Hamas recruits thousands, despite military efforts to weaken forces

The Evolving Dynamics of Hamas’ Fighting Force in Gaza

Recent developments have emerged regarding Hamas’ military strength in Gaza, revealing a significant increase in their ranks despite ongoing military efforts by Israel. As reported by Israel’s Channel 12 news and confirmed by The Jerusalem Post, Hamas has succeeded in enlisting between 12,000 and 23,000 new recruits.

Combining these figures with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) forces, Hamas is believed to control a force of between 20,000 and 23,000 fighters in the Gaza Strip. Earlier estimates had suggested a reduction to approximately 12,000 fighters, indicating a significant miscalculation of Hamas’ strength.

In a statement made in February, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed Israel had neutralized around 20,000 terrorists, representing two-thirds of Hamas’ estimated 30,000 fighting force. He remarked, “They have 10,000 dead terrorists and another 10,000 wounded who are not functioning.” This assessment was part of Israel’s ongoing operations since the war’s onset in October 2023, which also saw over 6,000 Gazans detained, with 4,300 still in custody.

New insights reported by The Jerusalem Post suggest that the October 2023 IDF assessments underestimated the actual number of Hamas fighters, which might have been closer to 40,000. This discrepancy indicates that Hamas’ current forces likely include a mix of experienced fighters and newly recruited, less experienced individuals, many of whom are minors.

Israeli media estimates suggest that approximately 9,000 Hamas fighters are based in northern and southern Gaza, with the PIJ contributing an additional 4,000 fighters. Furthermore, there are between 7,000 and 10,000 disorganized fighters scattered across the Gaza Strip.

These estimates, as detailed by Channel 12 news, contrast with recent military briefings indicating that much of northern Gaza has been cleared of terrorists. This has been corroborated by the IDF’s statements about their operations in Jabaliya, northern Gaza.

Seth Frantzman, an adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted, “After two and a half months of fighting in just this one urban area, there are so many terrorists left. What does this tell us about how hard it is to clear other areas?” He further highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the IDF in the region, even after multiple raids and significant evacuations.

The total number of terrorists in Gaza remains uncertain, as unnamed sources have told The Jerusalem Post. This uncertainty underscores the complexity of accurately assessing the strength of militant groups in the region.