Analysis: The psychological warfare of operation “Breaking Dawn”
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s leaders are feeling the sword hanging over their heads, coupled with the sense that the IDF knows their secret hiding places and exact locations, headquarters, and weapon depots
Cmdr. (res.) Eyal Pinko
| 07/08/2022
Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, this morning. Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via REUTERS
In a lethal, surgical strike based on real-time intelligence, the Israeli Air Force killed on Friday (August 5th) Tayseer al-Jabari, commander of the northern branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Following his elimination, the air force attacked a string of targets identified with Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
Thus began operation “Breaking Dawn”, whose official goal is to thwart the terror organization’s hostile activities. Various other PIJ officials were also killed by the IDF in this operation.
At the time of writing, Hamas – which controls the Gaza Strip – is sitting on the sidelines without responding militarily. The IDF has also been refraining from including Hamas in this combat.
Time is now working against Islamic Jihad members. The terror organization’s assets and infrastructure are eliminated by the IDF, which delivered a surprise, painful opening blow. PIJ’s armament stocks, anti-tank missiles, rockets and other means of attack, are dwindling.
As of yet, the rocket attacks it has been carrying out against Israel are generally ineffective, most intercepted or hitting open areas, and the organization has not yet managed to produce military accomplishments.
Furthermore: Hamas has not joined the campaign against Israel and has not been aiding the Islamic Jihad. Moreover, it has been holding discussions with international and Arab entities to restore calm.
PIJ has also failed to register success on the internal, Palestinian front: it is criticized for starting this round and for being responsible for the damages caused by the IDF, as well as for the decision to close the crossings into Israel – which has been economically harmful to Gazans.
All of the above have a deep psychological impact on various levels: the internal one in the Gaza Strip, and the external one vis-à-vis the international community in general and the Arab world in particular.
This psychological impact has several elements, the first of which is the pressure from home and abroad by not supporting PIJ, and the second – the understanding that IDF strikes are lethal, precise, intelligence-based and avoid harming uninvolved civilians.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s leaders are feeling the sword hanging over their heads, coupled with the sense that the IDF knows their secret hiding places and exact locations, headquarters, and weapon depots.
This feeling is further intensified by the constant aerial noise of dozens of fighter jets, helicopters and UAVs, hovering above ready to attack at any moment. The maritime siege and closed crossings have been adding to the pressure.
Until now, the IDF and the Israeli defense arena have demonstrated an impressive performance that includes top coordination and the ability execute tasks quickly and successfully.
All of the above has greatly contributed to the psychological arena of this latest round of combat, not only on the Islamic Jihad but also on all of the other entities mentioned. It is important that Israel continues the operation along these lines, without involving Hamas, and further increases its psychological warfare against the terror organization and against Iran.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s leaders are feeling the sword hanging over their heads, coupled with the sense that the IDF knows their secret hiding places and exact locations, headquarters, and weapon depots
Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, this morning. Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via REUTERS
In a lethal, surgical strike based on real-time intelligence, the Israeli Air Force killed on Friday (August 5th) Tayseer al-Jabari, commander of the northern branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Following his elimination, the air force attacked a string of targets identified with Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
Thus began operation “Breaking Dawn”, whose official goal is to thwart the terror organization’s hostile activities. Various other PIJ officials were also killed by the IDF in this operation.
At the time of writing, Hamas – which controls the Gaza Strip – is sitting on the sidelines without responding militarily. The IDF has also been refraining from including Hamas in this combat.
Time is now working against Islamic Jihad members. The terror organization’s assets and infrastructure are eliminated by the IDF, which delivered a surprise, painful opening blow. PIJ’s armament stocks, anti-tank missiles, rockets and other means of attack, are dwindling.
As of yet, the rocket attacks it has been carrying out against Israel are generally ineffective, most intercepted or hitting open areas, and the organization has not yet managed to produce military accomplishments.
Furthermore: Hamas has not joined the campaign against Israel and has not been aiding the Islamic Jihad. Moreover, it has been holding discussions with international and Arab entities to restore calm.
PIJ has also failed to register success on the internal, Palestinian front: it is criticized for starting this round and for being responsible for the damages caused by the IDF, as well as for the decision to close the crossings into Israel – which has been economically harmful to Gazans.
All of the above have a deep psychological impact on various levels: the internal one in the Gaza Strip, and the external one vis-à-vis the international community in general and the Arab world in particular.
This psychological impact has several elements, the first of which is the pressure from home and abroad by not supporting PIJ, and the second – the understanding that IDF strikes are lethal, precise, intelligence-based and avoid harming uninvolved civilians.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s leaders are feeling the sword hanging over their heads, coupled with the sense that the IDF knows their secret hiding places and exact locations, headquarters, and weapon depots.
This feeling is further intensified by the constant aerial noise of dozens of fighter jets, helicopters and UAVs, hovering above ready to attack at any moment. The maritime siege and closed crossings have been adding to the pressure.
Until now, the IDF and the Israeli defense arena have demonstrated an impressive performance that includes top coordination and the ability execute tasks quickly and successfully.
All of the above has greatly contributed to the psychological arena of this latest round of combat, not only on the Islamic Jihad but also on all of the other entities mentioned. It is important that Israel continues the operation along these lines, without involving Hamas, and further increases its psychological warfare against the terror organization and against Iran.
