The defense establishment is implementing an unprecedented policy in the Gaza Strip that includes granting immunity to mayors and senior officials in Hamas's governmental and municipal systems.
Military sources confirmed to Walla that the decision not to target heads of local Hamas authorities stems from a deep and tangible concern that killing them could lead to the collapse of governing institutions in the Gaza Strip and trigger civilian chaos that Israel would ultimately have to deal with.
This includes an assessment that international aid organizations would be unable to fill the power vacuum left by killing the Hamas officials.
As noted, the current government opposes the Palestinian Authority taking control of the Gaza Strip and demands that a third party administer the territory instead of Hamas.
IDF, Shin Bet to continue targeting Hamas terrorists
It is important to note, however, that the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) are maintaining a high operational pace, carrying out two to three targeted killings each day against terrorists and commanders in Hamas's military wing.
The killings include terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre, as well as others preparing attacks against Israel or taking part in rebuilding Hamas's terrorist infrastructure.
Behind the IDF and Shin Bet's new policy is a dramatic improvement in intelligence-gathering capabilities. Security officials note that over the past year, Military Intelligence Directorate units and the Shin Bet have made significant advances, including developing human intelligence sources and exploiting conditions on the ground to obtain accurate, real-time intelligence.
These capabilities are combined with the capabilities of the IDF Southern Command and the Israel Air Force.
The developments in intelligence stand in stark contrast to pre-October 7 capabilities, when Israeli intelligence suffered from a shortage of human sources in the Gaza Strip and relied on intelligence gathered from mobile phones. Today, the defense establishment is able to closely track senior terrorists and carry out targeted killings.
Conditions on the ground indicate that Hamas has been severely weakened. Terrorists now have fewer hiding places, fewer tunnels, and, above all, a significant shortage of senior commanders with operational experience who are familiar with Israel's security establishment and know how to operate under strict conditions.
Meanwhile, Hamas's military wing is working to rebuild its intelligence on IDF activity along the Yellow Line and deeper inside Gaza by gathering information through various methods.
Hamas maintains control over Gaza civil institutions
Despite the blows inflicted on Hamas by the IDF and Shin Bet, the terrorist organization continues to maintain control over the Gaza Strip's civilian administration.
It controls the economy, internal security, energy, education, healthcare, and local authorities, with all the implications this entails.
Even in areas where its grip appears weaker, Southern Command officials claim that the terrorist organization shapes public sentiment through arrests, interrogations, violence, and intimidation. One of the methods Hamas uses to control the population is highly coercive tax collection.
Israel fully understands that severely damaging these systems could have direct consequences for regional stability and provoke criticism in the international arena. Therefore, a decision has been made to keep senior civilian officials off the target list for the time being.
Alongside efforts to preserve civilian infrastructure, the IDF continues to act decisively against senior figures in Hamas's military wing.
Among other developments, the Southern Command and the Israel Air Force have developed advanced operational techniques over the past year that make it possible to carry out targeted killings even within densely populated tent compounds, while keeping collateral damage to an absolute minimum and preventing harm to innocent civilians.
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