On 14 January, a few days before the ceasefire in Gaza, now-Former US Secretary of State of State of State Antony Blinkan addressed a crowd at the Atlantic Council at Washington, DC.
In the last 15 months, Blinkan has played an important role in supporting the Israeli military campaign against Gaza, a campaign described by human rights organizations as a massacre, killing at least 47,300 Palestinians.
The goal for Israel, as stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was Hamas’s total defeat and elimination. But speaking in one of his last performance as the state secretary on 14 January, Blink hit a separate tone.
“We assess that Hamas has recruited almost many new terrorists because it is lost,” Bloinkan said. “It is a permanent rebellion and a recipe for always war.”
Hamas was battered but not defeated
Analysts and experts told Al Jazira that Hamas has undoubtedly given a tough fight in the last 15 months. It has lost thousands of fighters, including its military leader Yahya Sinavar, and according to the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), its weapons stockpiles have decreased.
But as soon as dust accumulates in Gaza, it is clear that Hamas is not erased and still has the presence in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas fighters have prominently depicted the Israeli captive handover as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel. And members of Hamas-Interested Civil Administration have resumed work. If there is any right in Gaza, it still seems to be Hamas.
ECFR’s Hugh Lavat told Al Jazeera, “Hamas is interested in creating an image of the strength that is highly orchestrated, and we should see that as a promotional practice, as a promotional practice,” ECFR’s Hugh Lavat told Al Jazira.
However, Lovat said that “after a year of fight, after, [Hamas] Fighters are very high under Gaza’s control ”.
“Hamas is trying to show Israel that he failed to destroy it, but also that there would be a veto on Gaza’s future in the movement because neither Israel, PA [Palestinian Authority]Or the international community will be able to implement governance or security system after a conflict, ”Lovat said.
During the release of the prisoner, the scenes have caught several off guards including Palestinians in Gaza.
“I was very surprised to see the number of swears [Hamas’s military wing] During the release of Israeli prisoners, the fighters, “67-year-old Fathi al-Ladavi, displaced from Rafah to Nuserat in Madhya Gaza, and the father of eight told Al Jazira. “Especially the scale of attacks and bombing in Northern Gaza we feel that Hamas’s human and military resources were significantly reduced. But what we saw proves that they are still strong – perhaps stronger than before. ,
,[Hamas] Was able to catch his hostages, who looked in good condition, and were able to interact and sign a ceasefire agreement with parties who took an oath to eliminate it, “Omar Rahman, on global affairs A partner of the Middle East Council. , Told Al Jazira.
Hamas also, according to Blinkan’s statement, is capable of recruiting enough fighters to change the lost people during the war.
The actual number of Hamas fighters killed during the war is difficult for something. Hamas claims that it is lost between 6,000 and 7,000 members with its armed and civil wings, according to this An ECFR ReportBased on interviews with two senior Hamas members. But, the report states, most of the estimated 25,000 fighters of Hamas are still alive and hiding.
Netanyahu claimed that by November 2024, 20,000 “terrorists” were killed, while Israel’s military head Herzy Helivy said that on October 6, 2024 and the ceasefire, around 3,000 were killed. The United Nations Human Rights Office says that about 70 percent of the deaths verified during this period were women and children.
The Palestinian military analyst, who is from Gaza, told Al Jazira, Hambez Atar, “Only Hamas knows how many members of his military wing, Kasam Brigade, were killed.” “We are seeing many posts that mourning relatives in such a way that the use of the language shows that they were fighting, but Hamas did not announce anything.”
Hamas can maintain rebellion for many years’
Some are a handful of Hamas leaders in some accepted losses.
On the first day of the ceasefire on January 19, the spokesman of Hamas, known only as Abu OBida, was the “Vijay Speech”. He paid homage to some of Hamas’s fallen members, including Sinavar, who died in October by an Israeli drone; Political block leader Ismail Honeyheh, who was killed in Tehran in late July; And Saleh al-Arauri, killed in Lebanon in January 2024.
Atar reported that Abu OBida did not include Mohammad Def’s name, the elusive figure which was one of the founders of Al-Casam Brigade. Israel claimed to kill Def in late July, but death was never officially accepted by Hamas.
The living people include Gaza, Hamas’s alleged real head in Mohammad Sinavar, a figure Israel is more fanatic, well trained and more mastermind than his late brother, Yahya and Ezadin Hadd, which is a Kasam Brigade in the northern Gaza takes care.
Israel’s declared goals also include destroying the infrastructure of Hamas, especially its huge network of tunnels. However, according to the Israeli media, Hamas’s tunnel network is still largely on, although it is estimated that it still estimated how intact it is estimated that it is quite different. Hamas members told ECFR that many tunnels have been restored or preserved and, in some cases, even extended.
Hamas’s rocket arsenal may have been significantly reduced by Israel. Nevertheless, the instantaneous and primitive rockets can be rebuilt with an unexplained armament that remains around Gaza.
The ECFR report stated that Hamas stated that “Israeli rockets, bombs, and artillery shells were recycled artillery shells to use as supernatural explosive devices and to produce new projections.
Hamas’s adaptability as a fight force evolved over the years, as a response to Israeli’s strategy, means that it has been designed to make several blows and still proceed as an organization Is capable in
Hamas popularity
Hamas is not only a military organization, but has run the Gajan Sarkar since 2006, when he defeated Fatah in the elections.
And while Hamas’s popularity has increased in the West Bank, especially since the Hamas -led attack on Southern Israel in Gaza on October 7, 2023, some have expressed disagreement for the group. Nevertheless, Hamas’s popularity has not been greatly affected by the Israeli war on Gaza, as suggested by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.
The opinion on the group between the Palestinians in Gaza varies widely. According to the latest polling in September 2024, Hamas’s support in Gaza was around 35 percent, three percentage points from June 2024.
Some criticisms have attacked Hamas’s failure to predict the long and cruel reaction of Israel to the attack. Others have claimed that Hamas has dragged them into a war, who drags Gaza people, almost all of whom have lost family, friends and their homes, did not ask to be a part of it.
One of his critics was 45 -year -old Well Darwish from the northern nuseum.
“It was a devastation, not a win,” he said. “We have faced the biggest disaster in history. If there is a minor victory, it is due to the flexibility of the people, not Hamas. ,
“When I do not deny the sacrifices of resistance, we are tired,” said Darwish. “Resistance should also consider your people. We have shed enough blood. ,
“If Hamas stays in power, I will leave Gaza immediately,” he continued. “Many feel like this.”
Even before 7 October, Hamas suffered domestic opposition – including protests against the policies of the group. However, some Palestinians in Gaza said that the last 15 months have changed their opinion about the group.
Fatima Shamli, the mother of 11, said, “I was happy to see the safety of people, their number and Hamas fighters.” “Although I usually don’t support Hamas, my support for him during the war increased because he managed to compete, even Israeli’s military arsenal.”
43 -year -old Nihal Barakat, a mother of eight, who was displaced from Shati refugee camp to Nuserat, agreed. “I hope Hamas’s popularity has increased after this war,” he said. “For its strength, it remains intact, and we hope that it is broadcast for the benefit of the people.”
“It is clear that many ghazans are disappointed and angry [Hamas]Lovat said. People were angry that Hamas did not think through the results of his October 7 attack and failed to plan for “unavoidable, ratio -less violent response” against Gaza, Lovat said.
Lovat stated that the group’s criticism was “felt in Hamas”, especially among the liberal wing of the group. “There were many criticisms [late Hamas leader] Yahya Sinavar’s actions and some others who took unilateral decisions, “, the analyst said, based on his interview for the ECFR report.
Experts stated that rejection should not be taken as a support for Israeli’s strategy or the occupation of Palestine.
“During the massacre war on Gaza, people did not cooperate [with Israel] Because they are enemies and a business, “Attar, military analyst, said. “It’s not about Hamas. It is about identification, flexibility and continuity of Palestinian people. It is not because they love Hamas, but because they love Palestine. ,
“Our land should end the possession. The world needs to stand with us to determine his fate, “said the displaced father of eight. “Leave us from more war; we are tired. We should not be punished only because we are members of Hamas, Fatah, [Palestinian Islamic] Jihad or any other group. ,
