Hamas is facing a major survival challenge in the Gaza Strip, having lost its commanders, much of its underground tunnel network, and the support of its ally Iran, Reuters reports.
Under relentless Israeli military pressure and resistance from local rebel groups, Hamas fighters operate on their own, under orders to hold out as long as possible. Still, the Islamist group is struggling to maintain control.
Israel’s open support for local tribes fighting Hamas is also exacerbating the situation.
To address the immediate threat, Hamas has sent its best fighters to the Rafah area to eliminate rebel leader Yasser Abu Shabab, but he remains elusive, being in territory controlled by Israeli forces.
Despite the situation, the group retains some influence and operational capacity in the Gaza Strip but faces serious challenges.
Hamas is still capable of striking. On June 24, the group killed seven Israeli soldiers in an attack in southern Gaza. However, intelligence assessments suggest that Hamas has lost centralized command and control and is limited to sporadic surprise attacks, according to three diplomats working in the Middle East.
An Israeli military official estimates that Israel has killed 20,000 or more Hamas fighters and destroyed or rendered unusable hundreds of miles of tunnels under the Gaza Strip. Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble during the 20-month conflict.
