In brief
A senior officer within Hamas’s security forces has disclosed striking information about the group's dwindling power and increasing chaos in the Gaza Strip.
The lieutenant colonel, speaking to the BBC from an undisclosed location, claimed that Hamas has lost around 80% of its authority in Gaza, succumbing to continuous Israeli airstrikes that have dismantled its leadership and control structure. This officer, who was injured in the early days of the ongoing conflict that ignited after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, shared updates via voice messages while remaining anonymous due to security concerns.In his messages, he painted a grim picture of Hamas’s internal strife; he stated, "Most of the leadership, about 95%, are now dead... So really, what's stopping Israel from continuing this war?" He explained the grim state of governance in Gaza, indicating that much of the original security framework had entirely collapsed and was now non-existent. The lack of order has led to rampant looting of Hamas properties, including their main security headquarters, where desperate citizens have taken essential items without any intervention from remaining security forces.An alarming report from June corroborated the officer’s claims, detailing an Israeli drone strike that killed at least 18 individuals in a Hamas-run police unit, which was attempting to regain control over a market amidst the deepening chaos.With Hamas's authority compromised, various armed clans have emerged, exerting influence and putting additional pressure on Hamas, which is struggling with delayed salaries for its fighters and rampant lawlessness throughout the region. One notable figure is Yasser Abu Shabab, who is gaining traction among local armed groups and drawing attention due to connections to the Palestinian Authority and Israeli arms provision, prompting Hamas to place a bounty on his head.Experts predict that should Abu Shabab succeed in uniting disparate factions against Hamas, it could spell significant trouble for the group, which has consistently fostered enemies during its rule. Observers note that as unity among rival armed groups grows, circumstances could push Gaza closer to an acceptance of total chaos, leaving Hamas vulnerable on multiple fronts, not only to Israeli forces but also to internal opposition that seeks to leverage the ongoing instability.
