As Israel’s security cabinet (“the cabinet”) approved a full-scale plan to expand its brutal war and potentially reoccupy the Gaza Strip, Palestinian resistance factions have raised their level of alert, preparing to confront what they see as an existential threat.
Following the cabinet’s Sunday night meeting, where the Netanyahu government agreed to a broader ground operation, field commanders from Gaza’s armed factions confirmed they are ready for every possible scenario, including a reoccupation attempt.
While media outlets reported that efforts are being made to finalise a prisoner exchange deal before President Donald Trump visits the region, resistance leaders said their battle readiness is not waiting for Israeli decisions.
Prepared for War: Resistance Strategy
Resistance factions see the current threat not as a new escalation but a continuation of the aggression that resumed on March 18, marked by relentless bombing, siege, starvation, and ethnic cleansing. Their military units have remained in a state of active readiness since the first day Israel resumed its assault.
Key field leaders told Al Jazeera that the resistance is not reactive—it anticipates and preempts. “We’ve never paused preparations. Our fighters have continued refining tactics and rebuilding capabilities throughout the war, even during the temporary ceasefire,” one commander explained.
They warned that any Israeli plan to reoccupy Gaza would fail disastrously, just as previous incursions have. “Gaza is not just land—it’s identity, resistance, and unbreakable spirit,” said a field commander. “We are not leaving. We will fight to the last breath.”
Battlefield Tactics and Combat Doctrine
Field insights revealed a clear outline of the resistance’s battle doctrine if Israeli forces attempt a broader invasion:
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- Deadly Precision Ambushes: Like recent traps in Beit Hanoun, Al-Tuffah, and Rafah, resistance fighters will rely on long-term surveillance, precise targeting, and kill zones to maximise Israeli military casualties.
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- Small, Mobile Combat Teams: Units of few highly trained fighters will operate independently in targeted areas, ensuring flexibility, speed, and lethal impact.
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Multi-Layered Weapons Use: Resistance fighters will deploy:
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- Yasin-105 anti-armor rockets
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- Anti-personnel IEDs
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- Sniper rifles and re-used Israeli shells
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- Booby-trapped entry points
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- Tunnel Warfare Returns: Damaged tunnel eyes are being repaired and repurposed. Al-Qassam’s recent video of fighters emerging from a tunnel in Beit Hanoun to destroy a military jeep highlights the underground threat’s revival.
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- No Evacuation of Captured Soldiers: Resistance has chosen not to relocate half of the captured Israeli soldiers, even though they are in recently evacuated areas—a bold message of deterrence.
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- Luring the Invaders: The strategy includes pulling Israeli forces deep into resistance strongholds, where they face prepared kill zones and defensive traps.
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- Capturing More Israeli Soldiers: A key objective of the resistance is to capture additional soldiers, which would undermine Israel’s stated war goal of rescuing hostages and force a rethink in Tel Aviv.
Expert Views: Warnings from Within Israel
Israeli analysts have begun raising red flags about Netanyahu’s plan:
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- Amos Harel, military analyst for Haaretz, wrote, “We are walking into another disaster in Gaza. Loss of soldiers and hostages is likely. And a deeper humanitarian catastrophe will follow.”
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- A Channel 12 correspondent added, “This plan brings noise but no real change. The army controls over 30% of Gaza, yet Hamas remains operational. No hostages have been freed. There is no meaningful breakthrough.”
Conclusion
From anti-tank missiles to underground offensives and urban warfare traps, the Palestinian resistance is shaping a new phase of the war. Far from being dismantled, their strategy is to drag Israel into a war of attrition—one it cannot win.
Gaza remains defiant. And any attempt to reoccupy it may prove costlier to the occupation than ever before.
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