Hamas Resurfaces in Gaza City, Deploying Police Forces and Making Partial Salary Payments
Hamas has recently started deploying police forces and making partial salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City, resurfacing in areas that were previously occupied by Israeli troops. This indicates the group’s resilience despite Israel’s extensive air and ground campaign against it over the past four months. Israel has made it clear that its intention is to crush Hamas militarily and prevent it from returning to power in Gaza, a region it has governed since 2007.
Hamas Resurgence in Gaza City
In recent days, Israeli forces have conducted renewed strikes in various parts of Gaza City, where reports of salary distributions have been reported. Residents of Gaza City have witnessed uniformed and plainclothes police officers being deployed near police headquarters and government offices. The return of civil servants and subsequent Israeli airstrikes near these makeshift offices have been observed by residents.
Reestablishing Order in Devastated Areas
The return of police marks an attempt to restore order in the devastated city. A senior Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the group’s leaders have given instructions to reinstate order in the areas from which Israeli forces withdrew. This includes preventing looting and maintaining security in shops and houses abandoned by residents who followed Israeli evacuation orders.
Impacts on Gaza’s Civil Servants
Hamas has operated its own government bureaucracy with tens of thousands of civil servants, including teachers and traffic cops. The recent partial salary payments of $200 to some government employees indicate that Israel has not dealt a decisive blow to Hamas, despite claiming to have killed over 9,000 Hamas fighters.
Continued Conflict and Devastation
The conflict between Israel and Hamas persists, with continued strikes in southern Gaza resulting in civilian casualties. Recently, at least 17 people, including women and children, were killed in airstrikes in Rafah, a town on the border with Egypt. The situation in Rafah has raised concerns among aid officials and diplomats, with the United Nations describing it as a “pressure cooker of despair.”
Proposed Cease-fire and Hostage Situation
International mediators are working to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas in a proposed cease-fire deal. This comes months after Hamas and other militants captured hostages in southern Israel, triggering the ongoing war. Hamas still holds dozens of captives, even after the release of more than 100 hostages in November as part of a one-week truce.
U.S. Retaliatory Assault in Iraq and Syria
In addition to the conflict in Gaza, the United States has launched an air assault on sites used by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Iraq and Syria. This was in response to a drone strike that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. troops in Jordan. The United States, along with Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, has been involved in negotiating aspects of the proposed cease-fire deal in Gaza.