Egyptian security forces operating over the weekend in the Sinai region uncovered 190 anti-aircraft missiles and other weaponry which were set to be delivered to Hamas. Israel Army Radio reported the news based on a report from the Ma’an news agency.  According to the report, the Egyptian security forces discovered the weapons stockpiles in various areas in northern Sinai, which were to be smuggled into the Gaza Strip using the network of tunnels on the Gaza-Egypt border.

At one of the points in central Sinai, an underground stockpile of 100 anti-aircraft missiles was discovered ready to be smuggled. In another warehouse in the city of Al Hassana an additional 90 ant-aircraft missiles were also uncovered awaiting smuggling. In additional raids, the Egyptian security forces also captured other weapons including anti-tank explosive devices, explosive material, automatic weapons and hundreds of bullets.

According to the report, the weapons and devices were neutralized by the Egyptian security forces, who will continue to search the area this week for additional stockpiles.

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center: Hamas Behind Rockets Launched towards Eilat
According to documents published by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) at the beginning of August based on reports by Palestinian and Egyptian sources, the two incidents in which rockets were launched from Sinai to Eilat and Aqaba were traced to a terrorist cell of insurgents from Hamas’ military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas did not claim responsibility for the launchings and even denied connection to the last incident.

According to the ITIC, repeated attacks from the Gaza Strip to Sinai are probably a result of the military wing of Hamas’ desire to widen its terrorist activities to areas farther from the Gaza Strip and the Judea and Samaria region, in order to further challenge Israel, Jordan and Egypt. In the Gaza Strip, Hamas is implementing a policy of restrained attacks, both because of the force of Israeli deterrence and its own political considerations. In the Judea and Samaria region, on the other hand, the organization is having difficulty operating due to thwarting and prevention operations by Israel and the security system of the Palestinian Authority.

(YWN Isreal Desk)