Israeli Analysts on Hamas and Hezbollah
Israeli analysts have confirmed that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is not significantly impacted by the assassination of its military leaders. Roni Shaked from the Truman Institute at the Hebrew University stated that the assassination of Hamas military leader Muhammad Deif will not affect the movement's operations. He emphasized that the ongoing war has not altered the fundamental nature of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. Despite continuous military pressure over the past nine months, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has not shown any signs of surrender.
Tamir Hayman, head of the National Security Research Institute at Tel Aviv University, noted that the General Security Agency (Shin Bet) is primarily responsible for the assassinations of Hamas’ military leaders. He mentioned that Shin Bet has been setting up ambushes and traps for these leaders since the beginning of the war. The Israeli Air Force is poised to launch airstrikes based on intelligence without requiring a political decision. The focus now is on exploiting the situation in Gaza to recover kidnapped individuals.
Israeli journalist Eddie Cohen pointed out that Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, recently gave a speech claiming that Hamas had prepared deceptive plans for the Shin Bet and Israeli security services. This raises questions about the effectiveness of Israeli intelligence.
Hezbollah's Rising Pressure
On the Lebanon front, Itay Blumenthal, a military affairs correspondent, reported that Hezbollah has started using a new type of drone, the Shahed-101. These electric drones are quieter and harder to detect compared to the previously used fuel-powered Ababil drones. Former Israeli Air Force Commander Zvika Haimovich described the Shahed-101 as a 'time bomb' due to its potential for causing significant damage with a single strike.
Mohamed Deif, a key figure in Hamas, has been a central target for Israeli forces. Known for his elusiveness and survival skills, Deif has survived multiple assassination attempts. The Israeli Army recently bombed the 'humanitarian zone' of Mawasi in Gaza, aiming to target Deif and Rafa Salama, commander of the Khan Yunis brigade. The attack resulted in significant casualties among Palestinians.
Deif, born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, has been involved with Hamas since the First Intifada in 1987. He has been on Israel's most wanted list since 1995 for his role in planning numerous attacks. Despite multiple assassination attempts, Deif continues to evade capture, living in the shadows and avoiding modern technology to prevent tracking.
If Deif's death is confirmed, it would deal a significant blow to Hamas, as he has been a key figure in the group's military strategy. The military wing of Hamas, led by Deif and Yahya Sinwar, has overshadowed the political wing, with the military core having the final say in negotiations for a ceasefire.
