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Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (file)
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| By Israel Insider staff July 19, 2007 |
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A senior IDF officer announced Thursday that the weapons Hamas is smuggling into Gaza have become significantly more sophisticated since Israel's disengagement two years ago. Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the US, EU and Israel, has carried out numerous terror attacks inside Israel. Since Hamas' takeover of the Strip one month ago, the Gaza-Egypt border has become especially permeable, allowing the number of arms smuggled to leap significantly.
Since they seized Gaza, Hamas has reportedly smuggled in 20 tons of exploses via the Philidelphi Corridor from the Sinai into the Strip. According to the officer, Israel currently has a limited timeframe to address the findings.
"There is today an opportunity since the world has not yet become accustomed to the new Hamas entity, and Hamas has not yet fully completed strengthening it's military capabilities," the officer said, adding that Israel was on a "collision course" with Hamas.
"The Gaza Strip is a boiling pot, the fire underneath is fueled by economy and ideology and the lid over it is Israel," the officer said, as reported in the Jerusalem Post. "Hamas is currently not acting against Israel because it is not in the group's interest, but one must not mistake this with the organization's ultimate goals," he added.
According to the officer, Hamas has established a full-fledged army, with four brigades, which are made up of a number of battalions and platoons. He added that they also obtained anti-tank missiles, as well as an unknown number of anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, Hamas allegedly possesses old models of Katyusha rockets. The militant group is also working towards improving the range of their Kassam rockets.
'"They have an organized military," the officer said, adding the infantry now numbers some 13,000 recruits. "They have the manpower, they have the training, they have the motivation; the principle is creating a balance of deterrence against Israel," he said.
Israel cannot rely on the Egyptians, the Americans and the Europeans, according to the officer. The IDF, he said, is capable of stopping Hamas by itself, the government just needs to give it the OK.
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