Layers of Actors in the Israel-Gaza Conflict:

A Complex Web of Motives and Actions

The Israel-Gaza conflict, ongoing for decades but intensified since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, is a brutal and intricate struggle driven by a range of actors with varying motivations, power dynamics, and roles. Below, we analyze the “layers” of key groups within Gaza (Palestinian) and Israeli society, drawing on available evidence to illustrate their contributions to the conflict’s persistence and complexity. This analysis aims to underscore the multifaceted nature of the conflict and the challenges of achieving resolution.
Gaza (Palestinian) Side: Layers of Actors
1. Hamas Leadership and Elite

• Role and Motivations: The top layer consists of Hamas’s senior leadership, both political and military, who hold significant power and influence in Gaza. Leaders like Yahya Sinwar (until his reported death) and Ismail Haniyeh have historically controlled Hamas’s strategy, balancing ideological goals (e.g., resistance against Israel, establishing an Islamic state) with political survival and personal enrichment. Some reports suggest Hamas leaders have amassed wealth, with the BBC noting that Hamas stockpiled $700 million in cash in tunnels before October 2023, possibly for personal or organizational gain.
• Actions: This layer directs Hamas’s military operations, including the October 7 attack that killed ~1,200 Israelis and took ~250 hostages. They also control aid distribution, often diverting resources for military purposes or to maintain loyalty among supporters, as noted in reports of Hamas seizing aid convoys and selling food on the black market.
• Impact on Conflict: Their commitment to armed resistance and refusal to disarm (e.g., rejecting Arab League calls to cede control without statehood guarantees) perpetuates the conflict. Their wealth and power, insulated from Gaza’s suffering, suggest a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, as shortages can be leveraged for propaganda against Israel.
• Evidence: Hamas’s charter explicitly calls for Israel’s destruction, and their governance since 2007 has prioritized military buildup (e.g., tunnel networks, rocket arsenals) over civilian welfare. Gaza’s health ministry, controlled by Hamas, reports over 60,000 deaths since October 2023, often framing these as Israeli aggression to bolster their narrative.

2. Mid-Level Hamas Operatives and Enforcers

• Role and Motivations: This layer includes mid-level commanders, administrators, and operatives who implement Hamas’s policies. They derive power and status from their roles in Hamas’s military wing (Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades) or governance structures, enforcing control over Gaza’s population and coordinating attacks. Their motivations blend ideological commitment with personal benefits, such as salaries or social influence.
• Actions: These operatives manage Hamas’s tunnel networks, organize rocket attacks, and suppress dissent within Gaza. They also recruit and mobilize fighters, often using propaganda or coercion. Reports indicate Hamas uses civilian infrastructure (e.g., hospitals, schools) as military bases, embedding operations in populated areas to deter Israeli strikes or exploit civilian casualties for propaganda.
• Impact on Conflict: By executing Hamas’s strategy, this layer sustains the cycle of violence, as their actions (e.g., rocket fire, ambushes) provoke Israeli retaliation, which in turn fuels Hamas’s recruitment narrative. Their control over aid distribution reinforces Hamas’s grip, making it difficult for alternative governance to emerge.
• Evidence: The IDF has targeted and killed many mid-level commanders, yet Hamas continues to function, indicating a resilient organizational structure. The group’s use of civilians as shields is widely documented, complicating Israeli military operations and increasing civilian casualties.

3. Radicalized Fighters and Ideological Extremists

• Role and Motivations: This layer comprises dedicated fighters within Hamas and allied groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), driven by ideological zeal to destroy Israel. They view violence as a legitimate means to achieve their goals, often embracing martyrdom. Some are radicalized by personal loss or Hamas’s propaganda, which glorifies “resistance.”
• Actions: These fighters carry out attacks, including rocket launches, suicide bombings, and guerrilla warfare. The October 7 attack involved such fighters, who killed civilians and took hostages. They also indoctrinate younger Gazans, fostering a culture of militancy.
• Impact on Conflict: Their willingness to die for the cause makes military defeat challenging, as they operate in decentralized, guerrilla-style networks. Their actions sustain Hamas’s military capacity, even after significant losses (e.g., tens of thousands of fighters killed).
• Evidence: Hamas’s military wing reportedly has 25,000+ fighters, with PIJ adding several hundred more. Their extensive tunnel network, described as 311 miles long, enables prolonged resistance.

4. Ordinary Gazans Seeking Survival

• Role and Motivations: The majority of Gaza’s ~2 million residents fall into this layer, focused on survival amidst war, poverty, and blockade. They face dire humanitarian conditions, with UN reports warning of famine and over 1 million displaced since October 2023. Their primary concerns are securing food, water, and safety for their families.
• Actions: Many Gazans are coerced or incentivized to support Hamas, either through aid dependency or fear of retribution. Some participate in protests or low-level support roles (e.g., logistics), while others try to avoid involvement. Occasional anti-Hamas protests occur but are quickly suppressed.
• Impact on Conflict: This layer is caught between Hamas’s control and Israeli military actions. Their suffering fuels Hamas’s propaganda, as civilian casualties are framed as Israeli atrocities, yet their lack of agency limits their ability to challenge Hamas’s rule. Israel’s restrictions on aid (e.g., cutting electricity, limiting supplies) exacerbate their plight, deepening resentment.
• Evidence: Gaza’s health ministry reports 60,034 deaths, mostly civilians, since October 2023. The UN notes 30% of Gaza’s housing is destroyed or damaged, highlighting the scale of civilian hardship.

5. Children and Youth

• Role and Motivations: Gaza’s children, making up nearly half the population, are the most vulnerable layer. They are exposed to violence, starvation, and indoctrination, with UNICEF reporting rising acute malnourishment. Their primary “motivation” is survival, but many are shaped by Hamas’s education system, which promotes anti-Israel sentiment.
• Actions: Children are often passive victims, caught in crossfire or used as human shields. Some are recruited into Hamas’s youth programs or radicalized over time, learning to view Israel as the enemy.
• Impact on Conflict: The suffering of children (e.g., UNICEF’s report of the highest single-day child death toll in 2024) amplifies international criticism of Israel and strengthens Hamas’s narrative. Long-term, their exposure to violence risks perpetuating a cycle of radicalization.
• Evidence: The UN reports significant child casualties, with hundreds killed in airstrikes. Hamas’s use of child soldiers and propaganda in schools is documented, though exact numbers are unclear.

Israeli Side: Layers of Actors
1. Political and Military Leadership

• Role and Motivations: Israel’s leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the security cabinet, drives the country’s Gaza policy. Their stated goals are to eliminate Hamas’s threat, secure hostages, and ensure Israel’s security. However, political survival and coalition dynamics (e.g., reliance on right-wing parties) shape decisions, with some leaders advocating for maximalist goals like reoccupying Gaza or rebuilding settlements.
• Actions: This layer approves major operations, such as Operation Gideon’s Chariots (May 2025), aimed at defeating Hamas and controlling Gaza City. They also impose measures like aid restrictions and electricity cutoffs to pressure Hamas, though these often harm civilians. Netanyahu’s rejection of alternative governance plans (e.g., Palestinian Authority rule) hinders post-war solutions.
• Impact on Conflict: Their escalation, including plans to occupy Gaza City (August 2025), risks a “forever war” by prioritizing military control over diplomacy, alienating allies and endangering hostages. Domestic political pressures, including protests against Netanyahu, complicate decision-making.
• Evidence: Netanyahu’s “five principles” for ending the war (disarming Hamas, hostage return, Gaza demilitarization, Israeli security control, alternative administration) reflect a hardline stance. His refusal to commit to a clear “day after” vision undermines international support.

2. Military Command and IDF Operatives

• Role and Motivations: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and its commanders execute government policy, focusing on tactical success against Hamas. They are motivated by security imperatives but face challenges from political directives that conflict with military strategy (e.g., IDF chief Eyal Zamir’s opposition to Gaza occupation).
• Actions: The IDF conducts airstrikes, ground operations, and targeted killings (e.g., Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif). They have dismantled much of Hamas’s infrastructure but struggle with guerrilla tactics and tunnel networks. The IDF also manages buffer zones and security perimeters.
• Impact on Conflict: The IDF’s tactical successes (e.g., capturing key areas like Rafah) have not translated into strategic victory, as Hamas persists. Operations often result in high civilian casualties, fueling international condemnation and Hamas’s propaganda.
• Evidence: The IDF has killed tens of thousands of Hamas fighters and destroyed significant infrastructure, yet Hamas retains control over parts of Gaza. Operations like Gideon’s Chariots aim for territorial control but face resistance from Hamas’s guerrilla tactics.

3. Hardline Ideological Groups and Settler Movements

• Role and Motivations: This layer includes right-wing parties and settler movements advocating for permanent Israeli control over Gaza, including rebuilding Jewish settlements. They view Gaza as part of the biblical “Land of Israel” and see military dominance as a divine or national imperative.
• Actions: These groups pressure the government to expand operations and reject Palestinian statehood. Some engage in settler violence in the West Bank, escalating tensions. Their influence in Netanyahu’s coalition pushes for policies like indefinite occupation.
• Impact on Conflict: Their ideological goals complicate peace efforts, as they oppose compromises like hostage deals involving Palestinian prisoner releases. Their vision of Gaza’s annexation alienates allies and risks long-term insurgency.
• Evidence: Reports note right-wing parties’ influence on Netanyahu’s reluctance to define a post-war governance plan, with some advocating for Palestinian resettlement.

4. Israeli Civilians and Hostage Families

• Role and Motivations: Most Israelis support eliminating Hamas’s threat but are divided on methods. Hostage families prioritize their loved ones’ release, with ~58 hostages (20 believed alive) still held as of June 2025. Civilians face rocket attacks and security fears, shaping public support for military action.
• Actions: Hostage families protest against government policies they see as endangering captives, such as the Gaza City takeover plan. Ordinary citizens endure economic and social strain from reservist call-ups and ongoing conflict.
• Impact on Conflict: Public pressure for hostage release clashes with hardline policies, creating domestic friction. Protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv reflect growing distrust in Netanyahu’s leadership. Civilian resilience supports the war effort but wanes as costs mount.
• Evidence: Protests against renewed fighting and the Gaza City plan highlight public discontent, with families like Einav Zangauker’s accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing politics over hostages.