Security officials near Gaza raised alarms Thursday about increasing Hamas presence along the border fence, reporting a threefold rise in suspicious activity since the ceasefire began. In one concerning incident, seven armed militants were spotted just 300 meters from a civilian kibbutz.
"Hamas activity at the fence is returning, our blood is boiling," local security coordinators told a senior Gaza Division commander, expressing frustration that IDF forces are avoiding warning shots to preserve the fragile ceasefire.
The situation bears haunting similarities to conditions before October 7, when Hamas launched a devastating surprise attack that claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives and saw about 240 taken hostage. That morning, militants breached the border fence at multiple points, infiltrating nearby communities, including kibbutzim, in the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
Current reports of armed Hamas members approaching the fence have triggered severe anxiety among returned residents. "We're watching history potentially repeat itself," said one security coordinator. "The same fence, the same threats, and now we're being told the IDF can't even fire warning shots. After October 7, we said we'd only return once Hamas was eliminated. Instead, we're back to square one, with all kibbutzim populated but Hamas still active along our borders. The only difference is now we know exactly what they're capable of."
These developments come amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations and increasing international pressure for de-escalation, leaving border communities caught between the trauma of recent history and current security concerns.
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