Hamas sees Gaza war as victory, believes Israel's destruction is still possible, official warns

A senior Israeli security official warns that Hamas views its survival against the IDF over three years as a victory, believing Israel's territorial control is temporary. The official says Hamas is preparing for an IDF ground maneuver into Gaza City by recruiting operatives, digging tunnels, and manufacturing weapons, while Israel's defense establishment assesses a ground maneuver may be unavoidable after the elections.

A senior Israeli security official warned Friday that Hamas's leadership views its ability to withstand the IDF over the past three years as a form of victory, despite Israel controlling approximately 70% of the Gaza Strip. According to intelligence presented to Israel's senior political and defense leadership, Hamas considers Israel's territorial control temporary. The official said Hamas believes US President Donald Trump's points-based plan for Gaza, advanced by Jared Kushner, is a direct continuation of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's 1999 vision for Israel's destruction. The official described Hamas preparing for an IDF ground maneuver toward Gaza City by recruiting operatives, distributing weapons, digging defensive tunnels, manufacturing explosive devices, and producing short-range projectiles. Meanwhile, the IDF Southern Command, Military Intelligence Directorate, Israel Air Force, and Shin Bet have stepped up targeted killings of terrorists who participated in the October 7 attacks. The official assessed that a ground maneuver would ultimately be unavoidable, with a decision expected after the Israeli elections. The article also details Yassin's prediction from a 1999 Al Jazeera interview that Israel would cease to exist by 2027 or 2028, based on a theory of 40-year periods.