Media: Hamas rebuilds with new fighters, posing persistent threat to Israeli forces

Hamas, despite suffering heavy losses, is slowly rebuilding under the leadership of Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel in October 2023.

Mohammed Sinwar, around 50 years old, has emerged as a key figure in Hamas’ efforts to revive its forces in Gaza. While a collective leadership council was initially formed after Yahya's death, Hamas militants in Gaza rejected it, operating instead under Mohammed's command, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The Israeli military’s ongoing operations have significantly weakened Hamas’ organized structure. Originally, Hamas had up to 30,000 fighters in Gaza, but Israeli forces claim to have killed around 17,000 of them, with many others detained. Despite this, Hamas has been able to recruit hundreds of new fighters, possibly even in the thousands. These new recruits are largely inexperienced and are engaging in hit-and-run tactics using small cells. The group is equipping them with basic weapons, including guns and antitank devices, which require minimal training.

Hamas is recruiting these fighters by promising food, medical care, and other aid to their families, sometimes resorting to stealing humanitarian supplies or co-opting civilians into their operations. The new recruits are primarily from northern Gaza, and while their lack of military training makes them less capable than seasoned fighters, they are still posing challenges for Israeli forces.

This new phase of recruitment, along with the ongoing fighting, presents a persistent challenge for Israel. The country's military, despite its significant progress in eradicating Hamas’ organized structure, is struggling to contain the resurgence of militant activities in Gaza. The cycle of new recruits and the continuation of guerrilla-style attacks complicates efforts to end the violence and eliminate Hamas completely.

By Vafa Guliyeva