In a rare and highly revealing statement, a senior Hamas commander admitted to the BBC the complete disorganization of the extremist Islamist organization in the Gaza Strip, following 21 months of devastating war with Israel.
The high-ranking Palestinian official, who was wounded in the deadly October 7, 2023 attack – the event that triggered the war – stated that Hamas has now lost control of approximately 80% of Gaza, while 95% of its military leadership has been killed.
In audio messages sent to the British network, the commander described in dramatic terms the collapse of Hamas’s military and administrative structure: “Almost nothing remains. There is no leadership, no communication, no administration. Salaries are delayed and when they are given, they have no value. People are dying just trying to collect them.”
The collapse of internal control has led to uncontrolled looting – even in former government centers and military facilities. “People are looting offices, mattresses, equipment. There is no police, armed gangs rule and absolute lawlessness prevails,” he noted characteristically.
He also noted that after the ceasefire ended in March 2025, the situation deteriorated rapidly, with Hamas no longer having substantial control in the enclave.
The official revealed that there are areas of Gaza where the Israeli army has not yet entered, possibly because it is believed that the last hostages from Hamas attacks are being held there.
The threat of armed gangs in the Gaza Strip
Of particular concern is the rapid rise of armed factions, which now control large sections of Gaza, further undermining Hamas’s already weakened influence.
The most well-known of these is the armed group of Bedouins led by Yasser Abu Shabab, which Hamas accuses of collaborating with Israel and gave an ultimatum on July 2, 2025 to surrender within 10 days.
Collapse and deadlock
The commander concluded with a bleak assessment: “The war will continue to the end. Israel has the upper hand. The world is silent, the Arabs are silent, gangs dominate and our society is collapsing.”
