Fearing chaos in the Strip: IDF grants "immunity" to senior Hamas officials

The Israeli security establishment is implementing an unprecedented restrictive policy in the Gaza Strip, granting immunity to mayors and senior officials in Hamas's governmental and municipal systems, out of fear that their elimination would lead to the collapse of governance systems and civil chaos. Meanwhile, the IDF and Shin Bet continue two to three targeted killings per day against members of the military wing.

The Israeli security establishment is pursuing an unprecedented policy of granting immunity to mayors and senior officials in Hamas's governmental and municipal systems in the Gaza Strip, fearing that their elimination would lead to the collapse of governance systems and civil chaos that would spill over into Israel. Military sources confirm that the decision stems from deep and tangible concern, including the assessment that international aid organizations would be unable to fill the void. The current Israeli government opposes the entry of the Palestinian Authority into the Strip and demands a third party to manage it instead of Hamas. Meanwhile, the IDF and Shin Bet continue at a high operational tempo of two to three targeted killings per day against operatives and commanders of the military wing, including those who took part in the October 7 massacre. Behind this policy lies a dramatic improvement in intelligence-gathering capabilities, including building human sources and exploiting the reality on the ground. Despite the blows dealt to Hamas, the organization continues to hold onto the civilian administration of the Strip: economy, internal security, energy, education, health, and local authorities. In areas where its grip is looser, it steers public sentiment through arrests, interrogations, violence, intimidation, and forceful tax collection. Israel understands that severe damage to these systems could affect regional stability and provoke international criticism.