Hamas Maintains Firm Control Over Gaza More Than Three Years After October 7 Attack

More than three years after the October 7 attack, Hamas continues to firmly control the Gaza Strip. The organization operates 15 government ministries within Gaza's borders, pays salaries to tens of thousands of civil servants, produces weapons, and maintains an estimated force of around 8,000 experienced fighters, mostly from its elite Nukhba unit. Hundreds of trucks enter Gaza daily, enabling Hamas to sustain its civilian infrastructure and maintain influence over the population.

This ongoing reality raises a critical question for Israel: who will govern Gaza if Hamas is weakened or withdraws from certain areas? In January 2025, U.S. Secretary of State warned that whenever Israel ends operations and leaves an area, Hamas quickly reorganizes due to the absence of an alternative authority. Throughout the conflict, Israel has focused mainly on military strikes against Hamas, but eliminating commanders and cells does not resolve the issue of governance. Without another entity to fill the power vacuum, Hamas is able to return.

One proposed solution involves establishing a temporary technocratic government under international supervision and supported by a stabilization force, aiming to disarm Hamas. The U.S. plan also includes a pathway toward a Palestinian state. Despite the war and efforts to weaken Hamas, Israel still faces the fundamental challenge of preventing Hamas from regaining control and determining who would replace it if it loses power. The failure lies not only in how many Hamas members are eliminated but also in the lack of a clear successor, allowing Hamas to continually find ways to reassert itself in Gaza.