Hamas Remains Armed and Operational Despite War Aims, Intelligence Assesses

Despite extensive military operations during the "Swords of Iron" war, Israeli intelligence assesses that Hamas has not been disarmed and continues to rearm, recruit fighters, and rebuild its military capabilities. While the organization's operational arm was severely damaged, losing its ability to function as a regular army and reverting to guerrilla tactics, it has not been dismantled. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in January 2025 that the "next stage" of the war would involve disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza, a goal that remains unachieved as of August 2026.

A proposed implementation document presented to Hamas in March outlined a phased approach to disarmament and demilitarization, but this plan has not been put into action. Israeli intelligence reports indicate that Hamas is actively rearming and recruiting, contradicting the objective of eliminating its military and governing power, a key war aim. Even after the elimination of senior leaders like Ra'ad Saad in December 2025, who was responsible for rebuilding rocket production, the organization has shown resilience, with replacements stepping into key roles.

International efforts, including a "20-point plan" proposed by former US President Donald Trump and adopted by the UN Security Council, have also failed to achieve disarmament. Hamas has not accepted the conditions, and its refusal stalls the process. A detailed five-stage plan presented in March has also not been implemented, with Hamas yet to agree to its terms.

Disagreements persist between Israel and international bodies regarding the sequence of events. Israel insists on complete disarmament before any troop withdrawal, while proponents of the international plans advocate for a gradual Israeli withdrawal to be coupled with disarmament under international supervision. Despite ongoing Israeli military actions, Hamas continues to demonstrate its ability to rearm and rebuild, indicating that a complete victory has not been achieved.