Israeli media: Hamas maintains military capabilities in Gaza

Military sources told Israeli Channel 12 that Hamas continues to engage in war within the Gaza Strip, and is still capable of inflicting heavy losses on Israeli soldiers.

The sources stated that the army is struggling to eliminate the “Al-Qassam Brigades” in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, and may end the military operation without achieving its objectives.

In the same context, Ohad Hemo, a Palestinian affairs commentator for Israeli Channel 12, said that Hamas has successfully rebuilt its presence in the Gaza Strip.

He emphasized that Israeli expectations regarding the invasion of Rafah and the ground operation there are misleading the public.

“All eyes are on Rafah, but there’s something important that we and the public in Israel need to understand,” he asserted. He clarified that the real issue was not Rafah but rather the significant reality that “Hamas has managed to rebuild itself in the Gaza Strip.”

He detailed that Hamas has re-established its presence in many areas, striving to demonstrate its reconstruction efforts and regain a certain level of control, presence, and armament in central Gaza, Deir al-Balah, and the central refugee camps.

“In this sense, those who pinned their hopes on the battle in Rafah have misled the public, suggesting that it would change the entire picture,” Hemo added.

The analyst went on to stress that it had become evident to everyone that even if Hamas were completely eradicated in Rafah over the next two weeks, it would not mean the disappearance of Hamas from the Gaza Strip; far from that.

Growing popularity

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) conducted between May 26 – June 1 a new poll regarding the war on Gaza, surveying Palestinians on several issues, including support for the Resistance and its actions in Gaza.

The poll revealed an increase in overall support for the Palestinian Resistance’s operation against the Israeli occupation on October 7, with 73% of Palestinians expressing approval, up from 71% three months ago during the previous survey, which coincided with the five-month anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

Furthermore, 82% of Palestinians believe that the October 7 operation brought the Palestinian issue into the spotlight, ending years of regional and international neglect. This marked a 6-point increase from the previous survey, with many respondents hopeful that this could lead to greater recognition of the Palestinian state.

The survey also indicated a rise in support for armed struggle, particularly in Gaza, where there was a 17-point increase. Support for Hamas has also risen, with a 6-point increase over the past three months.

A significant majority of Palestinians (67%) expect Hamas to emerge victorious from the war, a 4-point increase from the last survey. Additionally, support for Hamas governing Gaza post-conflict has risen to 61%, while satisfaction with the movement stands at 75%. Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ leader in Gaza, enjoys a 65% approval rating among Palestinians.

Opposition to the deployment of an Arab security force in Gaza has grown to 75%, up from 70% in the previous survey.

Sharp contrast

The sharp contrast between the Palestinian sentiment toward the war and the Israeli sentiment was evident in a May opinion poll conducted by the Israeli Midgam Institute, which indicated that about two-thirds of the Israeli public does not believe in the entity’s ability to achieve the objective of “eliminating” Hamas.

Since day one of the war on Gaza, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that, along with bringing back the captives, the main goal of the war is to end Hamas and achieve an “absolute victory” against the Resistance in the Strip.

But eight months into the genocidal war on Gaza, “Israel” has yet to reach the captives, defeat the Resistance, reduce its influence, or effectively harm its capabilities. Meanwhile, political and social rifts are widening, risking the collapse of the emergency government and paralyzing the war cabinet.

Meanwhile, the dire Israeli situation on the northern front with Hezbollah has left tens of thousands of Israeli settlers unable to return to their settlements, as the Lebanese Resistance continues its daily operation against military bases and sites at an escalatory rate.

Published by The Wall Street Journal, the Midgam report showed that 62% of Israelis no longer believe that the entity is capable of achieving “absolute victory”, while 27% still consider it realistic.