Eight months after the start of the Gaza war, the number of Hamas fighters has shrunk significantly: US and Israeli insiders believe the radical Islamist group has lost about half of its armed men. This causes Hamas to change its tactics.
American insiders with knowledge of the development now estimate their numbers at about 9,000 to 12,000, compared with 20,000 to 25,000 before the war. As a result, Hamas is now avoiding protracted fighting with Israeli forces and instead turning to surprise attacks and ambushes, a US official said. Israel says it has lost nearly 300 soldiers. There was no comment on the changed tactics from a Hamas spokesman.
Huge tunnel network as a place to retreat
US insiders said the strategy could cause Hamas’s fight to drag on for months. They are supported by weapons smuggled through the underground tunnel system and by unexploded Israeli grenades that Hamas recycles. Over many years, Hamas has developed a tunnel network in the Gaza Strip that is approximately 500 kilometers long and equipped with water, electricity and ventilation. Command and control centers are also housed there.
A US insider said Hamas was able to quickly withdraw, take cover and regroup after the attacks. They then reappear in areas that Israel assumed were free of fighters.
“They wait until they march”
Residents of the Gaza Strip have also noticed a change in Hamas tactics. “Previously, Hamas fighters intercepted, attacked and shelled Israeli forces as soon as they entered their territory,” Wissam Ibrahim told Reuters by telephone. “But now they have noticeably changed their approach. They wait until they are deployed and then begin their ambushes and attacks.”
At the beginning of the war, after the Hamas attack on October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the goal was to destroy the terrorist group. A military spokesman now explains that we are still a long way from that. Israel is adapting to the group’s changed tactics. But you can’t eliminate every Hamas fighter or destroy every tunnel. That is not a realistic goal. “The destruction of Hamas as a government is an achievable military objective.” The spokesperson also assumes that the number of Hamas fighters has been roughly halved.
Rafah as the last Hamas stronghold
Between 7,000 and 8,000 Hamas fighters are believed to be holed up in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, the group’s last major stronghold of resistance, according to Israeli and US officials. Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, his brother Mohammed and Sinwar’s deputy Mohammed Deif are still alive and hiding in tunnels with Israeli hostages.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
