Hamas regains control in Gaza: A blow to the Israeli government
Hamas has regained control over the Gaza Strip, successfully deploying thousands of troops to solidify its authority. This development has dealt a significant setback to Israel’s objectives in the ongoing conflict.
After Israel failed to appoint another entity to take control, Hamas fighters have taken on the responsibility of managing law and order in the war-torn Palestinian enclave of Gaza, as stated in the recent cease-fire agreement. They have been actively present across Gaza, ensuring the maintenance of order in the region.
Gershon Baskin, a prominent figure in the International Communities Organization, expressed concern over the detrimental impact of the public presence of armed Hamas soldiers and officers on the progress achieved during Israel’s 15-month combat in Gaza.
According to Baskin, the Israeli government and army are being directly challenged by the armed presence of Hamas on the ground. He argues that this presence serves as a clear indication that Israel’s objectives for the war were never realistically attainable.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized the inclusion of Hamas’s dismantlement as an integral component of any long-lasting peace agreement.
In order to accomplish this goal, the Israeli army has been diligently eliminating the top leadership of the terror group for several months.
Throughout the war and the ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire, the United States has consistently urged Israel to back the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to regain control of the Gaza Strip from Hamas. This comes after the Palestinian Authority was ousted in 2006 when Hamas seized power.
Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken went as far as to propose a plan for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to regain control of Gaza and take charge of the reconstruction efforts, replacing Hamas. This proposal was made during his final week in office.
However, Netanyahu dismissed all proposals for the Palestinian Authority, which governs a significant portion of the West Bank, to assume control over Gaza.
Hamas continues to hold power in the absence of any alternative group, and its police force is currently working to restore order in Gaza, where over 1 million refugees are returning to their devastated neighborhoods.
The Hamas police are anticipated to take strict action against the gangs that have taken control of various neighborhoods and stolen from trucks carrying humanitarian aid.
Hamas troops have the authorization to carry weapons, however, they are prohibited from coming near or interacting with the Israeli soldiers stationed in the buffer zone close to the Gaza border.
Despite the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, Hamas still remains in power, indicating that Israel has not succeeded in achieving its primary objective of eliminating Hamas and neutralizing the threat posed by Gaza to the Jewish state.
US officials believe that Hamas has managed to recover almost all of its losses in the war, despite Israel’s assertion that it has eliminated more than 17,000 fighters, which accounts for approximately 70% of its total force.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged that the Jewish state has not yet achieved its objective of dismantling Hamas. However, he emphasized that it is imperative for the terrorist group to be removed from power.
Saar stated that if Hamas remains in power, there will be no future of peace, stability, and security for both sides.
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