Ronen Neutra, the father of captured American hostage Omer Neutra, remains hopeful as negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue. Amid ongoing clashes, Hamas has reportedly lost half its fighters, retreating to guerrilla tactics like ambushes and improvised bombs.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, a militant group ruling the Gaza Strip, has raged for eight months, resulting in significant losses for Hamas. U.S. officials estimate that Hamas's fighting force has dwindled to between 9,000 and 12,000, down from 20,000-25,000 before the war.
Hamas has shifted its tactics, abandoning direct confrontations with Israeli forces in favor of hit-and-run attacks. Ambushes and improvised bombs have become their primary means of resistance, posing challenges to Israel's efforts to control Gaza.
Despite these tactics, Israel claims to have lost almost 300 troops in the Gaza campaign. Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Peter Lerner acknowledges the difficulties in eliminating every Hamas fighter or destroying every tunnel.
U.S. officials anticipate that Hamas's insurgency could continue for months, sustained by weapons smuggled into Gaza or repurposed from unexploded ordnance or captured Israeli equipment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser suggests that the war may extend into 2024. Hamas has also been using social media to disseminate propaganda, showcasing its ambushes and highlighting its resilience.
Israel faces pressure from Washington to negotiate a ceasefire. Hamas has seized over 250 hostages and killed more than 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military campaign has killed over 36,000 people in Gaza, leaving over a million facing severe hunger, according to UN reports.
Amid the power vacuum in Gaza, criminal gangs have emerged, seizing food deliveries and conducting armed robberies, echoing concerns about lawlessness in the post-conflict period.
Netanyahu has not outlined a post-war plan for Gaza, prompting warnings from Secretary of State Antony Blinken about potential chaos. The U.S. is drafting a time-bound plan for Palestinian statehood as part of a broader effort to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Reconstructing Gaza would require a detailed roadmap toward a two-state solution and serious reforms within the Palestinian Authority. However, Netanyahu's repeated rejection of a two-state solution poses a significant obstacle.
Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot has proposed an Egyptian-led international coalition to replace Hamas in Gaza, recognizing the need for a long-term solution to combat militancy.
