Hamas Army Preparing for New War

by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

(IsraelNN.com)

The defacto Hamas government in Gaza is re-training its army and 

changing its tactics in preparation for what it believes will be 

another war with Israel, according to Staretegypage.com. Iran and 

Hizbullah are advising Hamas on how to overcome its failures against 

Israel’in the IDFs Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign 

earlier this year.

Hamas tactics in the war backfired. It told its fighters to dress in 

civilian clothes as a ploy to raise civilian casualties, but the IDF 

surprised it by pinpointing its attacks and warning civilians to 

leave areas before they were bombed.

Hamas has used the ceasefire, which Israel declared on condition that 

international monitors would be positioned along the Egyptian border 

to stop smuggling, to bring in advanced weapons through new tunnels 

that have been built.

The Hamas army now includes anti-aircraft missiles that have been 

provided by Iran. Israel Air Force planes were equipped with devices 

to deflect anti-aircraft missiles during Operation Cast Lead, but the 

newly-smuggled weapons are more advanced.

During the next war, Hamas’s army will remain in uniform and will use 

hit-and-run tactics instead of directly engaging Israeli troops, 

Strategypage.com reported.

Hamas has dismissed 40 commanders of its forces, which it is re- building with more discipline. It also is developing improved 

communications systems to protect senior leaders, many of whom were 

targeted by Israel.

One tactic that worked to a certain extent was the deployment of its 

army in schools and hospitals, which also were used as weapons 

depots, forcing the IDF to delay attacking unless it could be proven 

beyond a doubt that the facilities no longer were functioning for 

civilian purposes.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131113