During a recent interview, Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, discussed the implications of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s death. He shared his insights with CNN, expressing concerns that this loss could escalate the ongoing conflict with Israel. According to Ibish, as Hamas faces leadership challenges, the group’s strategies are evolving.
Ibish pointed out that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is characterized by unconventional warfare. He noted that Israel fails to grasp that Hamas aims to sustain “an indefinite insurgency against Israeli forces in Gaza.”
He emphasized that Hamas’s military efforts are “only just beginning” and have shifted to a structure consisting of dispersed, loosely organized units made up of guerrilla fighters and insurgents, which do not rely on a centralized command and control system.
Furthermore, Ibish indicated that Hamas may resort to using low-grade, less sophisticated weaponry, including handguns, small-caliber machine guns, and even homemade improvised explosive devices (IEDs). He pointed out that Hamas is capable of operating under harsh conditions because “their people are willing to die.”
Ibish drew parallels with other conflicts where nations faced challenges from non-state actors, mentioning past struggles such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Vietnam War, and Israel’s own experience during its 1982 invasion of Lebanon. He noted that while the aim was to expel the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from Beirut, it inadvertently led to the emergence of a more formidable Hezbollah.
