Hamas ‘regrouping military forces’ in expectation of return to Gaza war

Hamas fighters have been repairing the group’s bombarded network of underground tunnels, in which freed hostages reported being held, while a significant recruitment driver has also been undertaken – including the appointment of new officers after the command structure was degraded by Israeli strikes.

Militants have also reportedly been converting unexploded ordnance into improvised explosive devices and creating units to monitor Gaza for Israeli intelligence operations.

Speculation about a resumption of the war has been growing amid reports that peace negotiations had run into trouble following the latest round of hostage releases.

Israel delayed the release of around 600 Palestinian prisoners following the return of bodies of the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire through its widely-condemned handover ceremonies.

Rifts were also reported over the timing of future hostages releases, while a vocal minority on the Israeli right, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have placed pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu to pull out of the deal after its first phase and resume fighting until “total victory” is achieved.

However, as reported in today’s JC Israel Briefing, the immediate crisis appears to have been resolved.

Hamas announced that Israel will release the prisoners it was holding back in return for the remains of four more hostages, which will be transferred without ceremonies to the Red Cross in Egypt.

Yet an extension to Phase One still needs to be agreed, with the deadline to decide approaching next week. Phase Two is then set to see the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas, apparently in return for a total IDF withdrawal from Gaza, before negotiations for a lasting peace and new governance structure can be agreed in Phase Three.