The Joint Military Exercise in the Gaza Strip: Ostensible Strength in a Response to Weakness (Kobi Michael, Yohanan Tzoreff, INSS)

On December 28, 2020 a joint military exercise of the armed resistance organizations in the Gaza Strip was held. Led by Hamas, participants included 13 other organizations, including Islamic Jihad and groups of former Fatah members. In the large-scale exercise, rockets were launched toward the sea, attacks occurred on simulated IDF positions and included abductions of soldiers, and drones and other technologies were displayed. The exercise took place against the backdrop of a severe crisis in Gaza caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the failure of the reconciliation efforts with the Palestinian Authority, Arab countries seemingly sidelining the Palestinian issue, and concerns of another military conflict with Israel. In addition, the exercise occurred close to the anniversary of the killing of Qasem Soleimani. Hamas and the other participants sought to send a deterrent message to Israel, even though they are not interested in a conflict, and to demonstrate to the Palestinian public, which has been critical of them, that the resistance is alive and well, and growing stronger.