IDF faces tough choices in Gaza as Hamas works to build fiber-optic drone fleet

Amid fears that Hamas is trying to copy Hezbollah’s fiber-optic drones, IDF mulls escalating pressure on the terror group in the Gaza Strip.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel is weighing whether to escalate military pressure in the Gaza Strip as Hamas continues to resist demands to disarm, even as fighting intensifies along Israel’s northern border.

The IDF has been expanding its hold along the “yellow line,” the ceasefire demarcation inside Gaza established under President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.

The plan called for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw in phases, but implementation has stalled over Hamas’s refusal to give up its weapons.

Israeli forces have turned what began as temporary defensive positions near the yellow line into a more permanent security zone. Military officials say the aim is to clear the area between the border and the line of Hamas infrastructure while preparing for the possibility of a deeper operation if political efforts fail.

On Sunday, the IDF said troops from the Kfir Brigade, operating under the Gaza Division, destroyed two Hamas tunnels in central Gaza with a combined length of about 2 kilometers. The army said soldiers found living quarters, weapons, dozens of rockets and explosive devices inside the tunnel routes.

A senior military official said about 8 kilometers of tunnels have been cleared in the security zone over the past six months and that about 100 terrorists have been killed in Gaza since the start of Operation Roaring Lion in late February.

“Every threat is attacked, even if it is deep inside Gaza,” the official said. “We have the tools we need from the air force and Military Intelligence. More can always be done, but wherever there are threats, we act.”

The military believes Hamas is trying to rebuild while Israel’s attention is divided among Gaza, Iran and the northern front. Officials say the group is recruiting new operatives, trying to manufacture weapons and placing gunmen at junctions to project control.

One particular development that has sparked concern in Israel’s military leadership is Hamas’ effort to obtain fiber-optic drones, sometimes referred to as “first-person view” (FPV) drones, which rely on wired control to evade electronic warfare systems.

“We take into account that Hamas sees what is happening with FPV drones in the north and likely wants to obtain similar capabilities, though we have not identified anything like that here so far,” the official said.

“At the same time, our hold on the ground is significantly more effective now. We are not stuck in positions. We initiate raids and attacks deep inside the sector. Can they attack us? Certainly. That is a major concern, but we are moving and maintaining mobility at all times.”

Israeli forces have also carried out targeted strikes against Hamas operatives. Reuters reported last week that an Israeli strike killed Azzam al-Hayya, the son of senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, amid stalled talks over Gaza’s future.

The IDF’s current deployment gives troops fire and observation control over large areas of Gaza and could serve as a launch point for future operations. One security official said Israeli troops are “at Gaza’s gates, ready for whatever is required of us.”

Military officials say the focus is increasingly on eliminating Hamas’s field ranks — the operatives who carry out attacks — rather than only senior figures.

“There are many targeted killings of terrorists, the ones who actually carry out terrorist activity,” a security official said. “Sometimes that is much more effective than targeting a senior figure everyone knows who appears only in photographs.”