Gaza: Hamas Rebuilds Ranks Amidst Cautious Optimism over Ceasefire Talks

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas Palestinian resistance group, has enlisted thousands of new fighters in the Gaza Strip and has adjusted to the difficult conditions it faces in the ongoing battles with Zionist forces, who are reportedly experiencing exhaustion and mental health issues, as reported by Hebrew media reports on Wednesday.

“Hamas has recruited some 4,000 new operatives for the military wing in recent months,” Israeli news site Walla reported on Wednesday, citing sources in the Zionist military’s southern command.

“They continue to operate in an unusual manner in terms of methods of operation against the [army] … In some places Hamas has adapted itself to fighting against the forces in the southern Gaza Strip,” the sources added.

Resistance Operations

The recent days have seen a reignition of fierce battles in the occupied strip, with both Al-Qassam Brigades and Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad resistance group, announcing successful military operations against the Israeli occupation forces (IOF).

Al-Qassam Brigades announced on Friday a martyrdom-seeking operation carried by one of its fighters.

“In a complex operation, a Qassam fighter managed to kill a Zionist sniper and his assistant from point-blank range in the Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza,” a statement released by the resistance group read.

“An hour later, the same fighter disguised himself as an occupation soldier, and was able to reach a Zionist force of 6 soldiers and blew himself up with an explosive belt, killing and wounding them,” the statement added.

Earlier on Thursday that one of its fighters managed to stab an Israeli officer and three soldiers at point-blank range, in northern Gaza Strip.

“One of the Al-Qassam fighters managed, this morning, to stab a Zionist officer and three soldiers. finishing them off and seizing their personal weapons in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip,” the statement, released on Thursday, read.

Also on Thursday, Al-Qassam released a video showing how a resistance fighters sniped an Israeli soldier in the area of Al-Twam, north of Gaza City.

For its part, Al-Quds Brigades announced on Friday its fighters targeted Israeli gatherings and vehicles at Netzarim Corridor with RD-107 rockets and mortar shells.

Gaza Ceasefire Talks

These developments unfold as hopes of a ceasefire deal ensuring a permanent halt to the genocide remain uncertain.

An Arab diplomat reported progress in the talks but noted that a deal is still weeks away.

“The trajectory is good, but there are still major issues to be negotiated followed by difficult political decisions that both sides will need to make, the diplomat told The Times of Israel on Friday.

Hebrew media reporting appeared more optimistic, with claims from anonymous Israeli officials who maintained that a deal was possible before the end of December.

The nature of the ceasefire deal is the main issue of contention in the talks, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to the war along with the withdrawal of the IOF from Gaza, while the Zionist entity is seeking a temporary pause during which a number of Israeli captives, who are held in Gaza, would be released followed by a resumption of its genocidal war on the strip.