“Tunnels and New Leaders”… Hamas “Prepares” for a Possible Return to War in Gaza

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As the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement nears its end, the situation remains uncertain, with fears growing over a possible resumption of hostilities.

According to The New York Times, Hamas is reorganizing its forces in preparation for a potential return to fighting against Israel in Gaza.

The newspaper, citing Arab officials in contact with Hamas, reported that the Al-Qassam Brigades, the movement’s military wing, have appointed new leaders and started mapping out fighter deployments in case of renewed warfare.

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These officials also stated that Hamas has begun repairing its underground tunnel network and has distributed brochures to inexperienced new fighters on how to use weapons for guerrilla warfare against Israel.

The Countdown

The countdown to the end of the first phase of the Gaza truce has begun, with no extension in sight despite regional and international efforts to defuse the situation.

When Israel and Hamas—mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt—agreed on a six-week ceasefire on January 19, hopes were high that the truce would evolve into a longer, more stable agreement.

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However, those hopes now appear to be fading, according to The New York Times.

In recent days, Tel Aviv and Hamas have exchanged accusations of violating the terms of the current agreement, which allowed for the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Over the past weekend, Israel delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, protesting what it described as the “humiliating” way in which Hamas displayed the hostages before handing them over.

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Overcoming the Deadlock

Yesterday, Egypt, Hamas, and Israel announced that they had reached an agreement to resolve the crisis over the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages.

Under the agreement, 620 Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the return of the bodies of four Israeli hostages, along with corresponding Palestinian detainees.

For the first time, the bodies of the four Israeli hostages will be handed over under Egyptian supervision, without the usual ceremonies conducted by Hamas.

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In previous handovers, Hamas held formal ceremonies when transferring hostages to the Red Cross, which included document signings on a stage with a public audience from Gaza.

According to the agreement, the exchange will take place on Wednesday evening instead of Thursday as originally planned.

Do Hamas and Israel Want to Resume the War?

With the hostage exchange issue settled, the question remains: Do both sides want to restart the war?

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According to The New York Times, so far, Hamas—weak and isolated—has refrained from openly calling for a resumption of hostilities.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly stated last Sunday that Israel is prepared to resume fighting if Hamas does not voluntarily disarm.

In a speech to soldiers, Netanyahu clarified that he is only open to negotiations regarding the terms of Hamas’ surrender.

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Many Israelis want the Prime Minister to agree to a prolonged truce to secure the release of the remaining hostages.

However, his allies within the right-wing coalition believe that defeating Hamas is a more urgent national priority and are pressuring him to restart the conflict.

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