Hamas is under pressure on multiple fronts, with Israeli intelligence detecting signs of possible attacks against Israeli troops and the group facing challenges to its authority inside Gaza, according to a report by Walla citing a senior Israeli security official.

The official said Hamas faces tensions between its leadership outside Gaza, led by Khalil al-Hayya, and commanders inside the territory over the group’s approach toward Israel. Israeli intelligence has also identified indications of possible confrontations involving IDF forces and rival Palestinian clans.

The potential flashpoints include the Yellow Line, which separates areas under Israeli military control from other parts of Gaza, as well as local clans that have repeatedly clashed with Hamas.

“We are identifying offensive intentions in general. To confront the IDF along the Yellow Line and to confront the clans,” the official said.

According to the official, Hamas is finding it difficult to restore its military capabilities while Israeli operations continue and opposition to its rule grows. The group is reportedly focused on recovering existing weapons rather than significantly expanding its arsenal.

“Hamas is paying the price of defeat every day. On average, three to four targeted eliminations occur every day. Hamas is very concerned about the clans and internal stability. They can’t build up their strength, only restore existing weapons. We are not seeing anything coming in from outside. There is very effective threat-removal activity.”

Israeli air operations have been directed at disrupting Hamas efforts to organize attacks and challenge Israeli forces along the Yellow Line, the official said.

Senior Hamas security figure’s capture may provide Israel with intelligence

The official also highlighted the September 1 capture of Muin al-Arabid, who led Hamas’s internal security organization in Gaza. The operation, the official said, dealt a blow to Hamas’s confidence in its ability to shield its personnel from Israeli intelligence and military activity.

Al-Arabid was initially unable to speak because of his physical condition, but his health has reportedly improved. The official suggested he may now be providing information to Israeli interrogators.

The official attributed Israel’s improved operational performance to expanded intelligence resources, stronger cooperation among security agencies, better information gathering and the establishment of additional operations centers. These developments have helped Israeli forces carry out more precise operations against suspected threats.

Major escalation before October 27 vote considered unlikely

Despite the reported preparations for possible attacks, the official assessed that a large-scale confrontation with Hamas before Israel’s October 27 elections was unlikely.

The longer-term outlook remains uncertain, however, because Hamas has shown no apparent willingness to surrender its weapons. The official warned that the dispute over disarmament could eventually trigger another military campaign.

“Hamas is supposed to hand over its weapons. I don’t see that happening. And there is no intention to do so. We need to apply more pressure. Either this will lead to a military campaign of various kinds, or it will lead to Hamas disarming,” the official said.

The report also revisited a major intelligence gap before the October 7, 2023, attacks. At the time, neither the Shin Bet nor the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate maintained human intelligence sources inside Gaza, leaving Israeli agencies without on-the-ground informants who might have warned of the unfolding threat.

Israeli defense officials have since reported progress in establishing human intelligence networks inside the territory. They say the expanded capabilities have helped support significant military and intelligence operations.