Hamas' Safa News Agency, April 2, 2011
Hydepark, April 3, 2011
Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israeli territory
Rocket Fire -- Monthly Distribution
Mortar Shell Fire -- Monthly Distribution
PIJ website, March 27, 2011
Abu Sisi in court
The Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs presents an award to the family of Abbas al-Sayid
The Hamas security forces patrol the Gaza Strip on Land Day
A car carrying operatives of the Hamas squad which, according to the Israeli media, planned to abduct Israeli civilians during the Passover holiday. The car was attacked by Israeli aircraft and its three passengers, all Hamas operatives, were killed (Hamas’ Safa News Agency, April 2, 2011). |
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Overview
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Overview
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Israeli Aircraft Attack and Kill Terrorist Operatives
Hamas Squad Attacked
On April 2 Israeli aircraft attacked a car carrying operatives of a Hamas squad who, according to the Israeli media, were planning to abduct Israelis in the Sinai Peninsula during the Passover holiday. According to the Palestinian media, three members of the squad were killed and another Palestinian, apparently a passerby, was seriously wounded.
One of the terrorists killed was Ismail al-Lubad, bodyguard of the late Hamas leader Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi, who had advanced to a command position in Hamas’ military wing. Another of the terrorists killed, Muhammad al-Daya, was a ground commander in Hamas military wing (Haaretz, Israel Radio Reshet Bet and Safa News Agency, April 2, 2011).
Left: Ismail al-Lubad and Fathi Hamad, Hamas administration interior minister
Right: Ismail al-Lubad extreme left, standing next to the late Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi
(Hydepark, April 3, 2011).
Regarding the attack in the Sinai Peninsula, the Israeli counterterrorism bureau instructed Israelis to leave the Sinai Peninsula immediately and warned that they had "updated information that terrorist organizations are continuing their efforts to abduct Israeli tourists in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula for bargaining purposes," and that "terror agents that are residing in Sinai are coordinating plans for such attacks with local [Bedouin] collaborators."1
Responses from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu claimed that the Israeli attack proved that Israel "is not interested in quiet" and "kills for no reason" (Hamas’ Palestine-info website, April 2, 2011).
Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida denied that the members of the squad were planning to act "outside the Palestinian borders." He accused Israel of trying to drag Hamas into "a quiet war" and "fool the world" (Al-Quds TV, April 4, 2011).
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum denounced the Israeli attack, claiming it had been carried out for "no apparent reason." He hinted that it violated the status quo of "quiet in return for quiet" on which Hamas had based the lull in the fighting with Israel, and claimed that the various [terrorist organization] organizations operating in the Gaza Strip were coordinating a fitting response� (Al-Jazeera TV, April 2, 2011).
Khader Habib, senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad figure, said that his organization would not continue the lull and that the various factions of the "resistance" [i.e., the terrorist organizations] had to respond to the Israeli action (Qudsnet, April 2, 2011). The PIJ issued a press release stating that the organization would respond "with every possible means" but leave the decision as to time and place to the operatives on the ground (PIJ’s Paltoday website, April 2, 2011).
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Rocket Squad Attacked
On March 30 Israeli aircraft attacked a squad of Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist operatives firing a rocket into Israeli territory. The media reported that one of the operatives was killed and two were seriously wounded (Ynet and the Safa News Agency, March 30, 2011).
Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad figure Ahmad al-Mudallal said that the response would be "double" (PIJ’s Paltoday website, March 30, 2011).
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Important Terrorist Events on the Ground
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The Gaza Strip
Rocket And Mortar Shell Fire 2
This past week three rocket hits were identified in Israeli territory, on March 29, March 31 and April 4. All three rockets fell in open areas in the western Negev. There were no casualties and no damage was done.
Rockets and Mortar Shells Fired into Israeli Territory 3
Rocket Fire — Monthly Distribution
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Mortar Shell Fire — Monthly Distribution
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Statements about the Rocket Fire Policies of Hamas
and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Following the escalation in rocket and mortar shell fire, a senior PIJ figure who insisted on anonymity said that the rockets his organization fired at Beersheba and Ashdod were in response to the Israeli activity in the Gaza Strip which killed Palestinian civilians, and that the PIJ was not interested in a war. He added that if Israel "continues its escalation" his organization would launch rockets with even longer ranges (Al-Hayat, March 27, 2011).
Scenes from a Palestinian Islamic Jihad video documenting organization operatives
firing rockets into Israeli territory, apparently on March 24 (PIJ website, March 27, 2011)
The Hamas-affiliated columnist Mu’min Bseiso criticized what he called the "anarchy" in the decision-making process concerning firing rockets at Israel. He criticized Hamas’ rocket fire on March 19 (when 49 mortar shells were fired into the western Negev), after which, he said, other the [terrorist] organizations began firing and Hamas lost control of the situation. He also denounced the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s attacks on Beersheba and Ashdod, calling them a waste of "high cards." He said that rocket fire policy had to be decided jointly by the organizations on the basis of a clear strategy, and not based on tactical considerations intended to further private agendas (alresalah.net, March 28, 2011).
Hamas Activist Dirar Abu Sisi Indicted, Developed Rockets for Hamas
On April 4, 2011, an indictment was handed down for the engineer Dirar Abu Sisi. Its main points were the following (according to the Southern District Court indictment, April 4, 2011):
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Studying in the Ukraine, Abu Sisi acquired professional knowledge in the field of high-trajectory weapons and their development, despite the fact that he was officially being trained in electrical engineering.
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From 2002 to at least 2008, Abu Sisi held a senior position in a Hamas committee which dealt with developing and improving missiles and various types of mortars. The committee was headed by Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander Muhammad Deif and its members had various fields of expertise. Abu Sisi was responsible for electrical and rocket stabilization matters.
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In 2007 Abu Sisi contributed to the development of Al-Qassam rockets with a range of 22 kilometers (13.7 miles). Later he was asked to help increase the range to 37-45 kilometers (23-28 miles).
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Abu Sisi was also involved in the development of anti-tank missiles, including Hamas’ independently-manufactured Al-Yassin missiles. He helped develop the missiles’ fins and stability to improve their ability to penetrate steel.
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�After Operation Cast Lead Abu Sisi was one of the founders of Hamas’ "military" academy, where today commanders for Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades are trained. He constructed a curriculum comprising three fields of specialization: military, management and religion. In 2010 the academy began covert activities in various civilian locations, including mosques, offices, private residences and meeting halls.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum denied that Abu Sisi was in any way connected with Hamas and claimed that the accusations were "lies" meant to hide the "serious crime" carried out by Israel in collaboration with the Ukrainian authorities (Al-Bayan Center website, April 4,2011).
Abu Sisi in court
(Photo by Yehuda Lahiani, courtesy of NRG, April 5, 2011)
Terrorist Operative Shot and Killed near the Gaza Strip Border Fence
On April 4 an armed Palestinian terrorist operative was identified near the Gaza Strip border fence. When he did not heed IDF force calls to halt, he was shot and killed (IDF Spokesman’s website and Ynet, April 4, date, 2011).
Judea and Samaria
Israeli Actor Juliano Mer-Khamis Shot and Killed in the Jenin Refugee Camp
On April 4 Israeli actor and leftist activist Juliano Mer-Khamis was shot and killed by an unknown person or persons near the theater he founded in the refugee camp in Jenin. Son of a Jewish mother and Arab father, in recent years he had lived in the refugee camp where he ran the "Freedom Center," a theatre and school for actors.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad denounced the murder, saying that he could not keep silent about such a "despicable crime." He said that he had instructed the Palestinian security forces to work around the clock to find the person responsible (Haaretz and Wafa News Agency, April 4, 2011).
Palestinian Minister of Prisoner Affairs Gives Award to Family of Terrorist Who Planned the Suicide Bombing Attack at the Park Hotel
Issa Qaraqe, Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs, visited the families of the prisoners who are currently on a hunger strike. One of the families was that of Abbas al-Sayid, a senior Hamas operative who planned the suicide bombing attack at the Park Hotel and dispatched the suicide bomber. During his visit he presented the family with an award (Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, March 29, 2011).
The suicide bombing attack on the Park Hotel was carried out on the night of the Passover Seder, March 27, 2002. Twenty-nine Israeli civilians were killed and 140 wounded, the last straw which led to Operation Defensive Shield, whose objective was to stop the Palestinian terrorist campaign against Israel.
The Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs presents an award to the family of Abbas al-Sayid
(Salam-TV, March 29, 2011)
Other Events
This past week the Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities, detaining Palestinians suspected of terrorist activities and seizing weapons.
This past week demonstrations and riots were held at the usual friction points, during which demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli security forces.
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Developments in the Gaza Strip
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The Crossings
This past week between 154 and 215 trucks carrying merchandise entered the Gaza Strip every day, including thousands of tons of building materials. In addition, hundreds of thousands of flowers for export abroad left the Gaza Strip though the crossings into Israel (Website of the Israeli government coordinator for the territories, April 5, 2011).
Relations Between the De Facto Hamas Administration
and the New Egyptian Regime Continue to Improve
A Hamas delegation headed by senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Zahar met with the new Egyptian foreign minister, Nabil al-Arabi. "Diplomatic sources" reported that agreements were reached concerning most of the issues. The Egyptian foreign minister said that the problem of the Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Egyptian jails (whose release was demanded by Hamas) would soon be resolved. He also said that within a few days a "new, just way" of operating the Rafah crossing would be formulated (Hamas’ Palestine-info website, March 30, 2011).
Muhammad Awad, planning and foreign minister in the de facto Hamas administration, said that the administration was waiting for an answer from Egypt regarding its request to reopen the Egyptian embassy in the Gaza Strip. One of the reasons for the request, he said, was to facilitate issuing Egyptian entrance visas for Palestinians wanting to pass trough the Rafah crossing. He said the administration expected the Egyptian authorities to give a positive answer shortly, adding that "the future of relations with Egypt [looks] promising" (alresalah.net, March 26, 2011).
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The Internal Palestinian Arena
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“Land Day” Marked on March 30 in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip
On March 30 "Land Day" was marked in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip with demonstrations and marches, and an hour of studies in the schools was devoted to the subject. Speeches were given by senior members of the Palestinian Authority and the terrorist organizations. Salam Fayyad, prime minister of the PA, gave a speech emphasizing that the land was "the heart of [the Palestinians’] national cause." He claimed that the Palestinians had given an example of "peaceful methods of popular resistance" to "the fence and the settlements." He said it was the Palestinians’ right and duty to defend their country and that they were close to the moment of "salvation from the oppression of the occupation" (Wafa News Agency, March 30, 2011).
In the Gaza Strip Hamas’ information ministry issued a statement according to which Land Day symbolized "the promise to adhere to the option of resistance" [i.e., terrorism] and the adherence of the Palestinian people to its land "throughout all ‘Palestine’ from the [Mediterranean] sea to the [Jordan] river" until "the liberation and return." Hamas expressed its rejection of the "policy of concession" and said that the current generation was "the generation of jihad and liberation" which could lead to the outbreak of "an intifada of liberation and return" (Hamas’ Palestine-info website, March 30, 2011).
Demonstrations and marches were also held in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip Hamas internal security forces were present in the streets in force to oversee the demonstrations and prevent any from being held which were not organized by Hamas (Hamas’ Safa News Agency, March 30, 2011).
The Hamas security forces patrol the Gaza Strip on Land Day
(Hamas’ Safa News Agency, March 30, 2011)
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Convoys and Flotillas � Update
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Statements Regarding the Upgraded Anti-Israeli Flotilla (Freedom Fleet 2)
Ramzy Abdo, spokesman for the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG), a member of the anti-Israeli coalition organizing an upgraded flotilla to sail to the Gaza Strip in May, called on the UN to support it. He said that the flotilla was not the activity of a "marginal group" and that the ships would be sent by the United States, Canada and European, Latin American and African countries (Wafa News Agency, April 2, 2011).
Wa’el al-Saqa, head of the Jordanian LifeLine committee, which is expected to join the upgraded flotilla, said that it was supposed to set sail during the second half of May 2011. He said that between 120 and 240 Jordanians would participate, between 20 and 40 of them from the Islamic movement [i.e., the Muslim Brotherhood] and an equal number of trade unionists (Saraya News Agency, April 3, 2011). Note: During the Mavi Marmara flotilla the Muslim Brotherhood and trade unionists played a central role in the large Jordanian delegation.
1 http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-issues-urgent-travel-warning-to-sinai-fearing-terror-attacks-1.353703
2 Updated supplementary information for the ITIC’s March 23, 2011 bulletin, "Escalation continues in Israel’s south: One Grad rocket falls near the city of Ashdod and two hit Beersheba," at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/ipc_e176.pdf.
3 The statistics do not include the rockets and mortar shells which fell inside the Gaza Strip.
