Hamas still controls Gaza, terrorists still march through the streets

On By Littum

Hamas appears to be emerging from the tunnels and rubble of Gaza to show it never lost control of most of the territory despite fifteen months of war. While Hamas suffered many blows from the Israeli Defense Forces, it was able to recruit new members and even kept trucks and vans ready to return to the streets and show its presence.

Videos purported to be from Gaza show the group in white pickup trucks driving around. The videos show large groups of armed men waving to crowds or standing and sitting on vehicles parading them through the streets. The Hamas police, an arm of the terrorist group, are also making a reappearance. They have existed throughout the war, but their presence has not been so clearly felt in some areas.

Throughout the war, some NGOs and other officials of international organizations complained that the lack of Hamas police or being targeted by the IDF led to a breakdown in law and order. In essence, many groups affiliated with the international community working in Gaza prefer to work with Hamas and its police.

Palestinian media such as Quds has shown the photos and videos from Gaza depicting this as a Hamas victory. They portray the videos as being “Palestinian factions” and not just Hamas. They also show civilians celebrating with the gunmen.

Shehab mediawhich are linked to Hamas, have also released videos showing the “victory” they claim in Gaza. One shows scores of Hamas gunmen in a stylized video, clearly produced for this moment, where the men appear to be emerging from some sort of tunnel.

Palestinians, Hamas terrorists celebrate in Khan Younis. (credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem)

Another picture Shehab broadcast shows on October 7 Hamas pulling a wounded Israeli soldier out of a tank that Hamas destroyed, contrasting it with Hamas holding rifles aloft atop white trucks in Gaza and declaring victory.

Many other local and international media and activists show images from Gaza. This includes Al Jazeera and also local Gazas.

The videos may in some cases be intended for propaganda, but the overall message is clear. Hamas has emerged from tunnels in Gaza and from the rubble in some areas and is clearly in control. The group never disappeared and was never dismantled.

Back in March 2024, Washington Post reported that “IDF says it has ‘dismantled’ 20 of original 24 Hamas battalions. Dismantled does not mean destroyed.” In fact, dismantled did not mean destroyed. Hamas has quickly re-emerged. This is not a group that appears to have suffered nearly as many losses as shown, or been able to replace most losses and maintain command and control.

History repeats itself

This is not surprising; Hamas has done the same after other rounds of fighting. Hamas emerged in the late 1980s, mostly in Gaza. It continued to gain support in the 1990s and opposed the Oslo Peace Accords. After the second intifada, it emerged stronger, despite losing many of its leaders to Israeli airstrikes.

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Hamas then took over Gaza in 2007 after winning Palestinian elections. It continued to re-emerge after the war in 2009 and 2014. In May 2021, a brief conflict with Israel showed once again how Hamas is often underestimated by Israel.

At the time, the IDF was portrayed as having an impressive track record of striking Hamas tunnels. One report claimed that Israel had “pulverized” Hamas’ underground “metro” of tunnels. Another report by Israel Hayom said that Israel had destroyed 100 km. of Hamas tunnels and eliminated 25 “top” operatives. Hamas actually emerged unscathed from this conflict.

Hamas is quickly emerging in Gaza to take control and showcase its capabilities. It wants to portray this as a great victory, even though it suffered many losses. It does not want a vacuum to emerge or areas to emerge where it loses control.

As the IDF withdraws, Hamas will move in quickly. It does not want anyone in Gaza to get the idea that Hamas is weak or that they have room to criticize the group. Hamas will mobilize the masses to come out and cheer. Then it will try to exploit this.

Hamas wants to start tackling the reconstruction and invites the media to try to showcase the destruction. Every step of the way will be choreographed by the Hamas media machine. Hamas has impressive control over all aspects of Gaza, from local media to hospitals and schools. It will encourage all this to portray this as a victory for the group.