Gaza border residents warn: Hamas is preparing for the next war

Residents of the Gaza border communities were not surprised by the Israeli defense establishment's reports that Hamas military head Mohammed Deif is likely alive and back in charge of the group's military wing. Residents of the area also spoke about recent reports that Hamas has now resumed building terror attack tunnels and manufacturing rockets.

"The reports that Hamas is getting stronger militarily, and the fact that the group is continuing to dig attack tunnels toward Gaza border communities, come as no surprise to any resident from the area," Yael, a member of Kibbutz Nirim, said. "All the residents know which path we're headed down, everyone sees what Hamas is doing on the other side of the fence, and it's doing it flagrantly, right there before our, and the military's, eyes, showing its preparations for the next round of fighting."

Roni Kissin, the secretary of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, is trying to remain optimistic. "We will always have tunnels, we already had them during the Gilad Schalit abduction [in 2006]. Despite all the talk about the winds of war on the other side of the fence, we continue to live and run our lives, absorbing new families [to the kibbutz]; children are being born. All the bad news is not something that has changed our lifestyle. We chose to live in Kerem Shalom, and there is no fear in our hearts. We trust the army to do its duty. We live 50 meters [164 feet] from the border -- believe me, we have not woken up to something new. This is our reality."

Yesh Atid MK Haim Yellin, a member of Kibbutz Be'eri and until recently the head of the Eshkol Regional Council, said the situation needs to be resolved. "Almost a year has passed since Operation Protective Edge, and Israel's government is not working to prevent the next round of fighting," Yellin said. "Mohammed Deif, dead or alive, will not stop the countdown to the next war. Terrorism needs to be fought with resolute strength, but at the same time working with world powers, especially moderate Arab nations, to achieve quiet and a diplomatic horizon."

While Hamas tends to portray last summer's war as a victory in public, there is ongoing dissension within the group, especially due to the dire conditions in the Gaza Strip since the end of the fighting. Hamas infighting reportedly began before Operation Protective Edge, when it is believed that the terrorist group's military wing planned a large-scale terrorist attack using a tunnel in the Kerem Shalom area, which were to include the abduction of civilians and soldiers. But Hamas' political echelon disagreed with the plan, and a bitter dispute between Hamas military wing leader Mohammed Deif and political office chief Khaled Mashaal broke out over the issue.

However, despite the internal friction, Hamas continues to work to improve its military capabilities. On Wednesday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh responded to Israeli reports regarding the failure to kill Deif, saying it was "proof of the failure of Israeli intelligence and reflects the Israeli military command's frustrations."