The research shows that as of July 1, only three of Hamas’s 24 battalions have been destroyed. Among the reasons are the group’s ability to replenish their ranks, make effective use of scarce resources and employ guerilla tactics.
“The Israelis would say that they cleared a place, but … they haven’t defeated these fighters at all,” said Brian Carter who led the joint research. “[Hamas] are ready to fight and want to fight.”
Hamas, backed and funded by Iran, is thought to have started the war in Gaza with 30,000 fighters. So far around 39,623 Palestinians have been killed, according to Hamas.
The IDF also rejected the findings as a whole.
“The majority of Hamas brigades have been dismantled, and most battalions are at a low level of readiness, meaning they cannot function as a military framework,” it said.