As a new ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, Hamas fighters, who normally dress as civilians during combat, have seized the opportunity to wear their uniforms and parade through the streets in a show of force. The images shared online of Hamas brandishing weapons atop trucks and surrounded by civilian supporters, cheering them on amid the ruins, make clear that, despite heavy losses since October 7, 2023, and the elimination of Hamas leaders, the terrorist organization remains extensive in numbered, armed, and committed to fighting. For now, however, they may focus on rebuilding their ability to fight while trying to continue controlling Gaza.While the first phase of the ceasefire deal is still in its early days, many experts are questioning the sustainability of the situation, given the possibility of Hamas remaining entrenched in Gaza, and doubting the possibility of rebuilding the razed area.
According to Yoni Ben-Menachem, a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, “Israel dismantled 24 military battalions in the Gaza Strip, killing between 20,000 to 25,000 of Hamas’s military wing operatives” over the last year and almost four months. (Read More)
