A Hamas operative recently arrested by Israeli authorities gave the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, details about Hamas’ plans to attack Israel and how it is financed and supported by Iran, The Times of Israel reported today. According to the Times, Ibraheem Adel Shehadeh Shaer was arrested last month, but details of the arrest and what he told authorities were cleared for publication today.
During questioning by security officials, he disclosed a plethora of details about Hamas activities in Rafah, and in particular Hamas’s emergency procedures, as well as its intention to use tunnels dug under the border to attack Israel in a future fight.
Shaer told investigators that in recent months he worked on some of the tunnels and was shown a passage dug from Rafah that led in the direction of the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Israel, the Shin Bet said in a statement sent to Hebrew-language media.
The Hamas member provided data on Hamas tunnels in the Rafah area, including digging locations, access shafts, diggers and the routes of the tunnels. He also revealed that a new road recently laid down by Hamas near the border fence was installed for the purpose of carrying out surprise attacks using vehicles that would speed over the border into Israel.
Shaer reportedly works in logistics support for Hamas, and was involved in fighting against Israeli troops during Operation Protective Edge last year.
Shaer also told authorities that Iran provides Hamas with money, weapons, electronic equipment that could be used to jam Israeli drones, and even training Hamas terrorists how to para-glide into Israeli territory. Shaer also provided officials with information on elite Hamas units, as well as its technological capabilities, such as cameras that can see three miles into Israel.
Although Iran’s support for Hamas and other terrorist groups that threaten Israel, such as Hezbollah, is well-documented, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said last week that the Karine A, a ship carrying some 50 tons of Iranian arms intented for Palestinian terrorists before it was intercepted by Israel in January 2002, was an “Israeli false-flag operation.”
[Photo: Israel Defense Forces / Flickr ]