IDF Assesses Hamas Has Rebuilt Forces and Arms Since October 7 Conflict

Amid reports of a fragile ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the Israeli military assesses that Hamas has used the pause in fighting to reorganize and rearm in Gaza. Hamas is reportedly collecting unexploded Israeli air force bombs and converting them into improvised explosive devices for potential future attacks if the IDF resumes operations. The group has also exploited Israeli focus on Iranian fronts to smuggle weapons from Sinai via drones, although the IDF believes this route has now been blocked.

The IDF estimates that the number of militants in Gaza currently exceeds 20,000, surpassing their strength on October 7. Many of these fighters are believed to be young recruits armed in exchange for minimal food supplies. In response, the Southern Command and Gaza Division have intensified airstrikes in recent weeks, eliminating over thirty Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives, particularly targeting raiders and kidnappers from the October 7 attacks.

Despite the ongoing developments, the IDF maintains its stance against withdrawing beyond the "yellow line" or limiting military freedom of action, emphasizing that the memory of October 7 remains central to their strategy. Meanwhile, senior officials in Jerusalem expressed shock and embarrassment following the leak of the ceasefire framework, which was first reported by Channel 13 news.

Separately, the Israeli Peace Council issued a statement after a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov, affirming a shared understanding of final goals. The statement noted that a full IDF withdrawal beyond the yellow line will only occur after Hamas completes disarmament commitments to mediators, covering light and heavy weapons as well as tunnels.