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Wed, Dec 29, 2010 | The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center

Hamas Remarks About Its Attack Policy and the Recent Escalation

Senior Hamas figures said they wanted the lull to continue and held Israel responsible for the recent escalation in the Gaza Strip. They accused Israel of plotting new “aggression” and threatening a strong Hamas response should such “aggression” occur. Ismail Haniya, head of the de facto Hamas administration, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General complaining of so-called “Israeli aggression” against the Gaza Strip (Hamas’ Palestine-info website, December 24, 2010).

The Palestinian media reported that Hamas was trying to enforce its policy of restraint on the rogue networks. It was reported that Hamas’ internal security forces had deployed along Salah al-Din Street, the Gaza Strip’s main thoroughfare, and were searching cars for weapons and guns. The Palestinian media claimed that the security forces had received orders to deal harshly with rocket launchers (Hamas’ Palestine-info website, December 27; Imad, December 26, 2010).

Hamas figures had the following to say:

— Mahmoud al-Zahar, senior Hamas figures in the Gaza Strip, called on Israel to stop its so-called “invasion,” “assassinations” and “siege,” and if it did, Hamas would be committed to restraint. At the same time, he called on the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to join the “resistance” (i.e., terrorism) and denounced the Palestinian Authority for cooperating with Israel. He said that Hamas would continue the “resistance” until it destroyed “the dictatorial state with [its] Palestinian collaborators” (Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV, December 24, 2010).

— Taher al-Nunu, Hamas spokesman, claimed it was impossible to state with certainty that the rockets fired at Israel came from the Gaza Strip [sic]. He accused Israel “and not only the Palestinian factions” of escalation. He added that Hamas intended to bring the issue before the UN General Assembly, the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and other venues (Al-Jazeera TV and Al-Nashra, December 22, 2010).

— Ayman Taha, Hamas spokesman, claimed that here was “a national consensus for a lull on the ground,” and that Hamas would not allow anyone to violate it (Radio Sawt, December 23, 2010).

— Yusef Rizka, political advisor to Ismail Haniya, denounced the reports in the Israeli media stating that Hamas had brought anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles into the Gaza Strip. He claimed that Israel was preparing for “comprehensive aggression” against the Palestinians (Al-Qassam website, December 23, 2010).

— Abu Obeida, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades spokesman, made reference to the so-called “latest Zionist aggression,” calling it “playing with fire,” and threatened that if Israel put the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades to the test their response would be “harsh” (Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV, December 25, 2010).

A Terrorist Organization Display for the Anniversary of Operation Cast Lead

For the anniversary of Operation Cast Lead (December 27), Al-Jazeera TV broadcast a program documenting joint training exercises held by Hamas and various other terrorist organizations in preparation for what it called a new Israeli “aggression” against the Gaza Strip. The exercises included firing light and heavy arms and detonating bombs. They also included simulated abductions of IDF soldiers (Al-Jazeera TV, December 27, 2010).

Left: A camouflaged operative fires an anti-aircraft gun. Right: A terrorist operative carries a man pretending to be wounded Israeli soldier who is being abducted (Al-Jazeera TV, December 27, 2010).

Left: A terrorist operative armed with a machine gun. Right: A terrorist operative carrying an anti-tank rocket launcher (Al-Jazeera TV, December 27, 2010).