Fear
of Isolation and Collapse Driving Hamas's Violent Extortion Racket
by Yaakov Lappin
Special to IPT News
March 29, 2019
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When it seized power in a 2007 violent coup, Hamas thought it would turn
the Gaza Strip into a shining example of Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood
rule, and a spearhead of the jihadist long-term war on Israel.
Fast forward 12 years, and Hamas's de facto state is facing economic
collapse, a break-down of its infrastructure, regional isolation, and a
population that is increasingly fearless about expressing its anger at Hamas over the hopeless
situation it is in.
In its 12 years as the sovereign regime of Gaza, Hamas has tried to
dance at two weddings, staying true to its terrorist DNA on the one hand,
while trying to act like a legitimate government on the other, in charge of
law and order and basic services. This 'identity crisis' has helped drive
Gaza to the edge of an abyss, and Hamas is now desperately looking for
something, or someone, to provide relief.
Hamas prioritized its military wing above all else, and Gaza's civilians
have been left with very little. Today, Hamas is isolated, facing pressure
from Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel, and the more that it
feels like it is in the corner, the more it is prepared to take risky steps
to try and find a way out of its distress.
During the past year, Hamas felt that Gaza's economic situation was
increasingly approaching implosion. To avoid this crisis point, Hamas
employed a policy of 'controlled escalation' to pressure Israel, Egypt, and
the international community to find a solution – namely, international
donors and an opening of border crossings, as well as the establishment of
a seaport.
In essence, Hamas has been engaged for the past year in a mass extortion
scheme, which continues to this day, and which could soon come to a head.
Hamas refuses to stop mass producing rockets and pointing them at Israeli
cities, and refuses to stop trying to orchestrate mass casualty terror cells in the West
Bank. At the same time, it demands free access to the outside world, and
claims security restrictions against it are part of an 'unjust siege' that
must be lifted.
In recent days, Hamas has again escalated the security situation with
Israel, terrorizing southern Israeli civilians with rocket attacks.
While there is some speculation over what exactly caused this latest
round of fighting, it is beyond doubt that Hamas is feeling the heat from
new protests by Palestinians trapped under its rule. This is pressure could
turn into new fuel for Hamas's extortion campaign. The more internal
pressure Hamas feels, the more likely it is to try and divert that pressure
outwards, primarily at Israel, and also at its internal arch rival, the Palestinian
Authority.
The long-range rocket that destroyed an Israeli home north of Tel Aviv
in recent days, setting off the latest flare-up, was produced in a Hamas
weapons factory, and fired from a Hamas position, according to the IDF. The rocket itself is a timely
reminder of the resources and effort Hamas pours into creating a mass
rocket base in Gaza. Together with Iranian proxy Palestinian Islamic Jihad,
Gaza's combined arsenal stands at an estimated 20,000 rockets.
Things could come to a head Saturday, when Hamas plans mass marches and
potential border violence to mark Palestinian "land day." Similar
Hamas-organized disturbances during the past year have included grenade
attacks, bomb attacks, and attempted border intrusions. Hamas operatives
have frequently used human shields to threaten the Israeli border and
nearby communities.
This has forced the IDF to take action to defend the Israeli border. If
similar scenes occur on Saturday, and Gazan rioters sustain casualties,
Gaza's terrorist factions could respond by renewing rocket fire on Israeli
civilians.
This time, however, a new escalation could result in an Israeli ground
offensive. The IDF completed preparations Thursday for the possibility of
new Gazan attacks, by mobilizing large numbers of ground forces to the
border with "Hamastan."
Infantry brigades, artillery, and armored units are all parked on the
Gaza border, and leave has been canceled for all combat units in the IDF
Southern Command. Israel's message seems clear: If Hamas starts firing on
Israeli cities again, it will risk an Israeli ground invasion.
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IDF retaliatory strikes
targeted key Hamas buildings.
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This message comes after Israel seems to have gained all the mileage it
could from air strikes on terror targets in Gaza. In recent days, during
the escalation that began with a Hamas rocket strike on an Israeli home injuring several of its inhabitants, the Israel Air
Force has fired on multi-story buildings that have served Hamas's
military wing. The targets included the offices of Hamas chairman Ismael
Haniyeh in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood, the Hamas Internal Security
building in northern Gaza, which conducted hostile military activities, and
a secret Hamas military intelligence building in central Gaza.
These are high value Hamas assets, but the air force did not bomb
Hamas's senior commanders themselves, who were likely using Gaza's
civilians as human shields, hiding in crowded multi-story buildings, or in
bunkers underneath them. As a result, Israel is threatening ground forces
action if Hamas escalates again.
The coming days and weeks will reveal whether Israel's new posture can
cause Hamas to scale back its extortion campaign, before the situation
deteriorates into a new conflict.
Yaakov Lappin is a military and strategic affairs correspondent. He
also conducts research and analysis for defense think tanks, and is the
Israel correspondent for IHS Jane's Defense Weekly. His book, The
Virtual Caliphate, explores the online jihadist presence.
Related Topics: Yaakov
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Strip, protests,
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protests, Gaza
economy, land
day, IDF,
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