Report: Hamas rebuilding in Gaza; Israel says it killed militia chief
Israeli officials have reportedly told the U.S. that Hamas has no intention of disarming. Israeli strikes killed at least three people, according to Hamas-run health officials.
Symbolic image · Photo: Abedallah Alhaj / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (cropped and resized)
Senior Israeli officials have told the United States that Hamas has no intention of giving up its weapons, the newspaper Haaretz reported. The group is rebuilding its forces in the Gaza Strip in case of renewed war, has repaired tunnels and stockpiled weapons in areas it controls, the report said. The military estimates Hamas has 30,000 to 40,000 fighters, roughly the same as before Oct. 7, 2023.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee voiced doubts about whether the Board of Peace created by Trump can carry out his Gaza plan, The Jerusalem Post reported. His concerns include the International Gaza Support Center, whose responsibilities Washington plans to hand to civilian staff.
Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least three people on Thursday, according to Hamas-run health authorities, Reuters reported. The Israeli military and the Shin Bet internal security agency said they had killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committees in Khan Younis.