Hamas maintains governance of Gaza despite extensive Israeli attacks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
3 Jun 2024 20:44

The Guardian says that Hamas has reinstated both a military and a governmental presence in the northern Gaza Strip, despite "Israel's" best efforts against it.

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Al-Qassam Brigades fighters, a military wing of Hamas, hold the Palestinian flags while marching with their rifles along the streets of Nusseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Palestine, on May 28, 2021 (AP)

Hamas and other Palestinian Resistance factions are still in control of several areas in the northern Gaza Strip, The Guardian highlighted in an article that delved into some of the details of the Palestinian Resistance's control over military operations and civilian affairs in key cities.

The British newspaper said that the Palestinian Resistance has maintained control over civilian affairs in the northern Gaza Strip, despite officials and public servants being targeted by Israeli occupation forces.

In fact, "Israel's" war on Palestine and the Palestinian Resistance has not only focused on achieving military victory over the armed brigades but has also revolved around dismantling all infrastructure of governance in the Gaza Strip, as well as targeting key officials.

However, The Guardian, citing experts, believes that the Israeli occupation has failed to achieve that goal, let alone replace Hamas' governing bodies with alternatives. The Resistance in the Gaza Strip is fighting on two fronts, aiming to withstand and surpass the Israeli onslaught on its armed brigades and maintain and fulfill its duties toward the Palestinian people.

"There is a widespread belief that Israel is not at war with Hamas, but with the Palestinian people," Mkhaimar Abusada, professor of political science at al-Azhar University in Gaza, told The Guardian.

This for Abusada will aid the recruitment of individuals to the Palestinian Resistance's ranks and bolster support.

Palestinian Resistance's governance a main target for Israelis

According to the newspaper, the Palestinian Resistance's supposed "resurgence" in areas such as Jabalia "involved a concerted effort to maintain the group’s authority over all aspects of civilian life."

Israeli analyst Michael Milstein, from the Israeli Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, stressed that governance in the Gaza Strip is not being implemented through a shadow government, but via Hamas itself.

"This is not some kind of shadow government. There is only one dominant, prominent authority in Gaza and that is Hamas. The leaders of Hamas are very flexible and they have adapted to the new situation," Milstein explained.

The Guardian also spoke to residents of Jabalia who confirmed that government officials are patrolling markets, enforcing price controls on essential goods, and organizing the distribution of humanitarian aid. This reaffirms that the Palestinian Resistance has been able to live up to its duties, despite 8-months of war and several military aggressions on densely populated towns, such as Jabalia.

The safe and adequate distribution of aid and the maintaining price limits on food and other essential goods remain a top priority of Hamas, as they ensure a flow of resources to Palestinians and combat gangs taking advantage of the humanitarian crisis in the Strip. No international, local, or Israeli entity has been capable of effectively completing these tasks. On the other hand, Hamas is believed to have done so, through police officers, while keeping a "low profile."

Uprooting Hamas militarily: A can of worms for Netanyahu

Regarding the bolstered military presence of the Palestinian Resistance in Jabalia and al-Zeitoun, The Guardian cited the former head of the Israeli Security Council's remarks on the issue.

"We do have to remember there are more Hamas armed people in the north of Gaza in the places that the IDF has already moved out of than … in Rafah … Those are the IDF’s numbers. This is why the IDF had to go back into Jabaliya and … Zeitoun. Hamas is controlling all those areas," Eyal Hulata said.

Top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have consistently argued that their ongoing invasion in Rafah, despite substantial opposition from various allies, aims to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities and release captives. Yet, the battle in Jabalia between lightly armed Hamas militants and far superior Israeli occupation forces highlighted the resilience of Hamas, which can regenerate its capabilities in parts of Gaza previously "cleared" by Israelis.

This according to experts suggests that confrontation on the basis of completely dismantling Hamas threatens months or years-long conflict of a never-ending loop of fighting and withdrawals to no avail.