An in-depth investigation by The New York Times has revealed Hamas’ fighting tactics in the Gaza Strip, which rely on guerilla warfare and infiltrating civilians.
The report, based on analysis of Hamas combat videos and interviews with Hamas fighters and IDF soldiers, describes the systematic exploitation of civilians and civilian infrastructure for military purposes, effectively holding Hamas responsible for the ongoing war, destruction, deaths and displacement in the region.
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Israel Defense Forces discover Hamas terror tunnel
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Office)
The report said Hamas operates an extensive network of tunnels spanning hundreds of miles, the extent of which has astonished IDF commanders, making it easier to move fighters and weapons across its territory without detection by the Israeli military.
Moreover, Hamas deliberately blurs the line between civilians and fighters, hiding terrorists, tunnels and ammunition depots in residential buildings, medical facilities, UN offices and mosques.
The report reveals that Hamas terrorists wear civilian clothing, sometimes sandals or tracksuits, before opening fire on IDF soldiers, attaching explosives to vehicles, and firing rockets from civilian areas. They also plant bombs in abandoned buildings and leave signs indicating the presence of belligerents to lure soldiers to these buildings.
Hamas’ fighting strategy includes using civilians, including children, as lookouts and informants. The group signals to operatives which homes are being used as weapons caches or tunnel shafts with agreed-upon markings, such as red cloth draped from windows or graffiti.
The report notes that international law prohibits the military use of civilian infrastructure and stresses that Hamas’ tactics contribute to the ongoing destruction and growing displacement in Gaza. The strategy, it says, aims to prolong the fighting and intensify international criticism of Israel, even at the expense of continued harm to Palestinian civilians.
Israeli military officials claim that these tactics have complicated the fighting and caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, saying the threat of booby traps and hidden weapons has forced them to invade large numbers of homes and destroy civilian infrastructure.
Hamas officials have denied some of the accusations. Qatar-based Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk argued that criticizing Hamas for using civilian clothing and storing weapons in civilian homes was a distraction from Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
The report noted that despite the high civilian casualties in Gaza, Hamas’ strategy has helped the organization achieve some of its objectives. The war has tarnished Israel’s reputation around the world, deepened divisions in Israeli society, and put the existence of a Palestinian state back on the global agenda.
Israel claims to have killed more than 14,000 of Hamas’ 25,000 fighters – a figure that cannot be verified and is open to debate, but if accurate suggests that thousands are still active.
