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Israel-Gaza War, Hamas

Hamas struggles to recruit fighters amidst internal challenges

A weakened Hamas navigates internal turmoil, as it resorts to recruiting youths as young as 16.

Gila Isaacson
Gila Isaacson
2 min read
A Palestinian boy walks past a mural depicting a masked fighter of the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90

Hamas is facing a stark new reality: recruiting new militants has become an uphill battle.

As reported by Israel Hayom, Hamas has lost more than half of its forces during the recent clashes. Despite its best efforts to reorganize across various Gaza sectors where Israeli military operations have ceased, Hamas has struggled to regain its former capabilities since October 7th.

Current estimates indicate a few hundred new recruits at best, suggesting significant operational difficulties for the organization, particularly given Gaza's vast recruitment potential. A senior researcher from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs warns of a troubling trend: most recruits are teenagers aged 16 and above, lured into Hamas's military wing with financial incentives.

Meanwhile, internal discord has intensified as local factions in Khan Younis and central camps challenge Hamas's control, even intercepting humanitarian aid shipments.

As the threat of continued conflict looms large, Hamas is seeking refuge in underground tunnels and trying to self-manufacture weaponry amid restricted access to smuggling tunnels in the Philadelphi Corridor.

Hamas is in a precarious transition phase, from once being a military force with almost absolute control to now a guerrilla organization with limited capabilities. The group's survival hinges on navigating internal dissent, sustaining recruitment efforts, and confronting ongoing Israeli military tactics.


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