After 10 months of war, Hamas in Gaza is increasingly falling apart. The IDF is eliminating terror leaders and operatives at an accelerated pace while demolishing more terror assets and disrupting the group’s efforts to regroup.
A senior Israeli defense official told Ynet that Hamas is currently in very bad shape. The group is frustrated by the elimination of most of its military leaders, as the IDF actively pursues surviving commanders in their hideouts.
In recent months, the IDF took out the head of the Gaza military wing, Mohammed Deif, his deputy Marwan Issa, and several other high-profile terror chiefs. In parallel, the army continues to destroy terror tunnels along the Egypt-Israel border, effectively cutting off Hamas supply lines.
Hamas strength has been eroded by an estimated 75% since the war started, with its rocket arsenal depleted by approximately 90%, N12 News reported.
According to Ynet, the IDF is now operating with smaller forces in Gaza, relying mostly on brigade combat teams that swiftly move across the territory to neutralize terror hubs and operatives based on precise intelligence.
Moving closer to Sinwar
In another sign of distress, terror chief Yahya Sinwar is running out of hideouts in Gaza, Maariv Online reported. The top Hamas leader is having trouble locating new hiding spots as his inner circle is gradually eliminated in Israeli strikes.
Earlier, sources in Gaza told Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that Hamas is increasingly struggling to protect its leading operatives. As the IDF systematically destroys tunnels, top commanders are forced to seek refuge above ground, the report said.
Israel also disrupted communication within Hamas and is leveraging intel from captured operatives to close in on more senior members.
At this time, Sinwar is displeased about being designated as the group’s top leader following the elimination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, N12 News said. Surviving terror chiefs in Gaza are urging Sinwar to advance ceasefire talks with Israel due to the crisis faced by Hamas, the report said.
Hamas struggles to regroup
Moreover, the notion that Hamas can quickly regroup appears increasingly unrealistic. Recruiting inexperienced teens to replace the substantial losses of veteran operatives and field commanders will likely prove ineffective.
Notably, even at peak strength in the early stages of the Gaza war, Hamas was overwhelmed by the IDF assault and entirely unable to halt any Israeli advances throughout Gaza.
Meanwhile, the extensive damage to Hamas terror infrastructure in Gaza cannot be easily repaired.
Israeli historian and military expert Danny Orbach dismissed as nonsense a recent CNN report claiming that Hamas is rebuilding many of its battalions. The report was mostly based on information received from Hamas sources, Orbach said, suggesting that the claims are largely pro-Hamas propaganda.
