American military envoy to the Middle East, Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, told a Congressional committee that Hamas is losing popularity in Gaza. “Their attacks this time were particularly brutal. This brutality really backfired,” he said.

Dayton explained that training the Fatah militia faction will help improve security in the region. He told Congressmen, "Over the last six months, the situation has gotten to be quite dire in Gaza. We have a situation of lawlessness and outright chaos.”