A Major Pivot in Hamas Strategy

The Hamas-led attack on Israel constitutes a major deviation in strategy since the group took control of Gaza in 2007. For the past 16 years, Hamas has worked to present itself to the international community as a legitimate political entity. While it has never stopped espousing violence in pursuit of jihad, it has also garnered popular support through social services and governance in Gaza and implemented a well-laid strategic communications strategy highlighting its internal governance and foreign policy. Meanwhile, its attacks have generally targeted adults, whom the group sees as legitimate targets. Though it has also indiscriminately targeted civilians through rocket attacks or suicide bombings, the group viewed these civilian casualties as collateral damage. This time, however, was different, with the group’s decision to explicitly target vulnerable groups like children and the elderly...

Read the full article at the War on the Rocks website.