Hamas Is Paving The Way Towards A Deterrence Equation Similar To That Of Hezbollah

Local Editor

The Arab affairs commentator on “Israel’s” Channel Two, Ehud Yaari, said that Monday’s rocket attack carried out by Hamas was planned.

He noted that the movement is fully aware of the fact that the “Israelis” will do the utmost to avoid a full-scale confrontation in Gaza.

In an article he wrote, Yaari explains that Hamas sent a message to Tel Aviv stating: "Either it stops the attacks now, and we will stop the bombing or we will expand the range of rocket fire."

He also spoke about a “Salvo-for-Salvo” policy. Yaari believes that messages from Hamas leave the Kitchen Cabinet in a dilemma; either to stop and prevent a more continuous round [of fighting] or to retaliate to attacks to cause hits.

He adds that Hamas has taken note of the deterrence that Hezbollah has achieved against "Israel".

"The movement’s [Hamas’] political bureau head Yahya al-Senwar, who understands Hebrew and speaks it, will seek to avoid entering into a full-scale confrontation at any price. Thus, Hamas is applying force in the rounds [of fighting] to achieve this deterrence," Yaari writes. 

According to Yaari, the decision to unleash projectiles by Hamas on Monday is not one taken lightly.

Launching a Kornet missile onto a bus is not a decision made by a low-ranking official. But rather part of a strategy aimed at deterring "Israel", applying a variable level of violence and establishing an equation where “Hamas and its partners retaliate to everything." He adds that the decision to launch rockets is a decision transferred by Hamas to the common war room shared by all Palestinian organizations.

Source: Hebrew Media, Translated by website team