Recruitment, Tunnels, and Surprises: Israeli Intelligence Unveils Hamas’s Plans

Israeli intelligence claims that Hamas is rebuilding its tunnel network and recruiting new fighters in preparation for a prolonged conflict in Gaza.

This was stated by Colonel A., deputy head of the Research Division at the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, during a closed briefing to members of the Knesset on Wednesday, according to Yediot Aharonot.

According to the officer, Hamas is currently “recruiting manpower, reconstructing tunnels, reviewing previous battles, and preparing explosives,” stressing that the movement “is gearing up for long-term fighting in Gaza City and the northern part of the Strip.”

Regarding the Israeli ground maneuver in Gaza City, Colonel A. said intelligence assessments estimate that around 7,500 militants remain there—about 5,000 from Hamas and 2,500 from Islamic Jihad.

He added: “It is likely that this number also includes lower-ranking elements, such as teenagers tasked with monitoring Israeli forces.”

Plan to Encircle Gaza City

Meanwhile, Yediot Aharonot reported that a representative of the National Security Council, identified only as D., told lawmakers that “by October 6, only the encirclement of the city and the evacuation of its residents will be completed,” meaning that full control of the city would not begin until later.

He explained that the operation would take the form of raids and that the Israeli army estimates the fighting in the city will last for several months.

Ghazi Hamad Reappears

At the same time, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad appeared on Al Jazeera on Wednesday for the first time since surviving an Israeli strike in Doha.

Describing the attack, Hamad said: “We were in a meeting with the negotiating delegation and some advisers. Less than an hour after we began discussing the American proposal we had received, we heard massive explosions. We immediately realized it was an Israeli strike. About 12 missiles fell in under a minute. By God’s grace, we survived.”

Negotiations have been stalled since the Doha attack, blocking progress on a new U.S.-backed proposal.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes and forced displacements continue in Gaza City.

On Wednesday, the United Nations expressed its “deep concern” over dwindling food supplies in the northern part of the city, warning that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians “have already endured hunger” since Israel shut down the only crossing into the area last week.