Guns discovered by the IDF on a prayer rug in a basement prayer room of a mosque, protecting a secret tunnel. Photo: Screenshot / IDF.

An Israeli Defense Forces official stated that Gaza-based terror group Hamas is working vigorously to prepare for its next confrontation with Israel, local news website 0404 reported.

The group is continuing to test-fire rockets as part of training exercises, and just this morning a test-launch was carried out into the sea, the official said. He added that the IDF is monitoring Hamas’ activities and vigilantly observing their training in the Gaza Strip, and are well-aware of what is going on behind enemy lines.

The senior IDF official said that, “Hamas continues to practice and prepare for its next confrontation with Israel. This doesn’t come as a surprise to us at all, since we are monitoring every action Hamas takes – firing rockets at the sea from the Gaza Strip, flying drones in the Strip, infantry training, military exercises, and more.”

He added that, “there is no doubt that Hamas is preparing. They are trying to do as much as possible. We know that Hamas is working to dig new tunnels and to upgrade its weapons. Just recently, we intercepted a shipment [of weapons] at sea, which was intended for the terror organization.”

The official also said, “we are well aware of every operation and training exercise that Hamas undertakes, the arenas in which they are practicing, and every undertaking whose goal is to prepare the terrorist organization to fight against Israel.” However, he concluded by claiming that Hamas knows better than to engage the IDF again, since it will suffer a greater defeat than that which was dealt to it during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge.