Hamas vows to sustain Gaza conflict despite heavy losses

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, stated that the group possesses sufficient resources to continue its conflict with Israel, despite significant casualties over the past 11 months. He emphasized that the number of casualties is lower than anticipated for a conflict of this magnitude. The ongoing Israeli military campaign has reportedly resulted in over 41,000 deaths in Gaza, with Hamas claiming that around 17,000 of those are its militants. Recent events have heightened tensions, including the recovery of six hostages' bodies, which led to public outrage and protests in Israel. Negotiations for a truce, mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, have stalled, with both sides blaming each other for the lack of progress. Hamdan criticized the U.S. for not exerting enough pressure on Israel to make concessions. In a broader context, the Huthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack on central Israel, which, although it did not cause casualties, raised concerns about Israel's defense capabilities. Hamdan remarked that this incident illustrates Israel's vulnerabilities and the regional discontent towards its actions. Looking ahead, Hamas is contemplating its future governance in Gaza, with discussions planned among various Palestinian factions. Hamdan reiterated the group's demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, indicating that the post-war landscape will be shaped by Palestinian unity and governance.