Rafael Hayun, Who Warned Of Oct. 7 Attack, Says ‘Hamas Is Not Broken-It’s Evolving’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Rafael Hayun, a resident of Netivot, set up an intelligence operations center in his home in recent years. He provided critical information to security forces after listening to the communications networks of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Despite the warnings he gave, his listening equipment was confiscated by the IDF, citing that his activities posed a risk to the forces in the Gaza border region. Hayun’s warnings of a possible impending Hamas attack fell on deaf ears. Only after October 7th was his equipment returned to him.

Today, he warns: Hamas has not been broken — it is evolving.

In an interview with Maariv, he reveals what he continues to hear from behind enemy lines:

“As of now, Hamas is training nonstop, mainly underground and in areas where the IDF currently isn’t operating. Not only are they training, but they’re also recruiting a large number of new fighters,” Hayun said.

According to him, the terrorist organization has not been defeated despite the heavy blows it has suffered since October 7th. “Hamas is still fully managing the situation. The blow they took isn’t enough to bring them down. The group is structured in divisions and parts, and eliminating leaders hasn’t completely dismantled the organization.”

He warns that Hamas fighters are now more sophisticated than before:
“Hamas’s combat methods today are such that one Nukhba (elite unit) fighter now is worth ten Nukhba fighters from October 7th. Their survival skills, the conditions they endure, their guerrilla warfare tactics — everything has advanced.”

On Hamas’s plans to resume fighting at an even higher intensity, he says:
“From what I hear, they don’t yet know when they’ll return to full-scale fighting, but right now, they don’t care. 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 points to the humanitarian aid entering Gaza, claiming it ends up entirely in the wrong hands:
“From what I’ve found out, 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 describes a significant shift in Hamas’s operations since the start of the war:
“What’s changed with Hamas — first of all, they used to fight above ground. Now, it’s only underground. They hardly take any risks. Today, every fighter is required to have a camera, to document everything, and transmit it in real-time. They’re smuggling weapons daily — almost every day — through routes the IDF can’t track. They’ve studied, and through that learning, they’ve completely changed their tactics.”

Hayun stresses that he continues to gather this information even now, expressing deep concern that the reality on the ground is not what the public is being told:
“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.”