Israel Matzav

Think Tank: Hamas has an army of 20,000

An Israeli think tank reports today that since the 'brilliant' expulsion of Gaza's Jews less than three years ago, Hamas has built up an army of 20,000 men, much of it trained in Lebanon and Iran. It also has long-range rockets and advanced anti-tank weapons in the Gaza Strip and has smuggled in more than eighty tons of weapons.

Entitled "Hamas's Military Buildup in the Gaza Strip", the report - compiled by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center - detailed the structure of the Hamas military force in Gaza, naming commanders of its various brigades and the type of weapons it has succeeded in smuggling into Gaza through the Sinai.

According to the think tank that has close ties with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), which provides most of the information in the report, Hamas's military buildup is currently at its peak although its completion will take another few years. [In other words, postponing an operation will only make it worse. CiJ]

Hamas's military capabilities are based on the Izzedin al-Kassam Brigades - the group's military wing responsible for the terror attacks against Israel.

In the event of a large-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza, the report claims that Hamas would refrain from fighting against the IDF in open areas but would instead channel the fighting into more densely-populated areas. [Where they have lots of human shields. CiJ]

"Hizbullah's success in providing an asymmetric response to the IDF's might during the second Lebanon war made it a role model for Hamas," the report states. "The lessons of the second Lebanon war also illustrated the importance of having a strong military force which could stand fast and survive to protect Hamas's control of the Gaza Strip, like the military force Hizbullah established in south Lebanon."

The commander of the al-Kassam Brigades, which numbers 10,000 operatives, is Ahmed Ja'abri, who took over following the assassination attempt on Mohammed Deif in July 2006 that left the supreme Hamas commander seriously injured.

In addition to the brigades, Hamas also controls the Executive Force which numbers another 10,000 operatives. There are also another 3-4 thousand operatives who belong to other terror groups - Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine etc. - and these would also likely join Hamas's fight against the IDF in the event of an Israeli invasion.

According to the report, the northern Gaza brigade is commanded by Ahmed Ghandour; two brigades in Gaza City are commanded by Ja'abari; the central Gaza brigade is commanded by Ayman Nawfal who is currently in prison in Egypt and two brigades in southern Gaza - one in Khan Yunis and one in Rafah - are respectively commanded by Muhammad Sinwar and Ra'ed al-Atar.

Haaretz adds:

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center also said that Israel's 2005 pullout from Gaza enabled the militant Palestinian group to boost its power in the coastal strip, over which it gained control in a violent takeover in June 2006.

"The Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip in August 2005 created a new situation which accelerated the establishment of an area fully controlled by Hamas. It was quick to use its increased military power to make political capital in internal Palestinian affairs," the study states. [For Haaretz, that's an astounding admission. They are effectively admitting that the 'disengagement' was a huge mistake. CiJ]

Iran and Syria supply Hamas with weapons, technical knowhow and training, the study also stated.

Futhermore, the study said the Islamic group has smuggled 80 tons of explosives into the Gaza Strip since it seized the territory last year.

But let's give the 'moderate' Abu Mazen some more territory that he and Hamas can use to build an army in Judea and Samaria and then the whole country can be like Sderot. Eh Ehud?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:36 PM