Hamas has warned Israel of a potential repeat of the October 7 massacre, delivering the threat through UN humanitarian coordinator Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov. Israeli security officials described the direct message as unusually explicit and severe.
The Palestinian militant group conveyed the warning last week during talks at the Gaza office of Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, asking the United Nations official to pass the message along to Israeli authorities. On Wednesday, Alakbarov met with Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevy, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), to deliver the text. Israeli political leadership and security agencies were urgently briefed on the document, which detailed threats of renewed attacks inside Israel, across the West Bank, and abroad. The message, according to ynet, was that Hamas was no longer prepared to accept this situation.
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Grievances Behind the Warning Delivered to COGAT
During their discussions with the UN envoy, Hamas representatives expressed mounting anger over developments they argued were steadily eroding their grip on the Gaza Strip. The group pointed directly to continued Israeli military operations, adjustments to the yellow line marking IDF positions, and the decision by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to cancel elections originally scheduled for November 28. Having concluded that the current trajectory serves only to weaken them, Hamas representatives stated they were no longer prepared to accept the status quo.
Israeli intelligence and military leadership have taken the warning seriously.
Hamas threatened another October 7-style attack in message to Israel – reportRead more here 👉https://t.co/FHCPwKWexz
Assessing Remaining Operational Capabilities and Financial Strain
Israeli security evaluations place the strength of Hamas’s personnel across Gaza at approximately 30,000, ranging from administrative employees and lower-ranking operatives to members of its military wing. Despite this numerical presence, military analysts emphasize that the organization’s current combatants are generally less experienced and less thoroughly trained than their predecessors. Much of their training is now theoretical because conducting practical exercises in open areas would expose them to Israeli strikes.
Internal financial pressures compound these military constraints. According to security assessments cited by Israeli intelligence reports, Hamas requires approximately NIS 90 million ($29 million) each month to meet payroll obligations. Security sources identify Iran and Turkey as Hamas’s principal sources of funding, alongside money transferred from outside Gaza and control over humanitarian aid entering the territory.
International Demands for Disarmament and Impending Political Deadlines
Israeli officials remain convinced that the militant group will attempt to stall negotiations or turn over defective and outdated armaments while concealing its core operational assets. At the same time, Israel has declined to permit the entry of a proposed technocratic governing committee or a Palestinian police force into the territory.
Security planners believe that Hamas may calculate its window for action is narrowing.