Israel Perceives Hamas Readiness for Renewed Fighting Amid Gaza Calls for Attack

Israel has identified a growing willingness within Hamas to return to combat, with some factions in the Gaza Strip pushing for an offensive, believing renewed fighting with Israel is inevitable. This assessment is based on reports from within Gaza indicating Hamas is preparing for conflict, including moving weapons from underground to hospitals and schools, according to a Channel 12 report. Dozens of Hamas operatives have reportedly been observed at Nasser Hospital, and similar activity has been reported at Shifa and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, with the organization allegedly exploiting crowded conditions and utilizing infrastructure beneath these civilian facilities. Hamas is also said to be operating command and control centers in areas still under its control, with gunmen continuing to patrol Gaza's streets and Hamas security forces active. This situation marks a shift from approximately three weeks prior, when reports suggested Hamas was avoiding retaliation against Israel, fearing it would provide the IDF with justification to continue the war. At that time, less than 10% of Gazans surveyed reportedly supported armed conflict. The current reports of Hamas activity at Nasser Hospital echo earlier accounts from Doctors Without Borders, which suspended some operations in January due to the presence of armed individuals, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests, though they later resumed operations in April after assurances of improved security. The overall picture suggests a change in Hamas's stance on renewed conflict, with Israel now detecting increased readiness for fighting and ongoing reports from Gaza detailing the movement of weapons and Hamas personnel within civilian institutions.