How Hamas rebuilt its numbers and made a show of force for the hostage swap despite Israel killing 17,000 terrorists

Despite losing more than 17,000 fighters in a relentless 15-month-long war campaign, Hamas rallied dozens of armed and masked terrorists to present an intimidating front for TV cameras during Sunday’s release of three Israeli hostages.The men — wearing green headbands, military fatigues and sunglasses — were supported by a braying mob of Palestinians in Gaza City’s Saraya Square as they surrounded the Red Cross vehicles carrying hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron SteinbrecherThe harrowing video was broadcast to the world, and offered a glimpse at something the US and others have been warning about: Hamas has not only survived Israel’s invasion and relentless bombing campaign after the Oct.

7, 2023 terror attacks, it is rebuilding.Israel said that it has killed nearly 70% of Hamas’ terrorists, but the Biden administration warned this month that the group has been able to attract enough new recruits to completely replenish its numbers.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that the war will not end until Hamas is eradicated — something he repeated last year following the assassinations of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and his successor, Gaza chief and Oct.

7 mastermind Yahya SInwar.Yet the Israeli military’s advancements were constantly undermined by Hamas’ ability to quickly replace its leadership and rebuild its forces by making use of the nature of the prolonged war.Sinwar’s younger brother, Mohammed, is currently in charge of the group and has put his focus on rebuilding Hamas through the promise of food and revenge to a new generation of fighters convinced that Israel is to blame for the 15-months of devastation in Gaza.

“We are in a situation where the pace at which Hamas is rebuilding itself is higher than the pace that the IDF is eradicating them,” Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli brigadier general, told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month.“Mohammed Sinwar is managing everything.” Arab officia...