by Anna Ahronheim
Sunday's IDF operation dismantled a terror initiative that had damage potential similar to the Second Intifada, making Hamas's intention crystal clear.
The arrest operation
on Sunday targeting a dangerous Hamas cell in the West Bank not only
stopped a ticking time bomb but showed just how serious the terrorist
group is.
Based in the Gaza Strip, Hamas constantly attempts to carry out attacks in the West Bank. But this was on a different level.
The
raids, which took place in five different locations in the West Bank,
were aimed at dismantling a large decentralized Hamas terror
infrastructure that was planning to carry out imminent terror attacks there and in Israel.
Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces during a protest in the
village of Deir al-Hatab, near Nablus, September 22, 2021. (credit:
NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)The
attacks were reminiscent of the ones carried out by Hamas and other
Palestinian terror groups during the Second Intifada, complete with
bombings and the kidnappings of Israeli soldiers and civilians.
According
to the military, Israel’s defense establishment had been following the
cell closely and acted when the Shin Bet internal security agency
received intelligence that they were about to follow through with their
plans.
Over 20
operatives belonging to the cell were arrested by security forces and
five weapons were seized. Additional cell members and their weapons are still believed to be on the loose, with Israel on their trail.
Building
the infrastructure’s capabilities must have taken several months, if
not more than a year. It meant funneling funds to purchase the weapons
and carrying out training needed for the attacks.
The funds could have come from the group in Gaza or from Turkey, which the group’s number two, Saleh Arouri, calls home.
It would not be surprising if Arouri was also behind the cell that was targeted by Israel yesterday.
And
it is not hard to imagine that had the cell been successful in carrying
out its plans, Israel could have found itself in another deadly
conflict with the terror group, both in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.
Since Operation Guardian of the Walls and the cancellation of the Palestinian Authority elections,
Hamas and Fatah have been fighting for dominance. And with armed
struggle gaining support following the May conflict, terrorists are
feeling more confident to engage Israeli forces.
Hamas has a strong presence in many cities and villages in the West Bank. A recent study published
by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 45%
of Palestinians believe Hamas should lead and represent them, while
only 19% said that the secular Fatah Party of Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas should represent them.
The poll found that 78% of Palestinians want Abbas to resign.
The Hamas cell that was targeted likely also wanted to increase the pressure
on Abbas and the ongoing and important security coordination between
Israeli security forces and Palestinian Authority security forces
(PASF).
Though
the PASF have been trained and armed by the United States and other
international forces, they have struggled to crack down on Hamas
activities, due in part to their fear of engaging with the terror
group's operatives. And because of that fear, the large Hamas cell was
able to coalesce right under their noses.
The
fact that one of the Palestinians killed during the raids was a member
of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) shows that the two terror groups
cooperate not only in the firing of rockets from the Strip but also in
terms of deadly attacks emanating from the West Bank.
The
group also showed the Palestinian street that less than six months
after Operation Guardian of the Walls, they are ready and willing to
drag the IDF into another deadly conflict, both in the Gaza Strip and
the West Bank.
Hamas
has made it clear that even as they negotiate with Israel to rebuild
the destroyed coastal enclave, they have not abandoned the armed
struggle against its citizens.
Anna Ahronheim
Source: https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/hamas-had-made-it-clear-they-are-willing-to-risk-another-war-with-israel-680417
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