Once again, the Gaza Strip is a battlefield. The recent escalation between Hamas and Israel has reignited fears of a prolonged war, raising big questions: Can Hamas survive politically and militarily? Will Israel achieve its objectives? And most importantly, what does this mean for the future of Palestine?
Hamas: Bruised but Not Broken?
Throughout the course of the war in Gaza, Hamas has taken some serious hits. Israeli airstrikes have killed key leaders, destroyed infrastructure, and wiped out much of its military arsenal. On Tuesday, isreali renewed strikes killed Hamas’ de facto government head Essam Addalees and internal security chief Mahmoud Abu Watfa, reports have also suggested that Hamas now has only 10-15% of its original 20,000 projectiles left. And with many experienced fighters gone, the group is relying on poorly trained recruits.
Despite this, Hamas still looks unwilling to give up, the group has adapted, shifting to guerrilla warfare tactics and using Israel’s own unexploded ordnance. In response to Isreali strikes in Gaza, Hamas launched a few attacks of its own. Recent reports have shown that Hamas is still capable of holding its own militarily and politically in Gaza. This position from experts shows that though Hamas has been thoroughly weakened by Isreali-strikes, the group remains a potent adversary to isreal.
Israel’s Strategy: Go Big or Go Home?
However, isreal is not giving up either, the country is hitting Gaza harder than ever. The goal is to completely dismantle Hamas, making it unable to hold its own militarily or politically in Gaza. With strong U.S. backing and fewer diplomatic constraints, Netanyahu’s government is pushing aggressively its military campaign in Gaza to completely dismantle Hamas.
“This is only the beginning,” Netanyahu recently declared after airstrikes killed hundreds of Palestinians. Clearly, Israel isn’t looking for just another temporary ceasefire, it wants to fundamentally change the situation in Gaza.
But can it? The challenge for Israel is that even if it removes Hamas, it still has to figure out what comes next. Governing Gaza post-Hamas could be just as tricky as fighting the war itself.
Can Hamas Still Govern Palestine?
Here’s where things get interesting. Despite the chaos, Hamas has suggested it is open to stepping away from governing Gaza, if a national unity government is formed. This could mean a return to Palestinian Authority (PA) control or a technocratic government overseeing post-war Gaza.
Some reports indicate Hamas and Fatah have already agreed on a committee of independent leaders to run Gaza once the war is over. If this happens, it could reshape Palestinian politics completely.
It seems unlikely that Hamas will give up control over Gaza. Even if it gives up direct control, the group is unlikely to disarm or abandon its influence. It may just shift its focus back to resistance and political maneuvering.
What’s Next?
This renewed conflict has put Hamas in survival mode and Israel in full offensive mode. But the biggest question remains: What happens after the dust settles?
If Hamas is removed from power, does that create an opportunity for Palestinian unity? Or does it just leave a vacuum that fuels even more instability?
One thing is certain, Gaza’s future hangs in the balance, and whatever happens next will have lasting consequences for the entire region.
