AIC: Of course they’re Jews. The leaders (and people) for much of Bayis Rishon were Resha’im also. We still mourn the loss of that Bayis and Eretz Yisroel. And look at the Rambam in the beginning of Hilchos Channukah. One of the reasons he mentions that Channukah was such a good thing was that Jews regained sovereignty over Eretz Yisrael for another 200 years. Once again, during a large chunk of that time the leaders were Resha’im as well.
And we celebrate Channukah even though many Jews died fighting those battles. It’s not mentioned, but Jews certainly died defending themselves on Purim. Everyone who dies leading to the G’ula is dying Al Kiddush Hashem. If HKBH has determined that these things are necessary to bring the G’ula, then we should accept them with joy. K’sheim Shemodah Al Hatovah Tzarich Lehodos Al Hara’ah. It’s all good for us because that’s what HKBH knows is best for us in the end. Same thing here.