Hamas militants have returned to northern Gaza and are mobilizing against Israeli forces and establishing a system of governance, The Guardian reported Tuesday, citing Israeli officials, Gaza residents, and aid officials.
“We are hearing more, unfortunately, of the recovery of [an] insurgency in both central and northern Gaza … We’re hearing more and more that Hamas are doing policing in northern Gaza and governing trade, and that is a very bad outcome,” said Eyal Hulata, a former Israeli national security advisor.
The Israeli military recently withdrew from some areas of the northern Gaza Strip and claimed it had taken out Hamas’s military structure in the area, saying only “pockets of resistance were left.” But the re-emergence of organized Hamas members in the area highlights the Palestinian group’s resilience and the unrealistic nature of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s goal of “eradicating” Hamas.
The Guardian quoted Michael Milstein of the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israel-based think tank, who said Hamas had survived Israel’s brutal bombing campaign and ground operation in the north. “Hamas control these areas. There is no chaos or vacuum because it is the workers of Gaza municipality or civil rescue defense forces, who are effectively part of Hamas, who are enforcing public order. Hamas still exists. Hamas has survived,” he said.
“The IDF version is that in the northern part of Gaza the basic military structure of Hamas was broken … That only works with a conventional army but not for a flexible guerrilla operation like Hamas. We are already seeing individuals as snipers, setting booby traps and so on,” Milstein added.
Israel has also struggled to destroy Hamas’ underground tunnel network, which is significantly more extensive than Israel initially thought. US and Israeli officials believe only 20% of the tunnels have been destroyed.
Israel publicly acknowledged for the first time on Tuesday that it had begun pumping water into the tunnels, but the strategy is not very effective. US officials told The Wall Street Journal that in some areas, unexpected barriers slowed or stopped the flow of water altogether.
How many fronts does Israel want to take on, without our sending in our troops? Another question: how many more of our troops need to be killed to give Mr. Biden a hint to pull those troops out.
“How many fronts does Israel want to take on, without our sending in our troops?”
Israel would much prefer not fighting on any fronts without our troops, or at least our navy and air force.
AIPAC, Christians United for Israel, the Conference of Presidents of MAJO, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the Anti-Defamation League, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, et al. are not doing all that work and spending all that money for fun.
Are you kidding me? More dead US troops is what Biden wants, making it easier to open the floodgates of war! That’s what Pearl Harbor was all about, making Americans less resistant to entering WW2. The main issue here should be the “reason” for US soldiers in that area in the first place! That is a crime which PRECEDES any US troop death! If you go into a bank with guns drawn don’t surprised if you are shot.
What makes you think the us mic even cares anout the safety of those troops already stationed over there?
It is not a question of wanting,it is a question of being forced.
Hamas Police are once again patrolling the streets of northern Gaza? Do they arrest people disturbing the peace?
HURRAH FOR HAMAS!
Not surprising to see Russians rooting for a terrorist group like Hamas. But surprising to see you siding with the very entity that is fighting for the same principle Ukraine is fighting your Russian Army. Freedom and Independence.
Your support for Hamas contradicts your fight against Ukraine.
You have no morals, just loyalty.
You guys are all fcked up.
Ukraine is fighting for NATO.
Russia is fighting for Ukraine..
Wise up, fck up.
If you root for Hamas don’t complain about civilians deaths. The longer Hamas hang around the more civilians get killed in the cross fire.
If you root for the IDF don’t complain about hostages. The longer they hang around the less likely they will get out alive.
Another words, Israel is losing the war…!
Israel publicly acknowledged for the first time on Tuesday that it had begun pumping water into the tunnels, but the strategy is not very effective. US officials told The Wall Street Journal that in some areas, unexpected barriers slowed or stopped the flow of water altogether.
Where exactly does Israel think the hostages are being held? They certainly haven’t taken any precautions about “accidently” killing them above ground and flooding the tunnels proves they don’t really care if they’re down there either.
The fewer living Israeli hostages, the fewer Palestinian political prisoners will have to be exchanged.
So true. And doing them in with their own tank rounds and rockets fired from their attack helicopters is harder to explain away.
Insanity of babblers to non-entities in the sky, put there in the bronze age by NON-related ancients.. is unexplainable.
There is no doubt in my mind who is right and who is wrong inn this battle.Hamas is fighting for the Palestinian peoples right to exist . Israel is murdering children and women for profit. Gas and oil on land that they are stealing in a futile attempt at creating a greater Israel for Zionism a form of Racism.
What a despicable cesspool of human beings live in the comments section of this website.
“Israel is murdering children and women for profit.” What? I really try to see the perspective of those I disagree with but this is so ridiculous and dishonest I can’t even begin. If you want to make the argument that Netanyahu is more interested in his own political preservation than the wellbeing of civilians in Gaza, I’d listen to that argument and might even agree with some of it. You’re not interested in that, you’d rather just say that Israelis are killing innocent Gazans for sport while praising Hamas for stealing aid and hiding out underground.
You can go to other website where everyone agrees with you.
There is a reason none of the other Muslim countries in the region will take Gazan refugees. The “Palestinians” have wrecked every country and society that has let them in. Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt. And the ones that have emigrated to Europe and the United States are trying to do the same here. There is only real, practical solution.
As our peerless leader Biden says “give me a break” You are full of liquid brown stuff that always stinks.
Simplistic template. The Hamas pogrom has caused 26,000 Gazans to be killed,and perhaps a million made homeless.Israel is fighting for her right to live;oil gas,tulip bulbs and striped bass have nothing to do with this.Hamas attacked Israel, not vice versa. Reemergence of Hamas and “the International” song will only serve to perpetuate violence and war.
Nice satire Jake…your beloved IDF seem to fail at every turn…even all of their lies about October 7th have been destroyed. They are only competent with committing mass murder, and being joyfully arrogant about it.
Please tell Us why these utter fiends employed a mass Hannibal Directive??? Both Israeli and Palestinian lives are worth nothing to these “so-called” children of God…Israel is both godless, and spiritually bankrupt.
lies about October 7th? What lies?
That Hamas didn’t kill anybody?
Troll.
Hamas killed soldiers. The IDF killed civillian – their own.
They need to keep going until the entire tunnel system is destroyed. It won’t be an easy job, but it is vital if the virus is to be eradicated. If you leave any at all, it will grow back.
Advocates for ethnic cleansing contribute nothing of value or substance to any Anti-War gathering. Blocked.
The IDF, IAF and the entire Israeli military apparatus is a massive failure. Sure, they can snuff out unarmed men woman and children with a bravado reserved the most repugnant examples of humanity.
They will never beat Hamas, Hezobollah, or any real resistance because that takes actual skill, planning and courage. People who enjoy killing 11,000 children deserve to suffer the worst defeat possible..lets hope it comes soon for the IDF and its fellow terrorist supporters…
Yes, and the Hamas actions of Oct 7 that killed 1,400 people including children never happened.
It didn’t… It was the IDF that killed their own.
Still are.
1948, 1967 and 1973 indicate that IDF and IAF is pretty good. And you might look up the 1982 Bekaa Valley Turkey Shoot.
You might want to look up Sabra Chatila refugee massacre.