Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, initiated a series of attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which it described as the start of a religious war aimed at the "full liberation of Palestine from the sea to the river." This operation, named "Al Aqsa Flood," has resulted in significant losses for Hamas, including its senior leaders, military organization, and much of its governing authority in the Gaza Strip.

Once a dominant force in Gaza and influential across the Middle East, Hamas is now facing intense pressure from allied nations, including Iran and Qatar. The group has been relentlessly pursued within Gaza, where its former strongholds have been devastated by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. Despite these challenges, Hamas has managed to retain some Israeli hostages, maintain a fighting capacity against Israeli forces, and continue recruiting new members.

Erik Skare, a researcher and historian at Oslo University, noted, "There's nothing left of the political institutions that Hamas once ruled before the Gaza war. So there is no traditional political control in Gaza, but it does exert de facto control in the sense that it still has a military and political presence."

Skare also highlighted Hamas's influence over the civilian population, stating, "When there was discontent and protests against Hamas and the devastation of Gaza, we do know that Hamas sent thugs to beat up and even kill some of the protesters." He emphasized that Hamas remains active militarily, engaging in daily attacks against Israeli troops, which he described as a harassment campaign.

On Tuesday, Israel conducted an airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting Hamas's leadership. While Hamas claimed that its leaders survived the attack, five of its members were reported killed. This incident underscores the diminishing influence of the United States in Middle Eastern affairs, as Israel continues its operations against Hamas.

The political and military leadership of Hamas has already suffered significant blows from Israeli strikes and targeted assassinations. Notably, Israel is believed to have killed the chairman of Hamas's political bureau in Tehran last year and Yahya Sinwar, the group's Gaza leader, in October.

With the loss of its top ranks, Izz al-Din al-Haddad has emerged as the remaining military commander in Gaza. Al-Haddad has warned that the battle for Gaza City could extend for months, asserting that Hamas is preparing to deliver "severe blows" to Israeli forces.

Dr. Skare explained that Hamas has transitioned from a traditional military structure to operating with autonomous military cells that function independently. "It has gone from the traditional chain of command to working with autonomous military cells that operate clandestinely and also in solitary; it does not depend on the higher military echelon to execute attacks," he said.

As the conflict continues, the full implications of these developments remain to be seen.