Hamas has partially rebuilt its combat capabilities, according to CNN

"Victory is in sight." This was the tone of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech on July 24 before the U.S. Congress. Facing increasing international pressure to accept a cease-fire and an agreement on the release of hostages in Gaza, he repeatedly stated that Israeli forces are nearing their declared objective of "eradicating Hamas" and "destroying its military capabilities."

This narrative was reinforced last week by significant blows dealt to the Palestinian movement by Israel, including the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of its political branch, killed on Wednesday, July 31, in Tehran, and alleged killing of Mohammad Deif, Hamas’ chief military commander, whose death was announced by the Israeli army but denied by Hamas.

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However, according to the latest revelations from CNN, the Palestinian movement is far from being defeated. In a lengthy investigation published Monday by the American network, contradicts Netanyahu's claim decisive and overreaching claim to victory over Hamas —reporting that "nearly half of Hamas' military battalions in northern and central Gaza have rebuilt some of their fighting capabilities," despite more than 10 months of war waged by Israel against the Palestinian enclave.

Hamas' restoration capabilities remain intact

These conclusions are based on analyses of Hamas' military operations since Oct. 7, drawing on statements from the Israeli military and the armed group, ground images, and interviews with experts and eyewitnesses. These sources indicate that several units have returned to key areas cleared by the Israeli army after fierce battles and intense bombardments, recovering the remnants of their battalions in a desperate attempt to rebuild their ranks.

“The Israelis would say that they cleared a place, but they haven’t fully cleared these areas, they haven’t defeated these fighters at all,” said Brian Carter, Middle East portfolio manager for Critical Threats Project (CTP), told CNN.

Hamas' military wing, known as the al-Qassam Brigades, is divided into 24 battalions spread across the territory, according to the Israeli army and the Critical Threats Project. As of July 1, only three of these 24 battalions were reported to be "combat ineffective," meaning they had been destroyed by the Israeli army.

In contrast, eight battalions are still considered "combat effective," capable of conducting missions against Israeli soldiers on the ground in Gaza, while the remaining 13 are in a "degraded" condition, able to carry out only sporadic and largely unsuccessful guerrilla-type attacks.

U.S. military experts suggest that Israel’s "heavy-handed bombing campaign" and lack of a post-conflict strategy have contributed to Hamas' resurgence, the CNN report wrote. 

16 active al-Qassam Brigades battalions out of 24

Analyses show that Hamas has managed to reconstitute 16 of its battalions in central and northern Gaza, which have been the primary targets of the Israeli army since the beginning of their offensive. "If the Hamas battalions were largely destroyed, Israeli forces wouldn’t still be fighting ... The ability of Hamas to reconstitute its fighting forces is undiminished," retired U.S. Army Colonel Peter Mansour, who helped oversee the deployment of 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq in 2007, told CNN. "U.S. military experts have repeatedly cited the surge as an effective blueprint for Israel ... [and] advised ... Israel to sharply distinguish Hamas from civilians to prevent irreconcilable Hamas elements from reconstituting," he added

CNN cited "sources on the ground" that claimed "Hamas members in plainclothes supervise blown out marketplaces, repurpose burnt buildings into sites for militants and civil servants, and hide their weapons under the detritus."

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Hamas' presence in northern Gaza is reportedly stronger than previously believed. "They’re among civilians. It helps them rebuild their forces," CNN cited a Palestinian man, who recently fled the area after losing nearly 40 members of his family in an Israeli airstrike." Another Palestinian claimed to have seen a "makeshift jails run by Hamas in Gaza City,” he told CNN. 

Israel claims to have killed half of Hamas' commanders and more than 14,000 fighters in Gaza. These figures are disputed by the Palestinian group, which has not provided its own casualty count.

Additionally, Hamas has bolstered recruiting "thousands" of new fighters since the onset of the Gaza war.

“Recruitment started three or four months ago, and they got a few thousand. I don’t know exactly how many,” the CNN report cited a retired high-ranking Israeli officer speaking on the condition of anonymity. While he concurred with the Hamas estimates, he stressed that it remains difficult to replace the killed commanders.

“Everywhere Hamas rears its head, we [Israel] will enter,” he added. “Can this ping pong stay forever? No. Our society is not built for this." he added, comparing the Gaza campaign to "a marathon runner who does not know ... if they're heading in the right direction."

The report concludes by citing Army Col. Mansoor stressing that the only solution is a "political solution" rather than a military one.