Hamas is preparing for a potential resumption of hostilities with Israel, as the ceasefire in Gaza is set to expire this weekend. While mediators work to extend the truce, the militant group's armed wing has begun regrouping and mapping out strategies for a possible return to war, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Arab officials. 

The militant group has appointed new commanders and is focused on fortifying its military presence. In addition, Hamas has started repairing its underground tunnel network and distributing leaflets to new, inexperienced fighters, providing them with guidance on how to conduct guerrilla warfare against Israel. Additionally, Hamas militants have repurposed unexploded ordnance into improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and are actively searching for Israeli listening devices left behind after previous Israeli military operations.

Earlier this month, Hamas's military leader in northern Gaza, Izz al-Din Haddad, reportedly met with his lieutenants to discuss the potential scenarios in the event of renewed Israeli attacks. Haddad warned that Israel would likely first target a strategic corridor dividing Gaza, which would be crucial to the next phase of the conflict. 

While Israel's military acknowledges that Hamas is regrouping and recruiting new militants, it maintains that the group's military capabilities have been significantly diminished. The Israeli forces have killed thousands of Hamas fighters and dismantled much of the organization's senior leadership. Moreover, Israel has destroyed Hamas's rocket-launching capabilities and large sections of its tunnel network, while also cutting off the group from potential rearmament via regional allies.