From NBC NEWS: Hamas has violently sought to reassert its authority over the Gaza Strip in the wake of the Israel military’s partial withdrawal, but questions remain over the group’s future and efforts to rebuild.
Since the ceasefire came into effect a week ago, the militant group has deployed armed police officers on streets from where Israeli forces have withdrawn, clashed with rival clans, directly fired upon and killed Israeli troops in multiple incidents, and staged at least one public execution of suspected collaborators.
As Hamas continues to demonstrate its presence, Israeli security officials and experts on Gaza agree it has been badly diminished but not thoroughly destroyed, and will count on new recruits propelled to join after tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli fire.
“Hamas was damaged very severely in its military capabilities, but I think it will be fair to say that it wasn’t crushed,” said Shalom Ben Hanan, a fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Israel’s Reichman University.
Hanan, a veteran of the Israeli Security Agency, warned, “Maybe the threat isn’t in the days to come or the nearest future. But their potential is still there.”
Giora Eiland, former director of Israel’s National Security Council and the former head of the planning department of the Israel Defense Forces, said Hamas lost about 20,000 fighters over two years of war. There are about 10,000 to 20,000 commandos still at Hamas’ disposal, according to an Israeli military official speaking on condition on anonymity.
“Assessments of Hamas’ strength are crucial to the negotiations around the group’s disarmament — an important stipulation in the American-brokered ceasefire deal that halted the war. So far, the has refused to give up its weapons,” NBC notes.
Hamas has reportedly reasserted itself into authority in Gaza, despite its recent ceasefire deal with Israel. https://t.co/fr57zAMizG
— NewsRadio WHAM 1180 (@WHAM1180) October 21, 2025
READ MORE AT NBC NEWS
