Gaza Herald_ As Israeli strikes continue across the Gaza Strip, repeated attacks on police officers and civilian law enforcement facilities have drawn growing attention. While Israeli authorities have not publicly framed these incidents as part of a broader campaign against Gaza’s police force, Palestinian analysts argue the pattern reflects a wider strategy aimed at weakening the institutions responsible for maintaining public order and social stability amid the ongoing war.
Security researchers and political analysts interviewed by our correspondent say the repeated targeting of police personnel extends beyond the immediate battlefield. In their view, the attacks are intended to erode Gaza’s internal resilience by disrupting civilian institutions, increasing social instability, and placing additional pressure on an already devastated population.
Targeting an Institution That Maintains Public Order
Security and military researcher Rami Abu Zubayda said the repeated strikes on police officers, headquarters, and vehicles suggest that Israel views the police force as a key pillar of Gaza’s internal stability rather than simply a civilian law enforcement agency.
He said recent incidents indicate that police have been targeted while carrying out routine civilian duties, including organizing marketplaces, securing humanitarian aid deliveries, protecting public property, and resolving local disputes.
According to Abu Zubayda, this reflects what he sees as a shift from primarily targeting military infrastructure to attacking institutions that help preserve the minimum level of public order during wartime.
He argued that police play a critical role in preventing the breakdown of security during armed conflict, warning that weakening the force could contribute to rising crime, greater disorder, and additional hardship for civilians already living under extraordinary conditions.
A Long-Term Strategy of Attrition
Political analyst Ibrahim Al-Madhoun believes the attacks form part of a broader strategy of sustained pressure, relying on repeated airstrikes and targeted killings rather than launching another full-scale military campaign.
Writing on the issue, Al-Madhoun argued that the continued targeting of Gaza’s civilian police and security institutions is intended to weaken Palestinian society over time.
He also questioned the limited international response, suggesting that the absence of stronger international pressure has allowed Israel to continue its operations with little restraint.
Creating a Security Vacuum
Both Abu Zubayda and Al-Madhoun argue that the repeated attacks are designed to create a security vacuum inside Gaza.
Abu Zubayda pointed to experiences from other conflict zones, where the collapse of law enforcement institutions has often been followed by increased criminal activity, the expansion of armed groups, and growing social instability.
Al-Madhoun similarly argued that weakening the police could create opportunities for criminal networks, looting, and other forms of lawlessness while reducing public confidence in the ability of civilian institutions to maintain order.
Political and Intelligence Dimensions
Abu Zubayda believes the attacks also carry political objectives by weakening Gaza’s civilian institutions and limiting their ability to resume governing responsibilities after the war.
He further suggested that there may be an intelligence dimension, arguing that police units involved in combating crime and uncovering suspected security breaches could themselves become targets because their work interferes with Israeli intelligence operations inside the territory.
Increasing Pressure on Civilians
Al-Madhoun argued that dismantling Gaza’s security structure is not an end in itself but a means of increasing pressure on Palestinian society by deepening the humanitarian crisis and making daily life increasingly difficult.
He added that the impact extends well beyond the police institution itself, as many of those killed leave behind families who lose fathers, sons, and husbands, compounding the social and psychological toll of the war.
Beyond Individual Targets
The two analysts conclude that the continued targeting of police officers reflects what they see as a broader shift from focusing primarily on military objectives to attacking civilian institutions that help preserve public order.
Abu Zubayda argued that the campaign is aimed not only at individual officers but also at undermining the very function of civilian law enforcement within Gaza.
Al-Madhoun described the attacks as harming both people and institutions, calling for stronger international action to protect civilians and civilian institutions operating in the Gaza Strip.
