Israeli forces have killed 20% to 30% of Hamas’s fighters, U.S. intelligence agencies estimate, a toll that falls short so far of Israel’s goal of destroying the group and shows its resilience after months of war that have laid swaths of the Gaza Strip to ruin.
First known U.S. estimate of Hamas’s death toll shows the group’s resilience after months of war
The U.S. estimate of the group’s casualties also found that Hamas still has enough munitions to continue striking Israel and Israeli forces in Gaza for months, and that the group is attempting to reconstitute its police force in parts of Gaza City, according to U.S. officials who confirmed a classified report.
Israel’s massive aerial and ground offensive in small, densely populated Gaza has killed more than 25,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run enclave’s health authorities, flattened built-up areas and left most of its 2.3 million people homeless.
Israel has said the war could go on for “many months” and it would not rest until Hamas was eradicated, all Israeli hostages freed and the Gaza Strip posed no more security threat.
LINK: Hamas Toll Thus Far Falls Short of Israel’s War Aims, U.S. Says – WSJ
