“Let’s be realistic here, there’s barely anything left of the security structure. Most of the leadership, about 95%, are now dead,” the Hamas official told the BBC.”
Hamas has reportedly lost about 80% of its control over Gaza, a senior official from the terrorist organization told the BBC in an interview published Sunday.
The official explained to the BBC that Hamas’s command and control infrastructure had collapsed after months of Israeli airstrikes, which wiped out its political, military, and security leadership.
“Let’s be realistic here – there’s barely anything left of the security structure. Most of the leadership, about 95%, are now dead… The active figures have all been killed,” the official said.
“Logically, it has to continue until the end,” the Hamas official told the BBC. “All the conditions are aligned: Israel has the upper hand, the world is silent, the Arab regimes are silent, criminal gangs are everywhere, and society is collapsing.”
He further clarified, “Let me be clear: the security situation has completely collapsed. There is no control anywhere.”
Palestinian Hamas terrorists keep guard on the day Hamas handed over deceased hostages in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip February 20, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo)
“So, the security situation is zero. Hamas’s control is zero. There’s no leadership, no command, no communication. Salaries are delayed, and when they arrive, they are barely usable. Some die just trying to collect them. It’s total collapse.”
Determined to destroy Hamas’ capabilities
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he and US President Donald Trump are determined to eliminate Hamas’s military capabilities, in addition to bringing the hostages home.
“We are still focused on the Gaza arena. We have also achieved great successes there, but there are still tasks to complete,” Netanyahu stated prior to his visit to Washington.
“We are also determined to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. This means we will not allow a situation where there are more kidnappings, more killings, more beheadings, or more invasions. This means one thing: the destruction of Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities. Hamas will not be there,” he continued.
Hamas’ weakening grip on Gaza
In June, IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Deffrin stated that Hamas’s grip on Gaza was weakening as Israeli forces continued operations both above and below ground, The Jerusalem Post previously reported
“Hamas is losing control. It continues to operate against its own civilians,” Deffrin stated. He emphasized that “the distribution of food severely harms Hamas and its rule. Tens of thousands of meals are distributed daily to Gazans.”
The IDF has recently been operating near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation food distribution sites in southern Gaza in order to prevent Hamas terrorists and local clans from taking control of the food and allowing Palestinian civilians to safely receive aid.
