Hamas still capable of fighting Israel for 'months', US intelligence report says

US intelligence agencies estimate that Hamas has lost only 20-30 percent of its fighters since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October.

The estimates, the first since the war, fall short of Israel's stated goal of "destroying" the Palestinian group, which was the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip before Israel's latest invasion.

According to the intelligence report cited by the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, Hamas is still capable of fighting Israeli troops and launching rockets into Israel "for months".

The report indicates that Israeli officials believe around 16,000 Hamas fighters have been wounded, with approximately half of them unlikely to return to the battlefield. However, US estimates suggest a range of 10,500 to 11,700 fighters, with the possibility of many returning to active duty.

The US newspaper reported that the Biden administration has therefore reduced their expectations for the war and urged Israel to change war tactics to carry out targeted operations against Hamas leaders.