The American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal” (WSJ) published a report by Summer Said, Rory Jones, and Benoit Faucon, stating that “Hamas, which has suffered significant military losses, is preparing for a new round of confrontation.” The report highlighted that “the movement has appointed new leaders as the first phase of the ceasefire agreement nears its end this weekend.”
According to WSJ, Hamas is reorganizing its forces in anticipation of a possible resumption of fighting against the Israeli occupation in Gaza, while mediators work to salvage the ceasefire agreement.
The newspaper cited Arab officials who revealed that “Hamas’ military wing has appointed new commanders and is mapping out fighter positions in case of a return to war.”
The same officials noted that “the group has also begun repairing its underground tunnel network and distributing pamphlets to new fighters on how to use weapons.” These preparations come at a time when Israel and the United States are pressuring Hamas to extend the current ceasefire in Gaza and to release more prisoners before engaging in negotiations for a permanent end to the war.
Occupation Demands Hamas’ Disarmament
According to the report, the Israeli occupation wants Hamas to completely disarm and abandon any role in governing Gaza—an impossible demand from the movement’s perspective.
Meanwhile, the United States, a key mediator in the ceasefire talks, has expressed its commitment to negotiating a second phase of the ceasefire, which would involve discussions on ending the war permanently. However, Washington claims it needs more time beyond the current ceasefire deadline, set to expire on Saturday.
The report continued: “Hamas has expressed openness to extending the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, but the path forward remains blocked.” Officials said that Hamas has deployed fighters across Gaza to search for spies and assigned another unit to monitor potential infiltration by Israeli occupation forces.
Hamas’ Resilience in the Face of War
Retired Israeli General Israel Ziv commented: “Of course, someone new has taken over command.” He likened Hamas’ resilience to “a bullet belt—fire one bullet, and another immediately takes its place.”
Meanwhile, Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted: “There is a clear divergence between those in Gaza and those in Doha.” However, in an interview this month, Hamas Political Bureau member Hussam Badran rejected this notion, stating: “Hamas remains united as a movement, both inside and outside of Gaza.”
Hamas’ Strength During the Ceasefire
WSJ noted that during the ceasefire, Hamas used the release of Palestinian prisoners as an opportunity to demonstrate its strength. Hundreds of Palestinian detainees were freed from Israeli prisons as part of the truce agreement.
To showcase its resilience, Hamas paraded hundreds of armed fighters wearing body armor and military uniforms throughout Gaza. The group also displayed dozens of pickup trucks and a stockpile of assault rifles, many of which were originally manufactured in Israel and the United States.
A Message of Defiance
Hamas also set up large speakers and banners printed with bold, anti-occupation slogans referencing recent events. Fighters wore scarves—more commonly seen at formal ceremonies—and Hamas’ media teams filmed the scenes to later broadcast them on social media.
The report further emphasized that Hamas continues to maintain administrative control over civil affairs in Gaza. The group’s police forces are currently securing and distributing humanitarian aid that has entered Gaza through international relief organizations during the ceasefire.
