• Hamas fighting force reduced by half - US officials
    • Group relying on ambushes, improvised bombs, they say
    • Such tactics could sustain a lengthy insurgency
    • ‘There is no quick fix,’ says Israeli military

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - Hamas has seen about half its forces wiped out in eight months of war and is relying on hit-and-run insurgent tactics to frustrate Israel’s attempts to take control of Gaza, U.S. and Israeli officials told Reuters. The enclave’s ruling group has been reduced to between 9,000 and 12,000 fighters, according to three senior U.S. officials familiar with battlefield developments, down from American estimates , opens new tab of 20,000-25,000 before the conflict. By contrast, Israel says it has lost almost 300 troops in the Gaza campaign. Hamas fighters are now largely avoiding sustained skirmishes with Israeli forces closing in on the southernmost city of Rafah, instead relying on ambushes and improvised bombs to hit targets often behind enemy lines, one of the officials said.

  • filister@lemmy.worldEnglish
    93·
    22 days ago

    Correct me if I am wrong but it sure as hell seems like this is the aspiration of Israel to slowly evict all Arabs and Palestinians out of Israel or make their life hell, in order for them to revolt and give them an excuse for ethnic cleansing.

    And let’s not forget that Israel prior to its founding had less than 10% of the population in modern day Israel.

    So stop pretending that Israel is only fighting for self-defence and see what’s happening in the West bank and how they actively are trying to make the lives of all non Israeli citizens unbearable. Occupying the West Bank, uprooting olive trees, building checkpoints. Sorry but I am pretty sure if you were personally a subject to those restrictions you wouldn’t be happy either.

    • _sideffect@lemmy.worldEnglish
      56·
      22 days ago

      Yes, you’re wrong.

      Many Palestinians live within Israel peacefully. Many other Muslims do as well.

      Imagine a jew even trying to set foot in Gaza where Hamas is in control.

      They even block Jewish people from entering the temple, whereas any Muslim can freely explore Israel.

      It seems you’re all for open borders in all countries, and that’s just a recipe for disaster.

      • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldEnglish
        36·
        22 days ago

        Yes that’s why israel has segregated roads for Palestinians and every major human rights organisation calls israel an Apartheid. Because you can just make shit up.

        • TheFonz@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          21 days ago

          You have no idea what you’re talking about. There are millions of Muslim people living fine within Israel. They are not driving on separate roads or anything like that. Why do you lie so much?