As Hamas shifts to guerrilla warfare, IDF identifies terror group's efforts to re-establish command centers

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) increased airstrikes in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, targeting Hamas infrastructure and rocket launchers in areas where the IDF has not operated for some time. The military said that several Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists were also eliminated in the strikes. 

Hamas and PIJ recently attempted to launch rockets into Israeli territory, primarily into the Gaza Envelope. Most of the rockets were intercepted or fell in open areas without causing casualties or damage. Some were launched from within Gaza City, where the IDF has not operated for months. 

Israel Defense Forces has focused most of its recent attention on Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and other areas north of Gaza City, where an increase in Hamas activity was seen at the end of the summer. The IDF has made efforts to evacuate most of the civilian population in these communities so it would have greater freedom of operation to destroy Hamas forces in the neighborhoods.

While the IDF has focused much of its attention on Jabaliya in recent weeks, troops continue to operate in Rafah as well. In the past few days, the soldiers eliminated several terrorists, dismantled terror infrastructure sites, and located a large number of weapons in the area. 

Senior officials in the IDF's Southern Command believe Hamas is attempting to restore its command-and-control capabilities in places where the IDF is not actively operating, including parts of central Gaza, some areas within Gaza City and Khan Younis.

While Hamas has not been able to restore the active command structure it had before Oct. 7, 2023, it has managed to restore more organization than existed over the past year. 

Reports in Hebrew media indicated that Mohammed Sinwar, brother of the late top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, has been communicating with operatives through handwritten notes. Security officials believe these written notes and verbal messages relayed by couriers are the primary methods of communication between terror cells and the surviving leadership. This approach minimizes the risk of IDF interception and ensures continued coordination among Hamas cells.

The IDF appears to be strengthening its control over the northern Gaza Strip, which has largely been cleared of civilians, while also expanding its presence in the Netzarim Corridor and the southern Rafah area, near the Philadelphi Corridor.

The military estimates that thousands of Hamas fighters remain, primarily operating as a guerrilla force focused on setting booby traps in buildings and targeting forces with mortar, sniper or RPG attacks.

This shift to guerrilla warfare tactics has transformed the nature of the IDF's operations in the Gaza Strip. 

Currently, the IDF is concentrating its efforts on the northern Gaza Strip, having largely cleared Jabaliya, and is expanding its operations in Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun.

The IDF announced this morning that Sergeant First Class Idan Kenan (21) a soldier in the 90th Battalion, Kfir Brigade, fell during combat in northern Gaza. He was reportedly killed by a Hamas sniper in the area between Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya.

Kenan’s death brings the number of soldiers killed in the Israeli ground campaign in Gaza to 376.