General
What Is Hamas Capable of After a Year of War?
The Palestinian militant group fired rockets at Israel on the anniversary of its Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
A year ago, Hamas’s deadly attacks on southern Israel prompted an Israeli military offensive against the group in Gaza. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attacks, including children; Israel says it has killed many Hamas fighters and commanders.
But even with much of Gaza in ruin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated aim of destroying Hamas remains elusive. The group, while weakened, is continuing to wage a guerrilla war.
On Monday, to coincide with the first anniversary of its Oct. 7, 2023, attack, Hamas fired several rockets at Israel, showing that at least some of its more sophisticated military capabilities are still intact. A spokesman for Hamas’s military wing vowed to “continue a long and painful war of attrition” against Israel.
What do we know about Hamas’s remaining capabilities?
Here’s what you need to know:
- Personnel
- Weapons
- Tunnels
Personnel
Israel says it has killed and captured more than 17,000 militants in Gaza — an unverifiable number. Hamas’s fighting ranks before the war were estimated at roughly 25,000, although the group has never confirmed this.
