Recruitment and Training
According to Israeli security officials, Hamas has recruited approximately 4,000 new fighters over the past month.
This rapid expansion bolsters its fighting capabilities and complicates Israel’s efforts to apply military pressure on Hamas to expedite a hostage deal.
Currently, Hamas is estimated to have about 20,000 armed fighters in Gaza, along with a stockpile of scores of rockets that it sporadically launches into Israeli territory.
The Islamic Jihad organization also retains about 4,000 armed fighters in the Strip.
The Impact on Conflict Dynamics
Hamas’s military recovery has allowed it to prolong its war of attrition against the IDF and adopt tougher stances in hostage negotiations.
The funds for this recruitment effort are reportedly from the sale of humanitarian aid packages, which Hamas forcibly seizes and resells in Gaza’s markets.
These actions undermine the humanitarian efforts intended to assist civilians in the region.
IDF Response and Future Plans
Israeli security officials indicate that the IDF’s recent military operations have disbanded Hamas’s 24 battalions, forcing the group to adopt guerrilla warfare tactics.
However, the ongoing recruitment effort could enable Hamas to continue its resistance in the northern Gaza Strip, led by Izz al-Din Haddad, the commander of Hamas’s northern brigade.
Should hostage negotiations fail, security sources estimate that Israel’s political leadership might order the IDF to occupy Gaza City fully and evacuate its residents to the south.
This move would consolidate Israeli control over the northern Gaza Strip.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has signaled potential support for such measures, warning Hamas that failure to release hostages would result in severe consequences, writing on social media in early December, “The hostages are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will.” He threatened “ALL HELL TO PAY” if they are not released. He added: “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”
Humanitarian Concerns
The Israeli government is considering a significant reduction in humanitarian aid to Gaza to weaken Hamas’s control and pressure it into concessions.
However, such measures risk further exacerbating the dire conditions faced by civilians in the Strip, complicating the humanitarian crisis and international responses.
As the situation evolves, the balance between military actions, humanitarian considerations, and international diplomacy will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this conflict.
{Reposted from JCFA}
