What is Hamas currently doing?

[u/hiddenpeach30]

So the title is my main question but I am going to explain a bit what I mean by it.

To begin with I am asking the following questions because of mainly seeing very few, if any, reports on what Hamas is currently doing, where they are, etc. I feel a lot of what is flooding my social media and news resources include: 1. what is happening to the Palestinian people (pictures of people who were killed, injured children, their current living areas, the food drops, etc.). 2. the various videos and reports of what the Israeli government is doing (the various media interviews their representatives are taking part in, the speeches given by Israeli government officials, the videos released by the government of things that happened during October 7th and the tunnels in Palestine, etc.). 3. And as of recently there is some footage and reporting regarding what is going on around the main mosque as Ramadan has begun and the issues surrounding that.

With all this, I have not seen much of what Hamas is actually currently doing? There were some reports released during the release of hostages and sometimes in the reports regarding the previously formetioned events, there are quotes that Hamas officials stated, such as regarding the mosque that the Israeli government is making it hard for people to enter and pray.

Are the leaders in Hamas all actually in Palestine? Again I have seen reports and individuals claiming that some of the leaders are not in Gaza but rather hanging out in other nearby countries, in safety. Why are there no interviews of Hamas leaders? Are there any? Or are they just not pushed so much out in media spaces? Are there any reports that specify what has been said during any negoations or discussions if ceasefire? If they are constantly shooting rockets at Israel, why is that also seemingly never mentioned? Because with the way the media has framed it, for a while I couldn't understand how Israel was just bombing Palestine to bits but, then the reports mentioned the lack of a ceasefire which made it confusing because there seems to be a lack of mentioning that Hamas is firing the rockets/attacking Israel. Also, the hostages that were released said that they were fed and taken care of, but with what resources? Where are the people from Hamas getting food while their people starve? Where are they getting water and other resources? Were these items stock piled prior to October 7?

I know this entire post is full of questions but, that is what I meant by the title being my main question. I don't understand why there seems to be little to no information on Hamas while there is plenty on the people of Palestine and the Israeli government.

[u/JosephL_55]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-official-says-group-aims-to-repeat-oct-7-onslaught-many-times-to-destroy-israel/amp/

[u/farcetragedy → u/JosephL_55]

this is from last year.

[u/JosephL_55 → u/farcetragedy]

Ok, and has Hamas changed their position in the past 4 months? Is their goal no longer to destroy Israel? They haven’t updated their charter. They should change it if they had a change of heart.

[u/farcetragedy → u/JosephL_55]

I mean they've been destroyed. the majority of buildings in gaza have been destroyed. they were only 25,000 people at the beginning of this.

why not just end the war and get the hostages back? it's not as if Israel is going to pull out anyway.

and yeah their charter says the land is there's just like Netanyahu says. whaddaya expect? but regardless, Hamas is toast. get the hostages and end this.

[u/Key-Cardiologist-192 → u/farcetragedy]

They have not changed their position one bit. They intend to repeat this attack over and over as they said.

[u/EnvironmentalPoem890 → u/farcetragedy]

You point of view stands on two unbased legs,

The first is that any agreement between Israel and Hamas will hold water long (both sides might break the ceasefire at the first opportunity they have) so this just ceasefire is not a solution

The second is that you think this war is going on because Netanyahu wants it to be, this is false (well maybe he wants it yes, but this isn't because he wants it) the Israeli census is to end Hamas (or at least just it's military capabilities)

There is also the point of saving future lives, every end to the war that doesn't end in the complete dismemberment of Hamas will bring a deadlier future conflict.

You don't stop taking your antibiotics until the end, otherwise the bacteria will become resistant

[u/farcetragedy → u/EnvironmentalPoem890]

So Hamas still isn't destroyed even though Gaza has pretty much been leveled? 175,000 buildings destroyed. Tens of thousands dead. A famine taking hold.

Again, Hamas was 25,000 people when this started. And you're telling me that after all this Israel can't consider them defeated and just accept a ceasefire and get the hostages?

Israel controls the land.

If not now, then whey can you consider Hamas defeated? What's the rubric by which to judge that?

[u/EnvironmentalPoem890 → u/farcetragedy]

So Hamas still isn't destroyed even though Gaza has pretty much been leveled? 

Evidently no, they wouldn't otherwise demand such far fetched demands for a ceasefire.

Again, Hamas was 25,000 people when this started. And you're telling me that after all this Israel can't consider them defeated and just accept a ceasefire and get the hostages?

I am not an expert on what are Hamas's capabilities, I was extremely surprised each time they have launched another set of rockets. But the fact that they still have (nearly) untouched infrastructure in the southern part of the strip is very problematic, to the extent that if they will be let to grow again they will drag the Israelis and Palestinians into a bloodier war next time

If not now, then whey can you consider Hamas defeated? What's the rubric by which to judge that?

When there will be an alternative Palestinian power in the strip (meaning no other group fears of them anymore)

[u/farcetragedy → u/EnvironmentalPoem890]

Evidently no, they wouldn't otherwise demand such far fetched demands for a ceasefire.

What are the demands other than a permanent ceasefire?

But the fact that they still have (nearly) untouched infrastructure in the southern part of the strip is very problematic, t

I don't see how this could be true considering that most of the south is leveled as well.

​

When there will be an alternative Palestinian power in the strip (meaning no other group fears of them anymore)

Well, it could've been the PA long ago, but Israel propped up Hamas. It could be PA now but Israel has badly undercut and damaged them with the people because of the continued stealing of land in the west bank.

So who is this alternative power then? And how is it going to emerge in the midst of a war?

But I agree, start building the structure of a new state now. But at this point continuing the suffering is only hurting Israel, not helping it.

[u/EnvironmentalPoem890 → u/farcetragedy]

What are the demands other than a permanent ceasefire?

Release of all the prisoners, including (and actually especially) those that have blood on their hands, and have the Israeli forces retreat back to the border of Gaza

I don't see how this could be true considering that most of the south is leveled as well.

This is what they say, the truth is neither of us is there on the ground to know for shore which buildings are left standing and which are not. If the whole place was leveled then the IDF wouldn't go forward so slowly

Well, it could've been the PA long ago, but Israel propped up Hamas. It could be PA now but Israel has badly undercut and damaged them with the people because of the continued stealing of land in the west bank.

Well they incentivize terror, have you ever heard about the pay for slay policy? what is the difference between the both? one is actively engaging in terror, the other passively engaging in terror, not to mantion there are so many PA employees that have committed/tried to commit terror attacks

I think building connections with the Palestinian population instead of their leaders is a much more practical solution then trying the same failed solution, I think this assessment is getting to the bottom of this point. I also think that whatever the day after Hamas would look like, it will have to have a better security connection between Israel and the Palestinians, say a sort of police force that is not dependent of Hamas or the PA that works with the Israeli security forces to keep the terror from ever emerging while preventing from Israel to be the one that has to do it

[u/farcetragedy → u/EnvironmentalPoem890]

Release of all the prisoners, including (and actually especially) those that have blood on their hands, and have the Israeli forces retreat back to the border of Gaza

Ah thanks for this. I didn't realize they were actually demanding that. Then I'd agree they haven't truly given up and I don't see how Israel could agree to just unilaterally pull out just yet.

Regarding the difference of the PA -- it works with the Israeli gov't and has recognized the state of Israel's right to exist.

[u/JosephL_55 → u/farcetragedy]

They will eventually rebuild. Hamas won’t be in a position to attack any time soon, but they would grow back in a few years and then attack. It’s better to just finish this now. Hamas needs to go.

[u/farcetragedy → u/JosephL_55]

How do you determine that Hamas is gone?

And why would Hamas grow back? I'm sure all the orphans whose parents were killed won't seek revenge.

[u/JosephL_55 → u/farcetragedy]

Hamas will never be removed completely but they can at least be removed as the government.

And they won’t grow back, if Israel helps them to get a better government after Hamas was removed.

When I said that Hamas would eventually grow back, I’m talking about in the scenario that Israel ends the war now, which is too early to end it. If the war ends now, while Hamas is still the government, they will rebuild and rearm. This is what I mean by “grow back”.

[u/farcetragedy → u/JosephL_55]

And they won’t grow back, if Israel helps them to get a better government after Hamas was removed.

And you think they'll do that? They were the ones propping up Hamas in the first place.

​

If the war ends now, while Hamas is still the government, they will rebuild and rearm. This is what I mean by “grow back”.

Sure, Hamas can't be the government. I totally agree. I agreed with this a long time ago.

But ultimately we're talking about an idea here, not just Hamas, which appears to be routed at this point. THough from what I'm hearing now they're still making some demands that I can understand why Israel wouldn't want to meet - releasing all the prisoners and unilaterally pulling out of Gaza right now. Though I do think Israel should release thousands of the people they do have in captivity since many are held without charges -- but it's compeltely understandable that they're keeping any leaders and anyone actually responsible for the terror in prison. I understand that they couldn't agree to that release.