Military expert Maj-Gen Fayez Al-Duwairi said that the killing of the commander of the Israeli army’s 401st Brigade in north Gaza indicates the nature of the resistance, praising the capabilities of the Jabalia camp battalion of Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing.
Al-Duwairi explained in his analysis of the military scene in Gaza, the commander’s killing was expected as soon as he reached the outskirts of Jabalia, considering the value of the event lies in his military rank targeted by the resistance.
The Israeli occupation army announced the killing of the commander of the 401st Brigade, Colonel Ihsan Daqsa, and the serious injury of another officer in battles in Jabalia. The 401st Brigade is part of the 162nd Division, which is an armored brigade.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Colonel Daqsa was killed and another officer was seriously injured in a battle inside the Jabalia camp, after boarding a tank that had an explosive device inside it.
Journalist Mohammed Khairi quoted Israeli sources confirming that Daqsa was killed after he got off his tank with other officers and walked 20 meters, where an explosive device that had been planted in the area exploded.
On Sunday, the Qassam Brigades broadcast scenes of its fighters targeting Israeli military vehicles with explosive devices and anti-tank shells, in addition to fierce clashes with Israeli special forces from short distances.
Al-Duwairi believes that no ordinary person can wage such a defensive battle as that being done by resistance fighters in Jabalia because of its “complications, extermination and displacement.” He stressed the resistance has “exceeded” itself.
Under these circumstances, the military expert says that even “the American special forces cannot fight at the level of the Jabalia camp battalion of the Qassam Brigades.”
Al-Duwairi explained the resistance is “decentralized” to increase its maneuverability, adding this is unlike previous ground battles whilst analyzing the Jabalia Battalion divided itself into cluster cells, each of 3 to 5 fighters, where its commander chooses the targets based on field data.
He explained the brigade commander came to the area with a group of officers after the military operations in Jabalia faltered despite 17 days after their launch.
He expected the deputy commander of the slain brigade to be chosen to lead the 401st Brigade “if he is not injured”, as a search is underway for another commander, indicating that the deputy commander of the brigade is usually aware of 85% of the field reality according to Al Jazeera.