The war that Hamas seeks against Israel “has just started,” Middle East expert says
The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is expected to escalate the long-standing insurgency he initiated against Israel, according to experts, as the group adapts its tactics in response to leadership losses.
Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, DC, told CNN that while Israel engages in a semi-conventional war with Hamas, it misinterprets the nature of the conflict. The group is pursuing “an open-ended insurgency” against Israeli forces in Gaza.
Ibish stated that Hamas’s struggle is just beginning, evolving into loosely organized cells of guerrillas and insurgents that operate without a centralized command structure. The group is likely to continue using simple, low-grade weapons, including pistols, small machine guns, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), allowing them to function effectively under challenging conditions, with fighters willing to die for their cause.
Ibish drew parallels to other nations facing non-state groups, such as the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and the US in Vietnam, highlighting that military actions often lead to stronger adversaries, as seen when Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon led to the rise of Hezbollah.
Frank Lowenstein, a former US Special Envoy for Middle East peace, cautioned that while Israelis might feel emboldened by Sinwar’s death, it should not be mistaken as a defeat for Hamas, as “there is no way to kill an ideology.” He also noted that Sinwar’s death creates a leadership vacuum in Gaza, which could hinder meaningful negotiations or agreements regarding a hostage ceasefire, a priority for the US.
This situation is not normal for human beings”: Israeli forces grapple with trauma as war in Gaza drags on
Eliran Mizrahi, a 40-year-old father of four, was deployed to Gaza following the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Upon returning, his family reported that he was traumatized by his experiences during the conflict. Six months later, he was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and, just before he was set to redeploy, took his own life.
His mother, Jenny Mizrahi, expressed the deep impact of his service, stating, “He got out of Gaza, but Gaza did not get out of him. And he died after it, because of the post-trauma.”
The Israeli military has stated that it is providing support for thousands of soldiers experiencing PTSD and other mental health issues due to the war. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not released official figures on the number of soldier suicides.
One year into the conflict, over 42,000 people have reportedly died in Gaza, according to the health ministry, with the UN noting that most casualties are women and children. The war, initiated after Hamas killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages, is now Israel’s longest since its establishment. As the conflict spreads to Lebanon, some soldiers express anxiety about being drafted into yet another war.
