Speaking to a group of diplomats and foreign reporters at a Jerusalem briefing yesterday, IDF OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant painted a grim picture of post-Disengagement Israel. “Since the Disengagement 2,053 Kassams have been launched at Israel,” the IDF commander said. “296 explosive charges have been detonated, 143 attacks carried out against tanks that were outside the security fence – not inside Gaza – and there were 260 incidents of gunfire at IDF forces outside of the fence.”
Galant also said that Iran is actually training and outfitting Hamas terrorists to form a guerrilla army. “Boosted by their newfound ability to travel abroad, Hamas members have been going back and forth to hostile countries for training,” he said. “They are sending them to Syria, Lebanon and Iran. And the opposite [is happening as well]. People from Iran come to inspect the situation in the area, give them training and coaching, examine them and see if they hit the target they gave them.” The IDF commander, who is privy to all of the IDF and Shabak (General Security Services) intelligence information, said Hamas has already been outfitted with elite surveillance units, snipers and explosives experts.
His assessment confirms what Shabak Chief Yuval Diskin said earlier this week; namely, that Hamas terrorists have been receiving training in Iran. Most of them travel to and from Iran via Egypt, whose border with Gaza has remained open ever since Israel�s withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor and Rafiah Crossing. The lack of Israeli presence at the border has allowed for the speedy stockpiling of arms and weapons, Galant added. “Hamas has managed to arm itself by smuggling goods through tunnels across the border with Egypt.�
Galant also offered a veiled criticism of Israel’s one-sided cease-fire with Hamas and said the terror group was using the time to stockpile weapons and improve its tactical abilities in preparation for war.
