Hamas Retains Significant Fighting Force and Arsenal in Gaza, Reports Indicate

Despite substantial losses during the ongoing conflict, Hamas is estimated to maintain a fighting force of 25,000 to 30,000 armed members within the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli television reports. The group's continued armed presence was recently evident at the funeral of a Hamas member, where dozens of individuals appeared publicly with weapons and uncovered faces, many identified as Hamas operatives.

Simultaneously, Hamas is reportedly working to preserve and enhance its underground tunnel network, particularly in areas beyond the "yellow line," with a portion of these infrastructures believed to have survived Israeli military operations. The organization also appears to retain rocket production capabilities, with workshops continuing to operate in densely populated areas where the IDF has not conducted ground maneuvers. While rockets are not currently being fired, partly due to fear of Israeli retaliation, the capacity to produce them remains intact.

Hamas is also employing a strategy to safeguard its weapon stockpiles by distributing firearms to affiliated residents who are not official members. This approach could allow the group to indirectly retain arms should it be compelled to surrender its own weaponry in a future agreement. Furthermore, weapons are reportedly being smuggled into Gaza from Egypt via drones, though the exact scale of these smuggling operations remains unclear.