Hamas Losing Its Grip on Gaza

Jerusalem, 30 October, 2023 (TPS) -- The Israeli tanks were already seen in central Gaza on Salah al-Din Road, the Strip’s main highway on Monday morning.

Trying to reassure residents, Hamas announced, “A number of tanks arrived in the agricultural area and escaped from the place under the fire of the resistance.”

But IDF’s pressure on northern Gaza continues. The army continues instructing Palestinians to go south as air strikes hit Hamas positions. Entire neighborhoods are wiped out after hosting Hamas strongholds.

Palestinian rescue services function very partially, in contrast to the first days of fighting. The images of the destruction have become a regular sight all over Gaza because the central Hamas government and local neighborhood authorities are barely functioning.

Residents are trying to find survivors among the ruins themselves.

The IDF called on Palestinians to flee, but many have been forced to stay, under the threats of Hamas. Hamas has blocked roads and even fired on Palestinians trying to flee. Hamas is forcing thousands of Gazans to become human shields around the terror group’s headquarters.

The top of the Hamas hierarchy, blames Hezbollah for not coming to their aid, as expected. That point has been openly echoed by Hamas representatives in Lebanon.

While Gazans call on the Arab world for aid, Egypt has shut the gates of the Strip. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi fears that once Palestinians are allowed into the Sinai, they will establish terrorist strongholds there.

In any event, the Rafah crossing is not equipped to handle large numbers of commercial deliveries. Commercial deliveries to the Strip from Egypt are routed through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing, which is adjacent to the Egypt-Gaza border.

The Kerem Shalom crossing is closed for security reasons.

Queues get longer outside the dwindling number of shops still open. Street bakeries and food trucks have opened in various places. But water is mainly available in the south and most of the Strip is without electricity.

Hamas did indeed surprise Israel on October 7, but the terror group is now surprised by the intensity of the destruction and Israel’s determination.

Soon it seems, Hamas rule in northern Gaza will be completely undermined. That will expose its nerve center to the tanks that were already seen in the Strip this morning.