Israeli military sources estimate that Israel's strikes on Gaza, which have killed over 50,000 people, have destroyed only a quarter of the tunnel network and defense capabilities of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.                       

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper cited military officials as saying Hamas still “retains a significant portion of its tunnel network.”

According to the report, the Israeli war has “only managed to destroy 25% of the group’s underground facilities so far.”

The report also noted that Hamas’ military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, still has the capability to produce weapons and missiles, despite 18 months of war.

Meanwhile, Israeli military analysts estimate that Hamas has 40,000 fighters.

Before the start of Israel’s war, the movement was estimated to have between 20,000 and 30,000 fighters under arms.

While the US intelligence community, near the end of the Joe Biden administration, estimated Hamas had lost 15,000 men during the Israeli war, the Haaretz report said the group had recruited the same number of new forces.

This comes as the daily confirmed that Hamas retains its popularity in Gaza.

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, killing 50,886 Palestinians and injuring 115,875 others, according to the health ministry.

The Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas last January, given the regime’s failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the “elimination” of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

The 42-day first stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, but Israel is refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement.

Since March 18, the regime has launched strikes on Gaza, breaking the ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange agreement that lasted nearly two months.

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