Hamas leadership goes underground

[MIDDLE EAST] In a strategic move to counter Israeli military operations, Hamas has reportedly concealed the identities of its senior commanders, including the elusive Yahya Sinwar and the recently deceased Mohammed Deif. This tactic aims to protect key figures from targeted assassinations and maintain the organization's operational integrity.​

Strategic Concealment of Leadership

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has adeptly utilized Gaza's extensive tunnel network to elude Israeli forces. Avoiding electronic communications and relying on couriers, Sinwar has minimized detection risks. His survival strategies include using hostages as human shields, complicating Israeli targeting efforts. Despite multiple assassination attempts, Sinwar continues to influence Hamas operations from his concealed position. ​

Similarly, Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas's military wing, has been a persistent target of Israeli strikes. In July 2024, Israeli forces claimed to have targeted Deif in Khan Yunis, resulting in significant casualties. However, Hamas dismissed these claims as false, accusing Israel of attempting to cover up civilian deaths. It wasn't until January 2025 that Hamas officially confirmed Deif's death, acknowledging it as a consequence of the ongoing conflict. ​

Use of Civilian Infrastructure

Israeli military officials have accused Hamas of embedding its operations within civilian infrastructures, such as hospitals. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari alleged that Hamas uses facilities like Al Shifa Hospital as command centers and hideouts for commanders. Hamas has refuted these allegations, labeling them as baseless and accusing Israel of fabricating narratives to justify attacks on civilian areas. ​

Internal Security Measures

Internally, Hamas has intensified efforts to root out perceived collaborators. The Interior Ministry expressed concerns over Israeli attempts to recruit Palestinians as informants, alleging that Israeli agents pose as aid workers to gather intelligence. This has led to a series of targeted killings within Gaza, sparking panic and fears of widespread collaboration. ​

Israeli Intelligence Challenges

Despite Israel's advanced intelligence capabilities, several Hamas commanders previously reported killed have reappeared, raising questions about the accuracy of Israeli assessments. For instance, Haytham al-Khawajri, initially declared eliminated, was later seen attending a public event, prompting Israeli officials to acknowledge potential miscalculations. ​

Hamas's strategies of concealing leadership identities, integrating operations within civilian structures, and enforcing stringent internal security measures have significantly complicated Israeli military efforts. These tactics underscore the challenges faced by Israeli forces in targeting Hamas leadership and highlight the complexities of conducting operations within densely populated urban environments.