Hamas does not appear to have any regrets about the October 7 attack, as can be seen clearly from statements put out by the remaining leadership, and also by its continued attacks. The organization has lost between 14,000 and 17,000 of its fighters and its arsenal of rockets is greatly reduced. However, on the anniversary of October 7, it was still able to launch rockets at Israel.
Hamas feels confident in its continued pride in the attack because even though it has lost some of its fighters and commanders, it believes that in the long run, it will succeed and October 7 will be a key to that success.
Why does Hamas come to this conclusion? The Hamas leadership continues to be hosted by Qatar, a major non-NATO ally of the US, and by Turkey, which is a NATO member. Hamas also has backing from Iran, Russia, and China, which means that the organization is unique in enjoying backing from key Western allies and also by enemies of the West.
There is probably no similar terrorist group in history that enjoyed support in both camps; most groups enjoy no support from major countries. Hamas enjoys support from key players in the global economy and key countries in the Middle East.
Legitimizing Hamas
The terrorist group also feels it has been successful because it believes that where it has gained diplomatic support from various countries, Israel has become isolated; pressure is building up. If it can secure a ceasefire and continue to hold more than 100 hostages, then it assumes that it will be able to rebuild in Gaza. It has also already begun to recruit, having returned again and again to areas the IDF cleared out, forcing the military to return.
One could argue that some of Hamas’s bravado is just a form of saving face and that the organization is trying to cope with losses: Mohammed Deif, Salah Arouri. and Ismail Haniyeh.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Islamic Jihad – another Iranian-backed terrorist group – also put out statements that appear to show it does not have a concern for its future. Secretary-general Ziad al-Nakhala said the group is sticking to its ceasefire demands and praised the attempt to “unite” various anti-Israel – Hamas, PIJ and Hezbollah – in a multifront war on Israel.
Beyond Gaza, other Iranian-backed groups also see October 7 as a success. The secretary-general of Iraqi Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada Abu Alaa al-Walai said that it “proved to the world the vulnerability of the Zionist regime,” according to a statement to Iranian media IRNA. In recent weeks, Iraqi groups have increased their attacks on Israel.