Innovating a lot: what are the IDF's priorities in war?

Israel conducts a ground operation in the Gaza Strip / Channel 24 Collage (photo: Getty Images)

Israel is conducting a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. The final goal of the first phase of the operation is to storm the hospital premises, in the underground of which the headquarters of Palestinian militants is located.

Military expert Grigory Tamar told Channel 24 about this. According to him, heavy street fighting continues between the IDF and Hamas militants.

How does the Israeli army operate?

Grigory Tamar noted that usually during a full-scale offensive, ground troops try to drive a wedge into the enemy’s defenses, in order to then make flanking maneuvers, turn around, cut off the enemy, and encircle him. However, the situation in the Gaza Strip is different.

There is no front as such. At any moment, the militants can go underground through the tunnels and disappear. Therefore, the Israeli army took, first of all, the northern sector into a double encirclement. The first one is aimed inside the circle, and the outer one is aimed in the other direction to avoid attempts to break through. The Israeli army acts like a boa constrictor. This is such an even tension on all sides,” he explained.

At the same time, heavy street fighting continues. Palestinian militants fired hundreds of anti-tank missiles at Israeli vehicles. The IDF suffered losses among its armored vehicles, with several tanks and armored personnel carriers damaged or destroyed. Also a week later, 30 Israeli soldiers were killed.

Hamas continues to fire rockets at Israeli rear areas. The fact is that the militants have mothballed underground launch sites where missiles are prepared. A timer is set there and activated remotely. Hamas precision is definitely not required. It is important for them that the missiles hit Israeli territory.

Gregory Tamar about the tasks of the IDF: watch the video

Innovation in the IDF

The IDF uses innovative technologies during combat operations. The military expert noted that previously there had been consultations between Israeli and Ukrainian officers in third countries, mainly in Poland and the Czech Republic.

At first they were between officers of the military medical service, then – expanded consultations on air defense, signal troops, and so on. Consultations continued for several months. However, they ended six months after the elections in Israel. However, it would be useful for both the IDF and the Ukrainian Armed Forces to restore them.

In the future, Ukraine will have to build its Air Force according to the NATO format. Israeli aviation is the best in the world. But today we also have something to learn from you. Israel has not waged a war on such a scale as in Ukraine for 50 years. We can exchange this experience for bilateral benefit in order to increase the combat effectiveness of our armies,” says Tamar.

War between Hamas and Israel: latest news

• The Israeli military attacked an ambulance in Gaza City. The IDF explained that the car was used by Hamas terrorists. The strike was carried out with the help of aviation. According to the Israeli army, several Hamas militants were killed during the strike.
• As part of an expanded ground operation, Israel succeeded in encircling the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces reached the Gaza coast as it attempted to encircle Palestinian militants and strike Hamas targets in Gaza.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the conditions for a ceasefire in Gaza. He stated that there would be no ceasefire without the release of the hostages.