Underground, Unbroken, and Evolving: Intelligence Whistleblower Warns Hamas is Not Defeated

By:  Fern Sidman

In a chilling and deeply revealing report that appeared at VIN News on Monday, a civilian intelligence source from Netivot is sounding the alarm: Hamas is not only still operational — it is adapting, evolving, and preparing for the next phase of its war against Israel.

Rafael Hayun, a determined private citizen with a passion for national security, established a clandestine intelligence operations center inside his own home. For years, Hayun intercepted the internal communications of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, providing crucial real-time intelligence to Israeli security forces — intelligence that he now claims was repeatedly ignored, even in the face of imminent danger.

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, Hayun’s warnings of an impending Hamas attack were disregarded, despite the clarity of the threats he uncovered through his covert surveillance. Instead of mobilizing based on his insights, authorities confiscated his listening equipment, citing concerns that his operations might pose a risk to military forces stationed along the Gaza border. That confiscated equipment was only returned after the horrors of October 7th, the day that altered Israel’s security landscape forever.

Today, Hayun continues his work — and his warnings are no less dire.

“Hamas has not been broken — it is evolving,” he said in a candid interview with Maariv, as reported by VIN News.

From his continued monitoring of Hamas communications, Hayun paints a picture not of a defeated terrorist organization, but one that is actively reorganizing, recruiting, and refining its methods.

“As of now, Hamas is training nonstop, mainly underground and in areas where the IDF currently isn’t operating,” Hayun revealed. “They’re not just training; they’re also recruiting a large number of new fighters.”

The VIN News report emphasized that according to Hayun, the organizational structure of Hamas remains intact. The loss of commanders and infrastructure has not decimated the group’s functionality. On the contrary, it has triggered a more agile, guerrilla-style evolution.

“The blow they took isn’t enough to bring them down,” he said in the interview with Maariv. “Hamas is still fully managing the situation. The group is structured in divisions and parts, and eliminating leaders hasn’t completely dismantled the organization.”

One of the most startling aspects of Hayun’s testimony is his assertion that today’s Hamas fighter is far more lethal and capable than before. According to his insights, one member of the elite Nukhba unit now has the operational value of ten fighters from just a few months ago.

“Their survival skills, the conditions they endure, their guerrilla warfare tactics — everything has advanced,” he explained to Maariv.

But Hamas is not simply lying in wait. Hayun warned that the group is actively preparing for future escalations, even if the exact timing remains unclear.

“From what I hear, they don’t yet know when they’ll return to full-scale fighting, but right now, they don’t care,” he told Maariv. “As far as they’re concerned, the situation remains unchanged as long as they hold hostages. The hostages are their leverage — they know that’s what keeps them alive and prevents strikes on their locations.”

Hayun also sounded alarms over the misuse of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. According to his intercepted communications and intelligence findings, the aid intended for civilians is being completely commandeered by Hamas.

“It’s important to understand — the aid going into Gaza isn’t reaching those who need it. Hamas controls the situation, they take everything, they’re in charge of it all,” he told Maariv, as was reported by VIN News.

Even more concerning is the strategic and operational metamorphosis of Hamas fighters. Hayun detailed a radical shift in combat approach: the shift from above-ground battles to nearly exclusive underground warfare.

“They hardly take any risks now. Every fighter is required to have a camera, to document everything, and transmit it in real time,” he said. According to the information in the VIN News report, Hayun also described daily smuggling of weapons through undetected routes — a continuous logistical pipeline the IDF has yet to fully disrupt.

These changes, he warned, are not being communicated to the public with the urgency and transparency they deserve.

“Hamas isn’t stopping; they’re continuing and growing stronger. I just want someone to hear this, to take it seriously — so we don’t return to that terrible day.”

Hayun’s story, as told through VIN News, is a sobering reminder of the limits of conventional military assessments in the face of asymmetric warfare. It is also a powerful testament to the often-overlooked contributions of ordinary civilians who dare to act when the system does not.

As Israel assesses its next steps in the ongoing war against terrorism, Hayun’s testimony — and the warnings he continues to send from the shadows — may yet prove to be a critical missing piece in understanding the real threat Hamas still poses.