Sun Sep 15 15:27:17 UTC 2024: ## Hamas Claims Resilience Despite Gaza War Losses
**Istanbul, Turkey** – A senior Hamas official has asserted that the Palestinian Islamist group has the resources and will to continue fighting Israel despite the heavy toll of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Osama Hamdan, speaking to AFP in Istanbul, said that while there have been casualties and sacrifices, Hamas has gained valuable experience and recruited new members into its ranks. “The resistance has a high ability to continue,” he claimed.
These comments come on the heels of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s statement that Hamas no longer exists as a military force in Gaza. Hamdan dismissed this claim, arguing that the number of casualties has been significantly lower than anticipated for a conflict of this scale.
The ongoing war, sparked by Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7th, has resulted in the deaths of over 1,205 Israelis, mainly civilians. The Israeli military campaign has led to at least 41,206 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Hamdan also criticized the US for not applying enough pressure on Israel to reach a truce, arguing that Washington is instead justifying Israel’s unwillingness to make concessions. He pointed to a recent Houthi missile attack on Israel as evidence of the limits of Israel’s defensive capabilities, saying it demonstrated that Israel is not invincible.
Regarding the ongoing hostage crisis, Hamdan said that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar would never leave Gaza, even if it meant sacrificing himself for the cause of Palestinian freedom. He reiterated Hamas’ demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the Philadelphi corridor, a key sticking point in truce talks.
Hamdan also highlighted the importance of Palestinian unity, stating that Hamas officials and representatives of other Palestinian factions would soon meet in Cairo to discuss a post-war vision. “The day after the battle is a Palestinian day,” he said.
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