|
|
|
|
Steven Emerson,
Executive Director
|
February 4, 2015
|
|
|
Gaza
Terrorist Groups Rebuilding Militaries, Training Recruits for War
by IPT News • Feb 4, 2015 at
11:51 am
|
|
|
|
|
Share:  
|
  Be the
first of your friends to like this.
Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist organizations are intensifying
efforts to rebuild military capabilities damaged during last summer's war
with Israel, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center reports. In light of ongoing delays in civilian reconstruction,
Hamas clearly is prioritizing re-arming its terrorist forces over the
population's wellbeing.
In 2009, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal admitted that most of the terrorist
group's efforts would be devoted to a military build-up.
"Outwardly the visible picture is talks about reconciliation…and
construction; however, the hidden picture is that most of the money and
effort is invested in the resistance and military preparations,"
Meshaal said.
The term "resistance" is often used in reference to terrorist
attacks targeting Israeli soldiers and civilians.
Hamas also is actively recruiting youth to participate in terrorist
training camps. More than 17,000 recruits between the ages of 15 and 17
have been trained in the abduction of Israeli troops, exiting tunnels, and
radical Islamist indoctrination. In addition to replenishing lost fighters,
these training programs seek to enhance Hamas' popularity in Gaza while the
civilians suffer from deteriorating living standards largely because of the
terrorist organization's military rebuilding priorities.
Moreover, Hamas has created a military framework which now features the
first battalion in its new "popular army" including 2,500
fighters who will support the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades in a future battle
with Israel. Other terrorist organizations, including The Palestinian
Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees, reportedly have
established similar military structures.
Terrorist training exercises include taking control of Israeli military
posts near the Gaza border and kidnapping soldiers. Hamas believes that
abducting an Israeli soldier or the body of a soldier will help it secure
the release of jailed terrorists in future negotiations.
Earlier reports following the last war also confirmed that
Hamas was diverting reconstruction material in order to rebuild its network
of underground infiltration tunnels. Shortly after the summer war, Hamas
and Fatah's military wing bragged about their domestic missile production capabilities and efforts.
Hamas reportedly test-fired several new rockets over the Mediterranean
Sea last month.
Gaza's terrorist organizations continue to exploit the ceasefire and
resources intended for civilian projects to bolster offensive military
capabilities as they actively prepare for the next war with Israel.
|
The IPT accepts no funding from
outside the United States, or from any governmental agency or political or
religious institutions. Your support of The Investigative Project on
Terrorism is critical in winning a battle we cannot afford to lose. All
donations are tax-deductible. Click here to donate online. The
Investigative Project on Terrorism Foundation is a recognized 501(c)3
organization.
202-363-8602
- main
202-966-5191
- fax
|
|
Print
Send
Comment
RSS
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment