Two Years On: Is Israel Close to Destroying Hamas?

Two Years After Netanyahu’s Vow, Hamas Remains Alive in Gaza

Two years after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “wipe out” Hamas following the October 7, 2023 massacre, the Gaza-based terror group survives — battered but not defeated. While the region has seen staggering loss, including over 67,000 Palestinian lives and massive destruction in Gaza, Hamas continues to adapt and endure.

Israel’s Military Campaign Against Hamas

The October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed at least 1,200 civilians in southern Israel, prompting Israel to launch Operation Swords of Iron. Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives have flattened neighborhoods, targeted Hamas command hubs, and systematically eliminated its leadership:

• Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political chief, killed in Tehran, July 2024.

• Saleh al-Arouri, Qassam Brigades founder, killed in Beirut, January 2025.

• Yahya Sinwar, architect of the October 7 attack, killed in Rafah tunnel raid, October 2024.

By mid-2025, Israel claimed to have killed 17,000–23,000 Hamas fighters, including many from the elite Nukhba force. Yet, despite these losses, Hamas maintains a decentralized structure that continues to strike and disappear.

Hamas Adapts to Survive

Experts say Hamas has shifted its tactics to ensure survival:

• Guerrilla warfare and hit-and-run attacks rather than direct confrontation.

• Recruitment of 10,000–15,000 new members since 2023.

• Maintaining a civilian governance structure with informal civil servant payments.

While cross-border rocket attacks have decreased, the group continues to exploit the Gaza Metro tunnels, a 560–720 km underground network for moving fighters and weapons.

Political and Humanitarian Dimensions

Hamas draws strength from the ongoing Palestinian aspiration for statehood, remaining politically relevant even as Gaza lies in ruins. Nearly 90% of homes are damaged or destroyed, displacing about 1.9 million Palestinians, but the narrative of resistance keeps the group politically alive.

Israel’s leadership acknowledges the challenge: although Netanyahu boasts, “We have isolated Hamas,” IDF Chief Eyal Zamir admitted the group cannot be defeated militarily or politically, even with full occupation of Gaza City.

Looking Ahead

With US President Donald Trump proposing a Gaza peace plan aiming to disarm Hamas and transfer governance to an independent authority, the future remains fragile. Hamas’s survival illustrates that while Israel has achieved tactical victories, the group’s adaptability and recruitment ensure it remains a persistent force in Gaza.

Bottom line: Two years after Netanyahu’s vow, Hamas is weakened, fragmented, and scattered, but far from destroyed. Its survival underscores the complexity of achieving total victory in Gaza.