The training program of the Hamas al-Shuja’iya Battalion during a ceasefire with Israel, according to a document brought back from the Gaza Strip
A document brought back from the Gaza Strip by the IDF showed that the Hamas military wing had exploited the January-March 2025 ceasefire to train new operatives in preparation for a possible resumption of the war. It detailed training held between February 17 and March 1, 2025 for 121 new recruits who would then be integrated into the al-Shuja'iya Battalion; According to the document, the training lasted only seven days and its schedule was carefully planned so that the entire process could be completed before the target date set for the end of the ceasefire; Given that the training took place during the ceasefire and the trainees were supposed to be integrated immediately into the al-Shuja'iya Battalion, the program included lessons learned from Operations al-Aqsa Flood, the name Hamas gave to the Gaza Strip War; Prospective operatives acquired field skills and were certified in the use of various weapons, including those used by the Israeli forces, and were trained in defense tactics to counter UAVs, first aid in the field and combat documentation. They were also given lectures with religious content and were required to swear fealty to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; Although Hamas was damaged and suffered significant losses during the war, its military wing apparently still operated with an organizational and operational infrastructure that enabled it to function as a terrorist organization in every respect. In Amit Institute assessment, Hamas used tactical pauses not only for regrouping and rest, but as a critical window for accelerated force-building and the insertion of fresh forces immediately upon the renewal of the fighting. Hamas, by virtue of its ability to learn lessons, did not allow its training to stagnate and incorporated updated operational lessons out of necessity to cope with the IDF's tactical advantages in the field. The document revealed that Hamas' training mechanism remained institutionalized, functioning and capable of carrying out complex and multi-branch training under constraints of schedules and security and operational limitations.
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