A senior Israeli security official told Walla on Saturday that Hamas is showing signs of preparing for attacks against Israeli forces, amid growing tensions between the terrorist group’s leadership abroad, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, and its leadership in the Gaza Strip over its policy toward Israel.

The official said Israeli intelligence had identified indications that Hamas was planning to confront IDF troops along the Yellow Line, which separates areas of Israeli military control from the rest of Gaza, as well as local Palestinian clans that regularly clash with the terrorist group.

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

Addressing Hamas’s current situation, the official said the group was struggling to rebuild its military capabilities while facing continued Israeli operations and growing internal opposition.

“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.”

The official was referring to IAF operations aimed at disrupting Hamas’s efforts to organize attacks against Israel or confront IDF forces along the Yellow Line.

Capture of senior Hamas security official provides intelligence gains

The official also highlighted the September 1 capture of Muin al-Arabid, the head of Hamas’s internal security apparatus in Gaza, describing it as a particularly significant operation that has undermined Hamas’s confidence in its ability to protect itself against future Israeli operations.

According to the official, al-Arabid initially couldn’t speak because of his condition, but his health has since improved. The official also suggested that al-Arabid has begun providing information to Israeli interrogators.

The official said increased investment in intelligence resources, closer cooperation between security agencies, improved intelligence gathering, and the establishment of new operations centers had significantly strengthened Israel’s intelligence capabilities, allowing security forces to carry out more targeted killings.

Israeli official sees low likelihood of major Hamas confrontation before elections

Asked about the possibility of a large-scale confrontation with Hamas before Israel’s October 27 elections, the official assessed the likelihood as low.

However, he warned that Hamas’s apparent unwillingness to disarm could lead to renewed fighting in the foreseeable future.

“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.

Before the October 7, 2023, attacks, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate did not operate human intelligence sources inside the Gaza Strip, leaving them without sources on the ground who could have warned of developments during the night of October 6 and the early hours of October 7, according to the report.

Defense establishment and IDF officials have recently reported significant improvements in Israel’s human intelligence capabilities inside Gaza, saying the expanded networks have contributed to major operational successes.