Hamas is gearing for a fresh round of violence and is sparing no effort to enhance its arsenal and train its operatives, especially the Nukhbah force, the military wing's elite terror unit, a senior officer with the Southern Command told reporters Thursday. In a briefing with military correspondents, the officer said that Hamas special forces currently number some 20,000 operatives, making up approximately a quarter of Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades' troops. Gaza Strip's rulers also strive to develop their drone and naval capabilities, including terrorist divers, he said, adding that Hamas was actively pursuing improved rocket launching capabilities, but it has yet to rehabilitate its pre-2014 firing abilities, which were significantly crippled during Operation Protective Edge. Hamas is currently focusing on developing its short-range projectile fire apparatus, which proved more effective during the fighting, as it challenged the Iron Dome defense system's interceptors. The officer said the Islamist group was trying to increase the amount of explosives its arsenal of short-range projectiles can carry, as well as develop mid-range rockets that could "escape" Iron Dome. One of the innovations said to be in development is "barrel bombs" capable of packing up to 250 kilogram (550 pounds) of explosives. "There is concern of miscalculation on Gaza's part, meaning Hamas suspects we are planning some sort of operation, therefore they're on very high alert and they lend great importance to any statement by the IDF. They're concerned we might strike Gaza to affect the situation in Judea and Samaria," he said. "Hamas saw the situation in Judea and Samaria as a strategic opportunity it hoped to seize. It is very disappointed by the fact the situation in Judea and Samaria has stabilized." Since the conclusion of Operation Protective Edge in August 2014, there have been only 35 incidents of rocket fire at Israel the officer said, explaining the IDF believes Hamas is deterred. "Hamas understands that it has to stop terrorist attacks against Israel. It stops projectile fire against Israel, and when something like that happens under their nose, they arrest the people involved," he said, adding Military Intelligence has indications that Hamas' military wing is becoming stronger at the political wing's expense, to the point where the military wing is, at times, acting independently. Furthermore, it appears the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades maintain a direct relationship with Wilayat Sinai, Islamic State's proxy in the Sinai Peninsula. These ties, which according to the officer are fostered despite objections by Hamas' political wing, facilitate arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip. Wilayat Sinai operatives' payments come in the form of a certain percentage of the illegal shipments. The IDF knows of ongoing attempts to smuggle antitank and antiaircraft missiles into the Gaza Strip, but many of these attempts are thwarted thanks to Egypt's effective anti-smuggling efforts in Sinai, he said. Nevertheless, Hamas is also transferring large sums of money to Wilayat Sinai, with aim of ensuring that in the next conflict with Israel, the jihadi operatives will fire rockets at Israel from Sinai. Still, the officer stressed that the collaboration between Hamas and Wilayat Sinai is clouded by the group's ideological rivalry, saying Hamas was sparing no effort to eradicate Islamic State sympathizers inside the Gaza Strip. Contrary to media reports, there is no tension on the southern border, the officer said. "Our readiness on the Gaza border is solid. There are no signs of an imminent escalation, and we believe the current situation will continue." Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported Thursday that Israeli military engineering forces were deployed near the security fence, and in some cases ventured as far as a few dozen yards into Palestinian territory. The reports said several IDF bulldozers and other heavy machinery have been operating along the border for several days. Combat engineering troops are routinely deployed along the Israel-Gaza Strip border to clear the area along the security fence of explosives planted by terrorists. Also on Thursday, the Magen Yehuda group, a nonprofit organization that trains volunteer first responders, held a large exercise at Kibbutz Erez, about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) from the Gaza border. The drill simulated a terrorist infiltration, a hostage situation, the creation of a midfield within a border-adjacent community, and dealing with a suicide bombing. Magen Yehuda collaborates closely with security and emergency forces, and the drill included police and military forces, and Magen David Adom paramedics. "This exercise achieved several goals, including responding to various emergency situations, gauging first responders' readiness and professionalism, improving communication between our teams and security forces, and most of all, increasing the residents' sense of security," Magen Yehuda CEO Zur Meir said.
