Despite a potential cease-fire, Israel’s challenges with Hamas are likely to persist
The deal is supposed to help get hostages released and bring in much-needed aid to the areas hit hard by the conflict. But even if they strike a deal, the underlying issues that sparked this whole mess are still there. Israel’s problem with Hamas isn’t just going to vanish.
US officials have pointed out that Israel’s aggressive tactics have taken out a lot of Hamas fighters, including some big names. But the group is still around, which leaves Israel in a tough spot. Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed to wipe out Hamas, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Now, the next steps are crucial. Secretary of State Blinken has been clear that Israel can’t just rely on military action to defeat Hamas. They need a solid plan for what happens next in Gaza, or something just as bad could pop up in its place.
Every time Israel pulls back after military operations, Hamas seems to bounce back. Blinken mentioned that Hamas has managed to recruit nearly as many new fighters as it has lost, which is a recipe for ongoing conflict.
The attacks on October 7, 2023, were brutal, with Hamas killing around 1,200 people in Israel and taking 250 hostages. This led to a fierce Israeli response that devastated Gaza and resulted in a staggering number of Palestinian casualties.
Israeli leaders have been adamant about wanting to crush Hamas, but many experts think that’s a tall order. Even with a cease-fire, Hamas still holds significant power in Gaza, despite being weakened.
A former Israeli intelligence official pointed out that Hamas isn’t going anywhere. The talk about completely eliminating the group is just that—talk. The real question is whether the Palestinian people will hold Hamas accountable for its actions.
Polling shows that Hamas still has a fair amount of support in Gaza, where it has been in charge for nearly 20 years. This makes it tough for Israel to get rid of them for good.
Counterterrorism experts agree that groups like Hamas are incredibly hard to wipe out completely. They might not be able to pull off another attack like October 7 anytime soon, but they still have resources. What they really need is strong leadership, and they might find that among the prisoners released as part of the cease-fire deal.
So, while Hamas is definitely weaker now, the idea that they can’t regroup is a bit naive. It’s a complicated situation, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any easier anytime soon.
