Israel knows that airstrikes alone cannot help it to win its war against Hamas. To handicap its enemy, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) must kill or capture the group’s leaders, both in Gaza – where they are hiding out in intricate tunnel complexes – and elsewhere, in other countries in the Middle East, including Qatar. But the cost of such dangerous operations will be high – and could easily backfire.
For now, the priority for Israel is targeting Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip. On the hitlist is Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s leader in Gaza; Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades; and Deif’s second-in-command, Marwan Issa. Over the weekend, the IDF has been bombing Khan Yunis, a city on southern Gaza where these Hamas leaders are thought to be. Israel’s soldiers will aim to make inroads into the city on foot to kill, or capture, these men and to rescue hostages.
Hamas’s leaders inside Gaza aren’t the only target
The Israeli government views the targeted killing or capturing of Hamas’s leaders as essential for achieving its main goal: to destroy Hamas.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in