Israeli Officials Warn of Hamas Resurgence Threatening Rafah Reconstruction Efforts
Security officials have raised concerns that Hamas is exploiting a governance vacuum in Gaza to re-establish its power. This development comes as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are focused on the northern front in Lebanon. The Israeli government is expected to oppose initiatives by the Palestinian technocratic government in Gaza, fearing that Hamas will regain control over key power centers. The 'Rafah First' initiative, promoted by the technocratic government and Board of Peace Director-General Nickolay Mladenov, aims to transform Rafah into a demilitarized zone free of terror, allowing for the resettlement of vetted populations. However, the process is hindered by Hamas's reluctance to demilitarize and the United States' difficulty in applying leverage on the group. 
