Prof. Kobi Michael: While Hamas was rebuilding its forces to some extent, it was “certainly” not replacing what it had lost. It still cannot function in an organized military formation. It is making efforts to recruit youths to fill the ranks, but it does not have the ability to train them, so this is a limited achievement. They are mainly turning into cannon fodder.
However there is no doubt that it will continue to make an effort to recover [in northern Gaza], including militarily, and its achievements will be more significant if Israel is not there in the form of a fixed military presence, a military administration. A general siege on the area until the remainder of Hamas’s remaining organized forces is destroyed is also needed.
Published in JNS, September 5, 2024.
