WSJ: Mohammed Sinwar recruits ‘hit-and-run’ fighters to fight IDF control of northern Gaza,

According to the report, the person currently leading this effort is Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was eliminated by the IDF a few months ago. A senior IDF officer told the American newspaper: “We are working hard to find him.”

According to the detailed report, the terrorist organization is working to recruit new members, including young and combat-inexperienced individuals. The Israeli military estimates that Hamas has recruited hundreds of people in recent months, focusing on the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Arab sources say that in Israel, it is estimated that this number could reach thousands.

The new recruits reportedly engage in hit-and-run attacks, operating in small cells of individual fighters. They use rifles and anti-tank missiles, which require less military training. The report also mentions that Hamas “persuades” young people to join it by offering them food, medical aid and support for themselves and their families. According to Arab sources, some of the group’s activities also involve the theft of humanitarian aid. Hamas members reportedly attend funerals and prayer rallies in Gaza, where they are recruiting young people.

The recruitment drive poses a challenge for Israel as the influx of new fighters prolongs the fighting. Hamas uses the new recruits to re-enter areas previously affected by the IDF, attempting to restore them, leading to repeated Israeli military actions in these locations.

Mohammed Sinwar, who previously commanded the Khan Yunis brigade, was the mastermind behind the 2006 kidnapping of Gilad Shalit and worked to secure his brother’s release as part of a prisoner exchange deal in 2011. He rose through the ranks of the military branch, gained significant experience and gained the trust of the Hamas leadership. However, despite his military abilities, Sinwar did not gain the popularity his brother enjoyed. There are also rumors of problematic behavior in Palestinian society, particularly regarding his involvement in issues considered “problematic” in Arab street culture.

Although Mohammed Sinwar is considered the most powerful military figure in Gaza, he is far less powerful and capable than his brother Yahya Sinwar or Mohammed Deif. Currently, its main objective is to survive and attempt to rebuild the capabilities of the terrorist organization, which has been severely weakened by the IDF since the start of the conflict.