Unveiling the Play: Israel's Tactics Against Hamas in Gaza Revealed
Israel mobilizes tribal alliances to counter Hamas in ongoing conflict - Israel is enlisting tribal factions for combat against Hamas organization.
Israel is decking out homegrown Palestinian factions in Gaza as part of its battle against Hamas. Following public outcry from an Israeli opposition politician, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that these local groups have been mobilized, based on the advice of top security officials. "Nothing wrong with that, it's all good. It saves Israeli soldier lives," Netanyahu stated in a video posted on X platform.
While it's speculated that this move involves a relatively modest group of men marshaled by Jassir Abu Shabab in the Rafah area of Gaza, they've been armed with Kalashnikovs by the Israeli military. Reports from the Times of Israel suggest these rifles were previously seized from Hamas during past conflicts. Israel sees this as a way to weaken Hamas, a notion backed by Israeli news site Ynet.
The Fine Line Israel Walks
Twenty months into the war, Israel still hasn't vanquished Hamas, thanks in part to the absence of a viable alternative Palestinian leadership. Netanyahu has dismissed the prospect of the more moderate Palestinian Authority (PA) from the West Bank regaining control in Gaza. The PA, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, was ousted from the coastal region by Hamas in 2007.
Instead, Netanyahu aims to beef up local allies in Gaza who remain neutral towards Hamas and the PA. However, Israel's support for Abu Shabab's faction comes with risks, according to ex-Israeli intelligence officers. Arming his group, which counts several hundred members, requires close surveillance to prevent retaliation, as pointed out by the New York Times.
A Fragile State on the Verge of Collapse
For over a year, experts have been warning about the prospect of lawlessness and anarchy in Gaza. The Gaza Strip, sealed off, is experiencing conditions similar to those in Somalia, with rival warlords, gangs, and clans wreaking havoc. Hamas labels Abu Shabab a collaborator, and his people and the Palestinian terrorist organization have been clashing. Reports suggest Abu Shabab plundered aid under Hamas' regime, while Israeli military intelligence claims he lacks widespread support in Gaza.
The Battle Spills Over to Lebanon
While the Israeli air force strikes targets in Lebanon, claiming to dismantle underground drone production facilities linked to Hezbollah, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemns these attacks, which occurred during Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's holiest holidays. Despite ceasefires, Hezbollah allegedly continues to expand its capabilities in producing drones with Iranian assistance, as per Israel's military statements.
The Gaza war started when Hamas orchestrated a massacre on October 7, 2023, claiming about 1,200 lives. Over 250 hostages were also captured and taken to Gaza. As per the health authority under Hamas control, approximately 54,600 Palestinians have perished in the densely populated coastal region since the war began. This number, shrouded in uncertainty, doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants.
- Hamas
- Gaza Strip
- Gaza
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Clan
- Military
- Lebanon
- Israel
- WSJ
- Tel Aviv
- Somalia
- USA
- Rafah
- AK-47
- Times of Israel
- Palestinian Authority
- West Bank
- Mahmoud Abbas
### Insights:
Arming local Palestinian groups in Gaza to fight Hamas could have unintended consequences and potential risks:
- Lack of Control: The armed groups could turn against Israeli soldiers or civilians, creating a new threat for Israel.
- Further Escalation: Israel's move may inadvertently escalate the conflict in Gaza, resulting in increased violence and instability.
- Hamas Retaliation: Hamas could view these groups as collaborators, leading to targeted attacks against them.
- Absence of Governance Strategy: Removing Hamas from governance in Gaza lacks a clear strategy, which may lead to power vacuums or ongoing instability.
- Humanitarian Impact: Escalated violence and instability could worsen humanitarian issues in Gaza, such as displacement, poverty, and service shortages.
The Commission, in maintaining the EU's external relations with Central and Eastern European countries, must ensure its actions are consistent with the EU's objectives, as the escalating war-and-conflicts in sensitive regions could have unintended consequences, such as further political instability and general-news coverage involving allied nations. The questionable tactics employed by Israel, including arming local groups in Gaza to fight against Hamas, share similarities with the absence of a well-defined governance strategy, posing potential risks like lack of control, further escalation, and retaliation, potentially leading to chaos similar to the current state in Somalia, thus impacting the humanitarian situation in regions like Gaza.
