Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal has stated that despite heavy losses during the past year of war with Israel, Hamas will “rise like a phoenix” and continue to grow in strength. In an interview, Meshaal said the Palestinian group is still actively recruiting fighters and producing weapons, while framing the ongoing conflict as part of a longer historical struggle dating back to the 1948 creation of Israel, which Palestinians refer to as the “Nakba” or catastrophe.
Although Hamas has suffered military setbacks, Meshaal emphasized that the group’s resilience is a core aspect of Palestinian history. He cited Hamas’ ongoing ambushes against Israeli forces and missile launches, despite losing a portion of its arsenal.
Meshaal, a senior figure within Hamas, warned that peace remains out of reach as long as Israel’s occupation persists, describing the region as a “ticking time bomb.” He further argued that while Israel claims Hamas has been reduced to guerrilla tactics, the group remains determined to rebuild its capabilities.
Hamas’ current standing in the Gaza conflict and its potential to regain strength even after significant losses have been analyzed by experts, who note that despite Israel’s military actions, Hamas may still re-emerge, although possibly in a different form or with reduced influence.
