Hamas facing internal unrest as Israel detects plans for renewed attacks, official says

A senior Israeli security official reported that Hamas is showing signs of preparing attacks against IDF forces along the Yellow Line in Gaza and against local Palestinian clans, amid internal unrest between the group's leadership abroad and in Gaza. The official stated Hamas is struggling to rebuild military capabilities, facing daily targeted eliminations, and is concerned about internal stability. The likelihood of a large-scale confrontation before Israel's October 27 elections was assessed as low. The capture of Muin al-Arabid, head of Hamas's internal security apparatus, was described as a significant operation undermining Hamas's confidence.

A senior Israeli security official told Walla on Saturday that Hamas is showing signs of preparing attacks against Israeli forces along the Yellow Line in Gaza, as well as against local Palestinian clans that clash with the group. The official cited growing tensions between Hamas's leadership abroad, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, and its leadership inside the Gaza Strip over policy toward Israel. The official stated that Hamas is struggling to rebuild its military capabilities while facing continued Israeli operations, with an average of three to four targeted eliminations occurring daily. The official noted that Hamas is very concerned about internal stability and cannot build up its strength, only restore existing weapons. The September 1 capture of Muin al-Arabid, head of Hamas's internal security apparatus in Gaza, was described as a significant operation that undermined Hamas's confidence. The official assessed the likelihood of a large-scale confrontation before Israel's October 27 elections as low, but warned that Hamas's apparent unwillingness to disarm could lead to renewed fighting. The report noted significant improvements in Israel's human intelligence capabilities inside Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attacks.