(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi - On March 25, 2018, Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades conducted a wide-scale military exercise. Elaborate models of Israeli tanks were built and "captured." A Hamas video showed the Brigades attacking IDF positions, kidnapping IDF soldiers and dragging them into tunnels, firing at airplanes (with anti-aircraft missiles and heavy machine guns), and landing a naval commando force to attack Israeli targets. The al-Qassam Brigades has grown into a regular army with the ability to attack deep inside enemy territory through rockets and naval and subterranean infiltration. In the present situation, Hamas has the right of veto over any political agreement with Israel, which is reinforced by its military might, the support of many Palestinians, and the backing of Muslim Brotherhood supporters such as Turkey. The writer is a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center.
2018-03-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive