‘Hamas terrorists operate freely’: IDF Gaza surveillance troops say warnings go unheeded like before Oct 7

After nearly one week without Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, which was reportedly due to pressure from the United States to give the Gaza peace plan a chance, the Israel Defense Forces renewed its strikes in recent days, amid outrage that Hamas was being allowed to recover.

One of the most drastic warnings came from IDF surveillance troops this week. Channel 12 News reported on Thursday that female combat observers in two different sectors along the border warned that, like before the Oct. 7 invasion, their desperate warnings are going unheard again.

“I feel like it’s Oct. 6,” one of the observers said, noting the only difference is that the terrorists are now operating along the ceasefire line rather than the old border.

During the Oct. 7, 2023 invasion, terrorists overran the Nahal Oz outpost, where a unit of the traditionally all-female surveillance troops was stationed. Five of the soldiers were killed and seven were taken hostage. Of those seven, Noa Marciano was murdered in captivity, Ori Megidish was rescued, and the five others were later released.

Other surveillance soldiers later stated that their warnings that the terror group had been preparing an invasion were ignored, with some alleging sexism as a factor.

Speaking to Channel 12 this week, the soldiers said that despite daily identification of suspects and activity that could include the placement of bombs near the Yellow Line, where troops are operating, officers have often refused to authorize them to open fire.

“The Gazans aren’t stupid; ultimately, they are constantly testing us and seeing whether we respond or not. It’s really like before October 7.”

“The Gazans know that we will not shoot at them,” another said.

“Fire authorizations are at very, very high levels… the higher you go in rank, the harder it is to obtain authorization to fire. If, for example, you need authorization to fire from a battalion commander who is holding the area, then the battalion commander will usually approve it more quickly,” said one soldier.

The report quickly drew harsh condemnation of the government, which has repeatedly maintained that Israeli troops are authorized to strike immediate threats.

“The political leadership does not restrict the IDF from removing any threat to our forces and our citizens,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in response.

Former IDF chief and Yashar party leader, Gadi Eisenkot, concluded, “The return to Oct. 6 has been completed under this failed government: Hamas has rebuilt its strength in the Strip, and female observers are once again warning that it is preparing for an attack against Israel.”

The chairman of the "Together" party, Naftali Bennett, argued: “As we warned: the Oct. 7  government handed Gaza over to Qatar, and Hamas is rearming and preparing the next massacre before the eyes of the female observers. Qatar runs Gaza, Hamas has rehabilitated itself before Nir Oz and returned to rule Gaza.”

On Thursday, the IDF announced the elimination of a Hamas commander who had infiltrated Israel during the Oct. 7 massacre and reportedly served as the terror group’s police chief. On Friday, the military said it had killed “a Hamas company commander who held numerous hostages in captivity,” including “Tsachi Idan, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Naama Levy, and Matan Angrest,” in addition to Marciano and Megidish.

“Recently, the terrorist attempted to advance terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians and was subsequently eliminated in order to remove the threat.”

At the same time, efforts continued to advance the Gaza peace plan by gaining Israel’s approval for the U.S.-proposed 15-point framework that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected earlier this week.

According to a Board of Peace official cited by The Times of Israel, U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Jared Kushner and Board of Peace envoys Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair are due to arrive in Israel on Sunday for further discussions, before Kushner continues to Cairo, Egypt.

“In Israel, we will continue the constructive conversations that we are having on how to advance the President’s historic Comprehensive 20-Point Peace Plan,” the official said, noting that the U.S. and Israel “agree on the end state, which is a demilitarized Hamas.”

We will hear the concerns that have been raised and talk about next steps. What is critical is that we both agree on the desired outcome and are finding ways to accelerate progress,” he added.

“In Cairo, there are meetings planned with the Egyptians and the other mediators. We will concretize next steps on roadmap implementation.”