Following Hamas’ announcement to delay the return of hostages this coming Saturday and the indefinite suspension of the hostage deal, on Tuesday evening sources within Hamas told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that the intelligence branches of Hamas’ military wing and senior leadership have directed all senior officials to refrain from using mobile phones.
According to reports, Hamas officials are primarily concerned about targeted eliminations by Israeli forces, especially following the renewed presence of Israeli aircraft over Gaza, which they claim constitutes a violation of the agreement.
Speculations and Growing Concern
Tensions continue to rise in Gaza as local sources from Palestinian factions speculate on Israel’s potential next steps. Among the scenarios Hamas is preparing for are Israeli strikes on new targets collected in its updated intel bank; such as vehicles used in Hamas’ recent military parades, and direct assassinations of prominent terrorist operatives.
Other possible Israeli actions causing tension among Hamas include: a takeover of the Netzarim Corridor, the re-entry of IDF forces into Salah al-Din Road, the establishment of buffer zones in northern Gaza (specifically in Jabalia, Shuja’iyya, Zeitoun and other key areas), and the expansion of buffer zones in central and southern Gaza.
With uncertainty growing, Hamas continues to brace for further escalation, anticipating Israeli military action in response to its recent violations.
