The Gvura Forum, an Israeli bereaved families and reservist organization, responded Sunday to reports that Hamas has been drilling troops near the yellow line in Gaza, saying the activity proves the terror group is exploiting quiet to rebuild and prepare for the next conflict. The forum called on the government to refocus on defeating Hamas and not allow a return to the reality before October 7, 2023.
The Gvura Forum, which represents families of fallen soldiers and reservists, issued a statement Sunday afternoon in response to reports — first published by Israeli journalist Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) and previously covered by The Zioneer — that Hamas has been training its forces near the yellow line inside the Gaza Strip in recent days. The forum's statement, sent as a press release, warns that the drill is the latest in a string of troubling reports indicating that Hamas is using the relative calm to rebuild its military capabilities. "An enemy that is not defeated does not disappear — it grows stronger," the forum said.
The group called on the government to turn the military's full focus back to Gaza, arguing that with the northern front largely stabilized, the time has come to complete the mission in the Strip and implement the cabinet's war goals as set at the start of the conflict. "We, who paid the highest price in this war, call on the government not to allow a return to the reality of October 6 under the guise of temporary quiet," the statement continued, urging a full dismantling of Hamas's capabilities and the restoration of security for residents of the Gaza periphery and all Israeli civilians.
The forum's response is the latest in a growing debate inside Israel about whether the current lull in Gaza is a tactical achievement or a dangerous opportunity for Hamas to recover. The Zioneer reported earlier Sunday on the original Hamas drill report; the forum's statement adds a public, organized advocacy voice to the discussion.
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