Hamas was 'caught off guard' by renewed war in Gaza, Official claims

Senior officers from the Israel Defense Forces’ Southern Command revealed this week that Hamas was taken by surprise by the renewed wave of fighting in Gaza. The militant group reportedly believed the war had ended and did not anticipate a return to full-scale ground operations by Israeli forces.

"The enemy was surprised by our initiative and by the firepower," military sources said. "It was in the mindset that the war was over and that we wouldn't return to fight, and therefore, the attack caught them by surprise."

The IDF has reported significant progress in the current phase of its operations. So far, 350 Hamas terrorists have been eliminated, including seven battalion commanders, 11 company commanders, and approximately 40 key figures with operational knowledge or strategic influence. In addition, 12 governmental and command targets linked to Hamas have been destroyed.

Ground forces have uncovered and destroyed multiple tunnels, including some reaching as deep as a kilometer underground. In northern Gaza, five tunnels extending toward the security fence were located and neutralized. The IDF is currently focusing operations in areas like Shejaiya and Daraj Tufah, which overlook the coastline, and continues to secure the Netzarim Corridor up to the Salah al-Din Corridor.

From the air, the Israeli Air Force has struck 1,200 targets, including Hamas operatives, field commanders, and weapons infrastructure such as rocket launchers, manufacturing sites, and firing pits. The strikes are aimed at degrading Hamas’s ability to wage further conflict.

IDF intelligence also reports that Hamas leaders and fighters have taken shelter in civilian areas, including hospitals and schools, using them as cover for their operations.

Addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, IDF commanders stated they are closely monitoring conditions on the ground. "There is enough food in storage, and there is no starvation in Gaza," they asserted, responding to international concerns about civilian welfare.

The renewed offensive underscores Israel’s commitment to dismantling Hamas’s operational capabilities, with both ground and aerial efforts intensifying across multiple fronts in the Gaza Strip.