Hamas reconstruction and West Bank violence spark security concerns

A strategic report by the October Council, titled ‘Strategic Warning: Defeat 2026’, suggests that Hamas is actively rebuilding its capabilities. The report claims the group maintains between 27,000 and 30,000 fighters, is recruiting new members, producing weapons, and reactivating underground infrastructure. It warns that Israeli military leadership may be falling into a state of complacency regarding internal threats.

Concurrently, reports from the West Bank highlight recent escalations in settler violence. In Masafer Yatta, British activist Finn Joughin was detained by police after being targeted by armed settlers. In Qusra and Jalud, incidents involved the occupation of homes and physical assaults on individuals, including a media crew. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the arrest of those responsible for such violence, data from Yesh Din indicates that a vast majority of investigations into ideological crimes by Israelis against Palestinians in the West Bank result in no indictment.