Gaza Three Years After Oct. 7: Hamas Maintains Control, Operates from Hospitals

Three years after the October 7th attacks and the ensuing war, Hamas continues to operate and rebuild its power structures in the Gaza Strip, according to recent reports. Evidence reaching N12 indicates the presence of armed militants in the streets, Hamas command centers operating within hospitals, and the extortion of protection money from merchants. These accounts highlight a stark contrast between promises of Hamas's disarmament and the reality on the ground, suggesting the organization remains a significant force.

Residents describe a deteriorating security situation, with masked gunmen stopping vehicles and demanding identification. "The security situation in the Gaza Strip has completely gone out of control," one resident, identified only as 'A', told N12. "All sorts of problems and crimes are happening, and there is no security body that brings the criminal to justice, pursues the murderer or pursues the thief. Security neglect in the fullest sense of the word."

Another Gazan activist, 'M', stated that Hamas has not changed since the war began, attributing its continued existence to political delays. He claims Hamas operatives were present in areas before displaced populations returned and that Israel failed to conduct proper screenings or establish a new governing system. "Hamas remains the same Hamas," he asserted. "Nothing about it has changed following this long war, which Israel could have ended and eliminated Hamas within a year or a year and a half. But the dragging of the feet by the politicians has left Hamas existing."

Reports indicate that Hamas members are utilizing hospitals like Al-Shifa, Al-Aqsa Martyrs, and Nasser as bases, potentially hiding in underground infrastructure. These facilities are allegedly used for detention and interrogation, exploiting the presence of patients and staff. "They are hiding there, and we know it," 'A' said. "They are exploiting the gatherings of patients and staff, the crowding, and the fact that people come to receive treatment. They are also under the hospitals, in the infrastructure that is there. They have set up prisons, interrogate people, and summon them to under the hospitals to interrogate them."

Hamas is also reportedly extorting large sums of money from merchants as protection fees, enabling them to import and distribute goods without interference. This practice, described as "extortion," is crucial for Hamas's continued funding. "The black market is flooded with aid. There is no order, there is chaos, chaos, and Hamas people are managing this chaos," 'M' added. He concluded by calling for a separation between civilians and militants, stating that Gazan residents are hostages and that international forces should manage security matters for a period.