I'm John Baxter, Bill Rasio, senior fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracy, is here with me,

and we're welcoming Samuel Ben Err, who's reporting on Hamas, once upon a time that drivers of the

story in the Middle East no more. Very difficult to see where Hamas is, given the threat of the

Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian ballistic missile program. But, Samuel, a very

good day to you. You report recently of military activity against Hamas by the IDF. In addition to that,

ceasefire violations by the Hamas routinely in late days of May, continuing now into June.

The Hamas military wing, we were told that it was in retreat, recruiting again,

mostly teenagers, very young people, arming as best it could,

but it had a reduced part of Gaza, less than 50%.

At this point, how would you judge the military wing? Is it making,

is it effectively an aggressive force? Is it on the defense? Is it disorganized? Good day to you,

Samuel. Good day. Thanks for having me. I would say that it certainly is organized and active,

but only internally

in policing Palestinian society within the Gaza Strip. The point that it's out right now after

three years of war and recent escalation by Israel, which has degraded its command structure,

down to the nub or whatever was left of it has been almost totally wiped out.

The only thing that Hamas is able to do at this point is occasionally try and fail to violate

the ceasefire by attacking Israeli soldiers, although they haven't had a successful attack,

I think, in months.

But mostly what they're doing is they're turning their attention on the Palestinian people, especially if there are militias that may or may not be backed

by Israel who are operating in parts of Gaza trying to, I wouldn't say liberate, but rest

control of those areas from Hamas. So some minor but real challenges to their power. So you've

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