Hamas actions in West Bank confirm 'deterrence erosion': Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
27 Aug 2023 14:06

Israeli media outlets reveal that the Israeli military and security establishment are facing an acute dilemma that grows deeper as the link between Hamas and West Bank operations becomes clearer.

Palestinian members of the Ezzeddine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, take part in a gathering in Gaza on January 31, 2016 (AFP)

The Israeli security and military establishments are falling into a steep rabbit hole; the more Hamas publicly claims responsibility or indirectly hints at affiliation with operations carried out in the West Bank, the more the "erosion of deterrence theory" becomes a factual reality, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

This is posing an acute dilemma to the Israeli leadership, which has not worked to change the set deterrence equation, the media added.

In recent months, a divergence of views appeared within the security establishment about increasing the permits issued to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to work within occupied territories, the news outlets revealed.

Arguing against raising the workers' quota, some parties within the occupation army and the Shin Bet are saying that while the Resistance movement "Hamas is interested in increasing the number that now stands at 18,000 by several thousand others, in order to improve the economic situation in the sector," Resistance operations are expanding and increasing, the report said.

"Sanctions must be imposed on Hamas, and the movement must not be given a prize that increases its strength within the sector," parties calling for a heavier embargo on the Strip are suggesting, as per Israeli media outlets.

In the same context, Israeli media said Hamas' public claim of responsibility for the Huwara operation is a challenge on its part to the Israeli security and military establishments and an expression of its intention to intensify operations in the occupied West Bank in the coming weeks.

Israeli Channel 13 claimed that factions in Gaza and Lebanon fear the explicit return of Israeli-targeted assassinations of Resistance leaders in the wake of the growing wave of operations, especially after Hamas claimed responsibility for the operation that led to the death of two Israelis in Huwara earlier this week.

Hamas declared it is ready to take on the risks, including the assassination of its seniors by Israeli occupation attacks, and increase its operations.

This will lead to an escalation that Hamas is ready for, the media outlets said, warning that the coming week will be "very tense".

Unprecedented defeat

In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen published on Friday, Hamas deputy politburo chief Saleh Al-Arouri said the Israeli occupation entity made numerous decisions regarding assassinations, including Resistance top members such as Mohammed Al-Dayf, adding that many attempts on his life were carried out, one of which ultimately killed his family.

Al-Arouri here threatened the Israeli occupation entity that returning to the assassination policy might trigger a regional war, confirming, however, that the Resistance Axis "is prepared and motivated by reason, will, and common interests to partake in a regional war, and the active parties are ready and prepared for it."

"If we reach the point of an all-out confrontation, Israel will face an unprecedented defeat in its history, and we are confident of that."