In order to discuss whether Hamas is defeated we need to compare it to historical examples of what defeat looks like. Hamas controls most of Gaza today, after 15 months of grueling war. It continues to carry out deadly attacks. It may not appear visibly organized on the surface but this is how it has always run things, hidden in the shadows. 

Defeat means collapse and an organization begging for the war to end. It doesn’t mean an organization continuing to dictate terms and controlling most of the battlefield. 

It’s important not to redefine terms like defeat simply to have an optimistic view of Hamas’ fortunes. Defeat means it collapses and can’t control ground. Defeat means Hamas no longer holds court in Doha and acts like it is winning and dictates terms of a ceasefire in which it gets to continue to control Gaza. 

Judging defeat by numbers is often a mistake, one that was learned the hard way in the Vietnam war when enemy “losses” didn’t lead to defeat. Measure defeat by behavior and loss of ground. If the enemy controls the field at the end of most battles it is not defeated. Also one must look at what the enemy thinks success is and what it thinks defeat is.