Hamas Rebuilding Military Strength in Gaza, IDF Confirms

Despite commitments made as part of a ceasefire agreement, Hamas is actively working to restore and solidify its military capabilities in the Gaza Strip, Israeli military security officials have confirmed for the first time. According to information reported by N12, Hamas operatives have recently been accessing weapons caches within territories under their control. They are utilizing these armaments, which include light weapons, combat equipment, and rockets, for guard duties and to reinforce their control.

This shift in Hamas's approach, marked by an increased willingness to engage in direct confrontation with Israeli forces, has been evident over the past two weeks. Incidents have included the launching of incendiary balloons, firing at troops stationed along the border fence, and detonating an explosive device against an engineering vehicle.

In response to these developments, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have escalated their operational tempo. Under the direction of the Shin Bet security agency, forces from the Southern Command led an assault that destroyed three weapons depots and a rocket launching pit. This operation follows 16 targeted strikes conducted over the past week, during which 14 militants were eliminated, including five company commanders and four platoon commanders.