With the announcement of entering the third phase of the ground operation in Gaza, the occupying army has begun to employ new tactics aimed at reducing the number of soldiers while focusing on specific qualitative operations.
In response to the changing nature of Israeli operations, Palestinian resistance factions have also adjusted their defensive tactics, increasingly relying on sniping in recent times.
According to a report by Mahmoud Al-Kunn for Al Jazeera, this shift in the resistance’s behavior – according to military experts – aims at draining the occupying army, as the resistance has inflicted significant losses on officers and soldiers.
In such wars, holding and retaining territory is crucial, not just entering or temporarily controlling it, as experts assert.
In this context, resistance fighters appeared to be encircling Israeli forces stationed in various cities and areas in Gaza, as shown in the videos they broadcast.
Additionally, resistance snipers have enjoyed more freedom of movement and targeting during the third phase of the war compared to previous stages where Israeli firepower density was the main focus.
The Al-Qassam Brigades – the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) – have utilized locally manufactured “Ghoul” sniper rifles and Chinese anti-armor “M99” rifles with a range of up to 1.5 kilometers.
Snipers require specialized training, as they must conceal themselves, identify high-value targets, and accurately hit them from hundreds of meters away.
