How Hamas is still holding out after nine months of war
More than half the buildings have been razed to the ground in Gaza. The Palestinian enclave turned into rubble. Yet, Hamas is far from eradicated. How can this be explained?
Fighters from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas during a camp organized by the brigade, Aug. 5, 2015 in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. (Credit: Said Khatib/AFP)
Hamas had said it, with a hint of provocation. A Hezbollah official said on condition of anonymity that Hamas informed him in October that it was capable of withstanding six months of war in the Palestinian enclave. At the time, no one imagined the war could last that long. Nor could anyone imagine that Hamas would be able to withstand the Israeli firepower, and to continue to carry out daily operations and rebuild its ranks.Nine months later, the whereabouts of its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, are still unknown despite the Israeli and American relentless hunt. Middle East Eye recently quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the feared leader may even have escaped to Syria or Lebanon. In the north of Gaza, the Israeli army has been shelling areas it previously deemed “cleansed of terrorists,” which is seen as a sign pointing to the...
Hamas had said it, with a hint of provocation. A Hezbollah official said on condition of anonymity that Hamas informed him in October that it was capable of withstanding six months of war in the Palestinian enclave. At the time, no one imagined the war could last that long. Nor could anyone imagine that Hamas would be able to withstand the Israeli firepower, and to continue to carry out daily operations and rebuild its ranks.Nine months later, the whereabouts of its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, are still unknown despite the Israeli and American relentless hunt. Middle East Eye recently quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the feared leader may even have escaped to Syria or Lebanon. In the north of Gaza, the Israeli army has been shelling areas it previously deemed “cleansed of terrorists,” which is seen as a sign pointing to...
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