Hamas Fighters Operate With Advanced Equipment

The Hamas regime has equipped its new army with advanced systems in the war against Israel.

Israeli military sources affirm that Hamas, with a 10,000-man army, has equipped its units in the Gaza Strip with communications, body armor, night-vision and GPS systems. They said the equipment has enhanced Hamas operations in the northern and southern Gaza Strip.

“Hamas has succeeded in absorbing equipment never seen before in the Palestinian arena,” a military source said. “This has certainly modified our operations.”

The Hamas units have been operating along the Israeli security fence that surrounds the Gaza Strip. On Monday, two Hamas fighters planted a bomb near Israeli military units at the Erez border terminal.

“The gunmen used buildings in the Erez Industrial Area to organize and execute attacks against IDF [Israel Defense Forces] forces and the Israeli homefront,” a military statement said on Tuesday. “The soldiers fired at the gunmen and identified hitting them. The gunmen were wearing army vests and carrying weapons.”

The sources said Hamas units, trained by Iran and Hezbollah, were sent on a nearly daily basis to ambush Israeli soldiers along the Gaza border. They said Hamas sought to hamper patrols and infiltrate Israel for major strikes.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military identified and struck several Hamas fighters who crawled toward Israeli border positions. Several of the fighters, equipped with weapons and radios, were struck and injured.

“The forces fired at, and identified hitting the gunmen who were discovered to be carrying hand grenades, small arms, army vests, ammunition clips, knives and communications equipment,” the military said.

The Israel Air Force has also been employed in the war against Hamas. On Tuesday, attack helicopters struck a Hamas military post in the southern Gaza Strip linked to missile and mortar fire into Israel.

“Since June, Palestinians have fired at Israel an average of one Kassam rocket every three hours,” the military said. “About 200 rockets have been launched since the beginning of November.”

©The Bulletin 2007