Jerusalem Post/Israel News/Defense NewsHamas has been exploiting Gazans in order to gather information on troop activities, response times, and blind spots for infiltration and attacks.Follow us on Google download high resolution download low resolution add to lightbox file name: F260602ARK06.JPG File Size: 3786 KB caption (en): Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli drone strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, June 2, 2026.(photo credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)ByAMIR BOHBOTJUNE 4, 2026 08:50Hamas has been gathering intelligence along the Yellow Line by sending individuals with disabilities, as well as teenagers and others, aside from their conventional field operatives, to gather information on troop activities in the area, Walla learned from a military source from the Southern Command on Wednesday.Hamas has been exploiting these Gazans in order to gather information on troop activities, response times, and to find blind spots in the area - all in order to plan for infiltration attacks. This is just as the IDF is preparing for a large-scale operation that will include a maneuver deep into Hamas territory. The Commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaniv Asor, presented the General Staff about a month ago with the operational plan to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip, in light of Hamas's efforts to establish its rule and rehabilitate its military wing, while highlighting new challenges facing the Southern Command.The Command's new challenge is the non-stop activity of Hamas's military wing, aimed at engaging IDF forces along the "Yellow Line," and the new ways in which it is doing so.A senior military official clarified to Walla that "Hamas is weak. It does not resemble what it was on October 7th by any parameter. But at the same time, there are leakages in the Gaza Strip that are helping Hamas build up its strength.Displaced Palestinians are seen near their tents in Gaza City, June 1, 2026. (credit: Ali Hassan/Flash90)'Gaza is clearly a powder keg;' Engineering operations continue"It is localized, but it exists. We are doing everything to disrupt and thwart it. They are also constantly thinking about how to develop threats against IDF forces in all kinds of ways. Gaza is clearly a powder keg."In addition, the senior military official said that the Southern Command's activities to target Hamas's capabilities focus first and foremost on removing threats, which is why there are airstrikes in the heart of the Gaza Strip against commanders and key figures.Concurrently, engineering operations continue to locate terror infrastructure both above and below ground, with an emphasis on tunnels.Follow us on Google