Report: Hamas Using Hostage Parades to Strengthen Terror Forces—Here’s How
Hamas uses Hostage parades as cover for rebuilding terror forces, report reveals. The seemingly innocent hostage handover ceremonies in Gaza are serving a far more sinister purpose, according to an exclusive report by The Telegraph.
Israeli intelligence analyst Ronen Solomon revealed that Hamas is strategically using these events, which initially began as small-scale ceremonies, to gather intelligence and rebuild its military presence after months of being forced underground.
As the hostage release process continues, what was once a modest display involving a handful of terrorists has transformed into large-scale parades. These ceremonies now involve up to 150 armed fighters and the same white pickup trucks used during the October 7 massacre against Israel, a chilling reminder of the group's violent history.
Solomon explains that while the international community and Israel are focused on the emotional significance of the hostage exchanges, Hamas has been using these moments to map out Gaza’s terrain and collect valuable geographic information. Each time the location of the ceremony changes, whether in Rafah, Khan Younis, or Gaza Port, Hamas uses drones to document the surroundings, all while controlling the event with armed fighters and communication devices like walkie-talkies. This allows them to gain further intelligence on strategic areas, undetected by Israel.
Despite the focus on hostage releases, reports suggest that Hamas is successfully rebuilding its force, recruiting thousands of new members. With an estimated 12,000 to 23,000 new recruits, Hamas, alongside Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is assembling a massive, albeit inexperienced, fighting force in Gaza. While some of these recruits may be inexperienced youth, the armed terrorists seen at these ceremonies don’t appear to be novices, according to Solomon.
Israeli figures reveal that over 17,000 Hamas terrorists have been killed since Israel’s counteroffensive began 16 months ago, and significant blows have been dealt to Hamas’ tunnel networks. Despite this, the group continues to adapt and grow, using every opportunity to strengthen its capabilities under the cover of hostage release ceremonies.