A report by US intelligence agencies concludes that Hamas has lost 20 to 30 per cent of its fighters after months of Israel’s onslaught on Gaza, meaning it is far from being destroyed.
A report by the US news outlet Wall Street Journal says the agencies also found Hamas still has enough weaponry to continue striking Israeli forces and launch rockets into Israel “for months”.
It said even though individual Hamas fighters may have to take on more tasks since they have lost comrades, they are far from being incapacitated and have changed their operational tactics to adjust.
The report also said Israeli officials estimate up to 16,000 Hamas fighters have been wounded and about half of those will not be returning to the battlefield.
But US estimates puts that number between 10,500 and 11,700 fighters, many of whom could return.