Israel estimates thousands of Hamas fighters in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimates the number of Palestinian militants from the Hamas group in Gaza City at 3,000, less than 1 per cent of the population, as reported by CNN, citing an Israeli military spokesman.

“We are expecting to see in combat between 2,000 and 3,000 Hamas terrorists in Gaza City,” a military official said in a briefing as Israel moves to what the official described as the “main phase” of its occupation of the enclave’s largest urban center.

The official did not mention any mechanism to prevent militants from joining the crowds of Palestinians evacuating south of the Gaza Strip along the coastal road.

It is crucial to underline that Hamas has developed an extensive network of underground tunnels in Gaza, used for smuggling weapons, moving fighters, and launching surprise attacks. These tunnels have been a focal point of Israeli military operations, as they allow Hamas fighters to evade detection and conduct guerrilla-style warfare.

By Khagan Isayev