Threat to Israel from Arms Coming into Gaza from Egypt
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In 2005, Israel completely withdrew its military and evacuated 9,000 Israeli civilians from the Gaza Strip with the hope that it would be a major stepping-stone to both peace and a two-state solution.
- In June of 2007 Hamas – a terrorist organization backed by Iran – seized control of Gaza through a combination of elections encouraged by the United States and a violent coup that left more than 100 people dead.
- Hamas said it carried out 1,115 major operations against Israel by the end of 2010, according to its military wing spokesman Abu Obeida.
- Since the first elections in Gaza which were encouraged by America, there have been no further elections. This is despite the fact that polls show dissatisfaction in Gaza with Iran-backed Hamas and that voters in Gaza want a new election.
- Since the beginning of 2011, 47 rockets have been fired into Israel
- At the start of 2011, more than 950,000 Israelis live within range of rocket and mortar attacks.
- There have been approximately 8,800 rockets (Grads, Qassams) and mortars launched at Israel since 2005.
- During 2008, 1,755 mortars shells, 1,720 Qassam rockets, and 75 Grad missiles were launched at Israel.
- Dozens of tons of standard explosives and other rocket building material smuggled in, as have scores of Grad rockets with ranges of 25 miles (40km), hundreds of mortal shells and dozens of anti-tank weapons
- Hundreds of smuggling tunnels used to deliver arms, merchandise, equipment and fuel have been re-dug since the end of Cast Lead. As many as 1,500 tunnels now exist under the Gaza-Egypt border
Since Hamas’ military take-over of Gaza in June 2007, the terror group has used human shields as a means of protecting its military arsenal and capacities from the IDF.
- IDF forces found a school and a zoo in Gaza rigged with large amounts of explosives.
- Hamas operatives fired rockets from schoolyards and civilian residences.
- During Operation Cast Lead, Hamas commanders used Shifa Hospital in Gaza City as a base of operations. Hamas fighters and operatives also used other medical installations during the armed conflict.
- Hamas used children as runners during Cast Lead. The children transmitted messages about the movements of enemy forces and brought Hamas terrorists ammunition and food.
- Despite often intense bombardment from Gaza, Israel has continued to provide Gaza with humanitarian aid and other supplies.
- In December of 2010 the Israeli government began to once more allow exports from Gaza, specifically strawberries and flowers, which Gaza is known for.
- In July 2010, Israel eased its blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza allowing in all goods other than those that can serve terrorist purposes.
- From the end of Operation Cast Lead in January 2009 until June 2010, Israel coordinated the transfer of 1,068,400 tons of aid, 139,118,433 liters of fuel and 52,580 tons of cooking gas into the Gaza Strip.
Weapons Smuggling into Gaza from Egypt
- The Mubarak government was building a massive iron wall along its border with the Gaza Strip, in a bid to shut down smuggling tunnels into the territory. The wall was designed to be over five miles long and over 60 feet deep. Egyptian forces have often intercepted munitions before they can enter the Strip and have stepped up checks at internal roadblocks and checkpoints in the Sinai. But weapons components still get through.
- Several top Hamas operatives broke out of Egyptian jails when the protests began and have returned to Gaza. They include the longest-serving Hamas prisoner in Egypt, Ayman Nofal who had been arrested in the Egyptian Sinai in early 2008 for allegedly planning to carry out a terror attack in Egypt. He said in a TV interview after his escape he had made contact with Hamas activists in Gaza, who sent escorts to assist him, and was back home within a few days.
- A top member of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, Sami Chehab, also escaped after being jailed for planning attacks in Egypt.
