[Israeli] Army: Palestinian terror organizations joining forces

Jerusalem Post ^ | Nov. 30, 2003 | JPOST.COM STAFF

[yonif]

A senior IDF officer told Israel Radio Sunday that while the number of bomb attacks against Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip has declined somewhat, the quality of the explosives used has improved.

However, Army radio reports that the number of terror attacks in the Gaza district has doubled in the past 10 days since Israel declared it intention to unilaterally dismantle settlements in the Gaza Strip.

27 explosive devices have been detonated near IDF armored vehicles in the past month, and the number of mortars fired has risen to an average of ten daily.

The IDF officer speaking to Israel Radio said that the Palestinian terror groups are increasing their cooperation on military activity.

The Fatah, Tanzim, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are coordinating their attacks and some of their activities closely resemble each other, the officer said.

He added that their attacks are taking on the character of Hizbullah tactics. The officer said that the Palestinian groups are aiming for guerilla warfare tactics, and have studied Hizbullah's style of combat in southern Lebanon.

In one film clip released by the IDF, channel 10 news showed a group of terrorists escaping after having fired upon an IDF post. The group had abducted a small Palestinian child and were dragging him along with them, using him as a human shield against IDF soldiers who accordingly ceased firing.

Regarding the myriad weapons smuggling tunnels in the Gaza Strip, the officer said that the IDF had recently captured three Palestinians intimately involved in the smuggling operations and had gleaned from them much valuable information.

He added that the army is making headway against the tunnels and is receiving valuable assistance from Egyptian security forces.

[yonif]

In one film clip released by the IDF, channel 10 news showed a group of terrorists escaping after having fired upon an IDF post. The group had abducted a small Palestinian child and were dragging him along with them, using him as a human shield against IDF soldiers who accordingly ceased firing.