Is Hamas finished? Does Hamas hold significance as a military and political group anymore?

     After 20 months of hellish bombardment, the IDF doesn’t claim that they have exterminated Hamas. However, they claimed they had killed 20 thousand members of Hamas (November 2024). It is worth noting that the IDF said there were 25 thousand Hamas fighters(in 2023). On the other hand, IDF and the West believed that Hamas recruited hundreds of young people into Hamas amid war. They claimed such figures and counts without any solid evidence. In short, they don’t know the reality.

Most of Gaza's infrastructure was reduced to ashes along with a heap of Palestinian corpses, which exceeded 55 thousand. However, the IDF destroyed many tunnels and underground bunkers. They used various techniques for doing that, including putting water in them through pumps and going through them. But they failed to annihilate the tunnel systems that lay beneath Gaza. IDF spokespersons confessed to that failure.

Hamas fighters come out of these tunnels and launch surprise attacks routinely. This indicates that they still have the might to fight. Furthermore, Hamas has a policy not to unveil the deaths of its members or losses. So No one is sure about the estimated killing of Hamas fighters killed.

Although it is a matter of fact that it had suffered very badly due to this war. It lost almost all leadership, including masterminds like Yahaya Sinwar, deif, Ismail Haniya, etc. The Hamas source said that they lost 6 to 7 thousand fighters(5 months ago).

ECFR(European Council on Foreign Relations) claimed that Hamas's stockpile of weapons had depleted. But they can form arsenals with remains of Israeli bombs. It was true because Hamas decreased the number of retaliatory strikes.

Rebellion against Hamas

They have lost support from many of their nation's people(In contrast, they have also got some new Hamas supporters). Many factions in Gaza thought that Hamas was responsible for this catastrophe. Some people rebelled against Hamas in the Rafah area under the leadership of Abu Shahab(with Israel's support). Such a rebel signified that Hamas lost its iron grip on Gaza. They are trying to capture Abu Shahb and strictly suppressing the rebellion.

Their key financier, Iran, fought with Israel and formed a ceasefire deal with both the US and ISRAEL. They lacked support and funds from Iran because it is now dealing with its consequences.

On the other hand, Hamas fighters were seen on several occasions during prisoner exchanges, aid distribution, etc. Gazans believe that they are still strong, not like before the war, and are fighting back. They launch surprise attacks from time to time. Recently, 7 Israeli soldiers were burned alive in vehicles hit by Hamas fighters in an ambush. (Times of Israel).

Most of the Hamas fighters are fighting independently on their own in small groups. They are resisting oppressive forces till the last breath of their lives. They will embrace martyrdom instead of surrender. Because surrender is not an option for freedom fighters. They will follow the path of great freedom fighters like Yahya Sinwar and will die on the battlefield. But they consented to a ceasefire and the release of hostages if Israel moved out of Gaza. Hamas will not finish until it loses all its leaders, support, and fighters.

Conclusion

If the war doesn’t stop, there is a possibility of the annihilation of Hamas. But it may take years to accomplish it. In case if this objective is achieved, then more freedom fighter groups will arise that are much powerful than Hamas. In short, its ideology will persist until Palestinians achieve their homeland or perish.