Why is Israel dropping bombs on the homes of Hamas leaders? Expert explains their tactic

Beyond hundreds of purely military targets, at least seven residential houses or residences, where Hamas leaders once lived, were turned into rubble by the Israeli Defense Forces. Revenge? Gen. Skrzypczak comments: - One should also destroy the properties of people living off terrorism.

- Fighters attacked over one hundred targets of terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, destroying tunnel entrances, ammunition warehouses, and dozens of operational headquarters. During the attacks, the IDF and Shin Bet eliminated a terrorist who served in the naval forces of the terrorist organization Hamas. The terrorist participated in murderous terrorist operations in the Gaza Strip. A terrorist unit associated with the air forces of the terrorist organization, which planned to launch rockets at an airplane, was thwarted - the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Friday.

However, in recent days the IDF has also reported targets that could be considered unusual. Since October 11th, at least seven residential houses have been turned into rubble, later described as residences belonging to Hamas leaders. On October 12th alone, five houses in Gaza, where Hamas militants were staying, were destroyed.

In one of them, the brother of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was said to be. He was by no means innocent. Muhammad Sinwar became famous in 2022 for an interview with the Arabic station Al Jazeera, in which he said that "firing rockets at the capital of Israel is as natural as drinking water". He commented this way on the operation codenamed "Guardians of the Wall", during which 4,400 rockets were fired. They killed 15 Israelis and injured hundreds of bystanders.

On October 17, in an Israeli airstrike on a home belonging to the family of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, 14 people were killed, including his brother and nephew. Haniyeh himself lives in Qatar, from where he runs the organization. In the version of events reported by Palestinian media, innocent people were killed. According to "The Times of Israel" that day, military targets were being bombed, and as a result of the airstrikes, the chief of the Central Brigade of Gaza's Hamas, a higher-ranking commander of this organization, was killed.

- Israel's tactic involves destroying all objects that are identified as associated with Hamas. That it's a residential building doesn't matter much, if there are terrorists inside. This is also a symbol, because people living off of terror also need to have their properties destroyed and targeted - comments for WP gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak, former commander of the land forces.

- There is a vast difference between the average Palestinian and the leaders of Hamas in terms of accumulated wealth. The latter live in residences, built with the money from sponsors who are interested in fueling the war with Israel - he explains.

- The elite of terrorists live in isolation from the realities of the street. Their other face is spreading terror against their own people. Burning to the ground every manifestation of opposition to the war with Israel. Does anyone really believe that an ordinary Palestinian agrees to die in the rubble of Gaza? I do not. I believe that ordinary Palestinians are the victims here - continues Gen. Skrzypczak.

He emphasizes that he was in the Gaza Strip. A few years ago, he observed Israeli military exercises. At that time, as if on cue, Hamas launched 12 rockets, which were shot down by the "Iron Dome" system.

Let us remind you that the expected start of Israel's land invasion in the Gaza Strip, essentially to the main city - Gaza, is expected. It was from there on Saturday, October 7, that an attack by Hamas emerged, ending in massacres of hundreds of Israeli civilians. Hamas fighters took about 300 hostages, who - it is estimated - will be shielding themselves from the army's reprisals. The Israeli army has called for the evacuation of the Gaza populace, across the river south of the city.

From the video footage, it is clear that the Israeli aviation is using Spice guided bombs to demolish houses belonging to Hamas members, with a mass of up to 1984 pounds. Even the name of the bombs is telling, it's an acronym for the English words: "intelligent, precision strike, cost-effective".

Some military experts suggest that the activities of close associates and family members of Hamas leaders are under constant observation. Why? Anticipating Israel's obvious response, the organization's leaders left their homes before a spectacular attack occurred. They are hiding in an underground shelter system in Gaza. One can locate them by tracking close associates or coworkers.

The first home of a Hamas member was demolished on October 8, the day after the massacre in Israel. The IDF announced that the property belonged to the head of the organization, Yahya Sinwar, himself. He is the most sought-after individual by Israeli military intelligence. Subsequently, the home of the head of Hamas intelligence in the Gaza Strip was turned into smoking ruins. The IDF claims that this building was used by the terrorist group as a military infrastructure.

On October 11, the house of Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas's armed wing, who planned the October 7 attack, was turned into rubble. Palestinian media reported that Deif's brother - Medhat, perished in the rubble. As we already informed, Israel has been hunting Deif for 20 years. His wife and two children were killed in similar bombings, and he himself lost an eye, an arm, a leg, and was injured in the spine. As a result, French media commented that "he is being killed on the installment plan." In 2021, he managed twice to leave the building just before being hit by a bomb or a missile.

- I assess the Israeli strikes as precise, even surgical. They don't make mistakes, this is not the retaliation we've observed being carried out by Russia in Ukraine. There it was random shelling. I believe that the Israeli army is prolonging airstrikes and perhaps will not decide to enter Gaza itself. A storm into the city would cost the lives of hundreds of soldiers - sums up Gen. Skrzypczak.