MojNews-US Intelligence Agencies declared that Hamas popularity, credibility has risen since the start of Gaza war. 

The US-based network quoted officials familiar with the different assessments as saying that Hamas has successfully positioned itself across some Arab and Muslim countries as a defender of the Palestinian cause and an effective fighter against Israel.

Last week, Al Jazeera reported a survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Social Research had found that support for Hamas in the occupied West Bank stood at 44 percent, compared to just 12 percent three months ago.

The poll also found that 92 percent of Palestinians in West Bank wanted Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to resign.

Qassam Brigades says it kills 11 Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza

The Qassam Brigades says it has targeted Israeli special forces in the al-Tuwam area north of Gaza City and engaged in a battle with heavy machine guns.

At least 11 soldiers were killed, Hamas’s armed wing said.

Islamic Jihad says it targeted Israeli soldiers in Khan Younis

Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, also say they have targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers around az-Zelal Mosque, east of Khan Younis, with a barrage of mortar shells.

The Brigades also said they fired a salvo of rockets towards the Kissufim military site on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas releases video of three captives killed by Israel

Hamas has published a video showing three Israeli captives it says were killed by the Israeli army.

“We tried to keep them alive, but Netanyahu insisted on killing them,” the short video begins.

The video shows the three men when they were alive, smiling and holding white papers with their names and ID numbers.

Another clip shows all three men sitting at a table in what looks like an underground bunker.

They were identified as Elia Tolidano, an Israeli-French citizen; Nik Beizer; and Ron Sherman, an Israeli-Argentinian.

Israel ‘lost and in crisis’

Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, has released a statement.

 Here are a few key things he said:

* “If the enemy [Israel] wants its prisoners alive, it has no choice but to stop the aggression.”

* “The enemy had previously assassinated leaders and resistance fighters, but that only increased our resolve and determination to take revenge for its crimes.”

* “We salute our nation’s fighters who are distracting the enemy, especially on the Yemeni and Lebanese fronts.”

* Since the beginning of Israel’s ground operations in Gaza, the Qassam Brigades has targeted 720 of its military vehicles.

* During the past week, Hamas fighters carried out 15 successful sniper operations.