Is this what an exhausted terrorist group looks like? The footage from Gaza City that went around the world a few days ago was supposed to show just the opposite: dozens of armed men in uniform appeared on the streets on Sunday, when a ceasefire between the terrorist organization and Israel came into effect and three hostages were released. The appearance of these men with green headbands with Hamas symbols on their heads was intended to symbolize the group's strength, writes an analysis by the German public media ARD.
In recent months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly reiterated his goals for the war. "We are determined to achieve total victory," he said. "Let's return all the hostages, completely defeat Hamas and eradicate the group from the Gaza Strip, and make sure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel."
What is "total victory"?
The actions against Hamas in Gaza were aimed not only at returning the hostages, but also at restoring a sense of security to Israelis, writes ARD. After more than 15 months of war, however, there are already many people who do not believe that Hamas will disappear and that "total victory", as Netanyahu puts it, is possible.
Yair Golan even asks what "total victory" means. "I can say that those who talk about total victory have no idea," he says. Golan himself knows a lot about the war: he fought for Israel on all fronts and was, among other things, deputy chief of staff of the army. He is now the head of the Labor Party and one of the leading opposition politicians.
Hamas is constantly recruiting new fighters
Although a temporary ceasefire has been in effect since Sunday, Golan believes the war has gone on too long. It is not just about the security of Israelis, he explains to ARD. "I know the doctrine of the Israeli army well: wars should be as short as possible."
According to the Israeli army, it has killed almost 20,000 Palestinian fighters since the beginning of the war. Hamas is estimated to have had 30,000 to 40,000 fighters before the war - plus fighters from other terrorist organizations such as "Islamic Jihad". But some reports also suggest that Hamas has now managed to recruit many new fighters, more than the 20,000 killed.
The former mayor of Khan Yunis, Fayez Abu Shalameh, is also part of Hamas. According to him, the terrorist organization is successful because it recruits people who want to become heroes in its ranks. "I am not surprised that hundreds, even thousands of Palestinians go to Hamas when their mothers are killed and their houses are destroyed, when they see their brothers wounded or fathers who cannot get food." According to him, the people of Gaza are suffering terribly from the Israeli attacks and are turning to Hamas because they want revenge.
Nearly 90% are threatened with starvation
Palestinian sources report that over 46,000 people have been killed since the start of the war, and 110,000 have been injured. These figures cannot be trusted by an independent source and do not distinguish between fighters and civilians. The war also led to the massive destruction of the Gaza Strip and the displacement of about 90 percent of the population, ARD recalls.
However, this is probably not the only reason for Hamas's growth: the group is also able to pay its new and old fighters. According to reports, the organization controls some of the humanitarian supplies that enter the Gaza Strip. It is said to be a kind of customs tax that it collects. And the fighters who receive money also receive food for their families. In a region where, according to the UN, up to 90% of the population is at risk of starvation, this can guarantee survival.
Hamas controls everything
Abu Shamaleh, the former mayor of Khan Yunis, who is a member of Hamas, is adamant that the organization remains well organized after 15 months of war. "It controls the souls and minds of the Palestinians because it clearly opposes the occupation. It controls all parts of life - on every street, with inspections and in the courts. In healthcare and social assistance. Everything is under Hamas control," he tells ARD.
This assessment may be a bit exaggerated, especially since many of the hospitals, schools and all civilian infrastructure were destroyed in the war. But one thing is clear - Hamas is still there. Until recently, it even continued to shell Israel from time to time.
Former Israeli army general Yair Golan believes that Israel is waging the war in the wrong way. According to him, this is due to bad political decisions, writes ARD. "When you fight a terrorist organization like Hamas, you have to fight against their military capabilities. At the same time, however, the people of Gaza need an alternative," says Golan. According to him, the fact that nothing has been done on this issue is the government's biggest failure.
What's next?
The big question is what will happen in Gaza and what prospects the people there will have. Finding answers to these questions is part of the negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. For now, the current ceasefire is set to last six weeks.
Instead of looking for answers to the questions about the future, however, parts of the Israeli government prefer to resume the war as soon as possible. This is not a good solution for either the hostages remaining in Hamas' hands or the people in Gaza. For Hamas, however, it is a chance to recruit even more new fighters.
Authors: Jan-Christoph Kitzler (ARD) | Anne Armbrecht (ARD)