaza's underground tunnel system to move and remain hidden. According to retired Maj. Gen. Israel Ziv, the former head of the IDF's Operations Directorate, Hamas has had time to study how the IDF operates and is using this to its advantage.

Hybrid warfare is becoming increasingly difficult to combat, especially when groups operate in a decentralized and independent manner, making it more challenging for Israel to attack a coherent leadership structure. Despite the difficulties, Hamas remains active and has found ways to continue the fight, exacting a heavy price as each week passes without a ceasefire.

Although talks are taking place in Doha and there are signs of some progress, a ceasefire remains elusive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during his recent visit to Washington, DC that Hamas must lay down its arms to give up its military and political control, otherwise Israel will continue the war.

But so far Hamas has shown no willingness to make such fundamental concessions in the negotiations. Recent attacks suggest they still hold a lot of power.