The Israeli administration is intensifying its campaign against Hamas terrorists in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7 attacks, drawing from a strategy that has shaped national defense for decades. Analysts, including former Israeli generals, have linked the current operations to the post-Munich approach of retribution and deterrence, emphasizing that the goal is to neutralize threats and prevent future violence. This doctrine has been applied in notable cases such as the pursuit of Osama bin Laden after 9/11 and the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, with Israeli intelligence agencies working to ensure such terrorists do not live to old age. The recent elimination of Hamas leaders like Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar underscores the continuity of this strategy.
Meanwhile, security agencies are employing advanced intelligence techniques, blending human sources, cyber capabilities, and surveillance to track down perpetrators of the Oct. 7 massacres, which saw over 1,400 Israelis killed and hundreds of hostages taken. The IDF has confirmed the deaths of key figures, including Hasan Mahmoud, who led the brutal attack on a bomb shelter in Kibbutz Re’im, and Yousef Mahmoud, the head of the Hamas cell responsible for the Kibbutz Alumim raid. The targeting of these individuals, along with others like Mahmoud Afana and Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Awad, reflects a broader effort to dismantle Hamas’s leadership and operational structures.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to pursue justice against Hamas, echoing historical sentiments expressed after the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, where Israeli athletes were killed. Former IDF General Amos Yadlin explained that the post-Munich doctrine aims to deter future attacks, prevent retaliation, and deliver retribution. This same principle guided the United States in its post-9/11 efforts, which saw the elimination of al-Qaeda’s top leadership. Today, the IDF is leveraging advanced technologies such as drones and satellite imagery to identify and strike at Hamas operatives, demonstrating a sophisticated and persistent commitment to neutralizing terrorist threats.
Historical parallels are also evident as the IDF mirrors past strategies used during the Second Intifada, when high-profile terrorists like Aziz Salha were identified and eliminated. The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency, has established a dedicated center to focus exclusively on the perpetrators of the Oct. 7 attacks. Former Shin Bet agent Lior Akerman noted that the agency has used intelligence from multiple sources, including testimonies, investigations, and photographs, to track down and eliminate Hamas members. This approach has led to the successful targeting of several key figures, including the recent killing of the Hamas political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, during his inauguration visit to Tehran.
The ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas’s leadership and infrastructure are part of a broader strategy that includes the potential acceptance of U.S.-led peace plans, as some analysts suggest that Hamas might agree to release hostages as part of negotiations. While the scale of the Oct. 7 attacks is unprecedented, the methods used to track and eliminate perpetrators remain consistent. This reflects a long-standing Israeli policy that combines intelligence, military action, and strategic diplomacy to address terrorism, ensuring that those responsible for violence are held accountable.