Israeli estimates claim: Hamas is strengthening its military capabilities and preparing for war in Gaza

Tel Aviv - Ofoq News - Israeli army estimates claimed that Hamas is strengthening its military capabilities, clinging to its weapons, and preparing for the possibility of renewed war in the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday, Haaretz newspaper reported that the Israeli army presented its assessments to senior American officers, in light of Washington’s pressure to implement President Donald Trump’s plan regarding the Gaza Strip, while Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported allegations about a threatening message from Hamas, which it said was conveyed by a UN official from leaders in the movement.

According to Haaretz, in recent days, Israeli officers presented intelligence information to their American counterparts, including a general working at the joint command headquarters, as well as at the Israeli political level, claiming that Hamas refuses to hand over its weapons to any international body, and is preparing for the possibility of renewed fighting and the resumption of war.

Based on these estimates, the Israeli army believes that disarming the movement requires resuming the war and entering areas outside current Israeli control.

The army and Shin Bet accuse Hamas of violating the understandings on a daily basis, but informed sources acknowledged that the available information does not include a date set by the movement to resume fighting, or an organized operational plan it prepared for that, despite claims that the assessment of Hamas’ refusal to voluntarily disarm is “unequivocal.”

In a separate report, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper claimed that Hamas leaders warned of their readiness to repeat the attack on October 7, 2023.