Hamas has lost about 80% of its control over the Gaza Strip, with lawlessness sweeping across the region and armed clans rising to fill the power vacuum, according to a senior officer in the group’s security forces.
The lieutenant colonel, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity, said the collapse of Hamas’s political, military and security leadership followed months of sustained Israeli strikes.
The officer, who was wounded early in the conflict that began with Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, said the group’s command-and-control infrastructure is now in ruins.
“Let’s be realistic — there’s barely anything left of the security structure,” he said in voice messages. “Most of the leadership, about 95%, are now dead. The active figures have all been killed. Hamas’s control is zero.”
The remarks come amid growing signs that Gaza is descending into chaos. Looting is rampant, and with no effective police presence, armed gangs and powerful local clans are asserting control.
The once-feared Hamas security apparatus, including the Ansar complex, has been completely overrun, with residents looting even basic items like mattresses and zinc panels.
The officer explained that attempts by Hamas to reorganize during a brief ceasefire earlier this year were thwarted when Israel resumed targeting key command structures. The group’s internal security has since disintegrated.
In June, at least 18 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a Hamas-run police unit trying to rein in market vendors in Deir al-Balah accused of price gouging and selling looted aid. Israel claimed it had targeted armed terrorists.
Among the emerging factions is a network led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a figure gaining popularity with disillusioned Palestinians and interest from external actors including the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his government was arming local clans opposed to Hamas.
Abu Shabab is reportedly working to unify various armed groups into a joint council to challenge Hamas’s rule. Sources say Hamas has placed a large bounty on his head, viewing him as a major threat.
A retired Palestinian security official told the BBC that Abu Shabab is in communication with regional players, including Egypt and exiled Palestinian strongman Mohammad Dahlan. “If someone like Abu Shabab can rally those forces, that could be the beginning of the end for us,” the Hamas officer warned.
As Gaza slides further into lawlessness, Israel’s military campaign continues while Hamas faces unprecedented threats from within. Entire neighbourhoods now live under the control of clans, some of whom escort humanitarian convoys in the absence of state security.
The collapse of Hamas’s grip on Gaza may be reshaping the territory’s political future, not only through war but through internal power struggles and rising discontent.