The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is reconsidering its tactics in the fight against Palestinian groups in the northern Gaza Strip following a series of deadly attacks on Israeli troops. According to Channel 12 of Israel Television (ITV), the IDF has decided to burn tens of hectares of fields and bushes in border areas, including Beit Hanoun, in order to expose the entrances and exits of diversionary tunnels used by Hamas militants to set up ambushes. The new approach is aimed at improving the visibility of drones and quadcopters, which will allow them to more effectively track militants' movements and locate weapons caches.

Recent attacks in the Beit Hanoun area, where a Hamas battalion remains operational, have forced the IDF to adapt by using scorched earth tactics. This method aims to remove vegetation that obscures tunnel entrances, making it more difficult for militants to operate. The IDF has also increased its use of drones for reconnaissance and strikes, with reports of drones being used in the Jabalya and Khan Yunis areas. However, the burning of fields has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations, as the destruction of farmland is worsening hunger in Gaza, where more than 50% of the population faces food insecurity, according to Reuters.

Beit Hanoun remains a key hotbed of Hamas resistance. Despite IDF operations launched in March 2025 after the ceasefire collapsed, the local battalion continues to use the tunnels for surprise attacks. According to Euronews, the IDF has already destroyed several tunnels in Beit Hanoun in 2023, but their network remains a challenge due to its location under residential areas. Former NATO commander James Stavridis noted that Hamas has created a unique battlefield by using tunnels with GPS trackers, blast doors and night vision devices.

The IDF's new approach includes not only burning vegetation, but also stepping up engineering operations. In 2023, according to the Wall Street Journal, Israel tried flooding the tunnels with seawater by installing pumps, but this method was not effective enough. An alternative was "sponge bombs" that filled the tunnels with hardening foam.