# Hamas on the rise in Gaza despite Israeli offensive
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas appears to be regaining control in areas of Gaza where Israeli troops withdrew weeks ago. The group has deployed police officers and made salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City, signaling its resilience despite Israel’s efforts to crush it.
The return of Hamas presence in Gaza’s largest city comes after Israeli forces renewed strikes in the western and northwestern parts of the city, targeting areas where salary distributions reportedly took place.
Residents reported the deployment of uniformed and plainclothes police officers near government offices, including near Shifa Hospital. The move aims to restore order in areas where Israeli forces withdrew and prevent looting of abandoned properties.
Civil servants, including police officers and municipal workers, have received partial salary payments from makeshift Hamas offices. This highlights the group’s ability to maintain its bureaucracy despite the conflict.
Israeli airstrikes on the areas where these offices are located demonstrate that Hamas has not been decisively defeated, despite Israel’s claims of eliminating thousands of Hamas fighters.
Meanwhile, Israeli military actions in southern Gaza have resulted in injuries and deaths among civilians. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported injuries among displaced people sheltering at its headquarters, as well as casualties over 12 days due to Israeli fire.
More civilian casualties were reported in Rafah on the border with Egypt, further escalating the humanitarian crisis and displacing a significant portion of Gaza’s population.
Efforts to negotiate a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas continue, with the United States, Egypt, and Qatar involved in the discussions. However, the situation remains volatile, with the United States launching an air assault on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, following a drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan.
The conflict in Gaza shows no signs of abating, and the impact on civilians continues to be severe, with the international community working to address the humanitarian crisis.
