Led by Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of the slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the group is recovering after suffering significant losses at the hands of Israel.
In the first two weeks of January alone, Hamas fired approximately 20 rockets into Israel, signalling a resumption of hostilities after a brief period of calm. In addition, 10 Israeli soldiers were killed in intense battles near Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Hamas is also rearming itself with improvised explosives created from unexploded ordnance.
Retired Israeli Brigadier General Amir Avivi warned that Hamas's rebuilding efforts are progressing faster than Israel's ability to dismantle them: "We are in a situation where the pace at which Hamas is rebuilding itself is higher than the pace that the [Israel Defense Forces] are eradicating them."
Mohammed Sinwar: Hamas's New Leader
Mohammed Sinwar has emerged as the key figure driving Hamas's resurgence. Unlike his older brother Yahya, who masterminded the October 7, 2023 massacre and was later killed by the IDF, Mohammed has avoided prolonged imprisonment by Israeli forces, making him a more elusive and unpredictable adversary.
Younger Sinwar’s involvement with Hamas dates back to his command of the Khan Yunis Brigade, which played a significant role in the group’s operations. He was also instrumental in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and helped secure his older brother Yahya's release in the 2011 prisoner exchange.
Since his brother’s death, Mohammed has consolidated power in Gaza, effectively side-lining Hamas's attempts to create a collective leadership. Israeli officials have identified him, along with Izz al-Din Haddad, Hamas’s military leader in northern Gaza, as the current top commanders of the terror group.
An Israeli official from the IDF’s Southern Command confirmed efforts are underway to locate and neutralize Mohammed Sinwar: “We are working hard to find him,” the official said.
Hamas’s Exploitation of Humanitarian Aid
Hamas's ability to rebuild is largely fueled by the exploitation of humanitarian aid. Resources such as food, medical supplies, and other materials meant for Gaza's civilian population have been seized by Hamas to strengthen its military capabilities and sustain its operations.
This diversion of aid, which Israel was pressured to allow into Gaza by the Biden administration, has helped Hamas replenish its ranks and weapons stockpiles. The group has also targeted impoverished Gazans, recruiting them at funerals and prayer gatherings, offering food, aid, and medical care in exchange for their loyalty. Many of these recruits are young and inexperienced, but Hamas trains them to carry out small-scale terror attacks using firearms and anti-tank missiles.
It is also reported that Hamas is using the current ceasefire agreement to reconstitute its terror army, recruiting thousands of new fighters to replace its fallen ranks before returning to its goal to destroy Israel, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Jewish press also contributed to this article.
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