Hamas is actively building a regular military division of tens of thousands of well-trained troops armed with sophisticated weaponry

November 5, 2006, 1:40 PM (GMT+02:00)

This warning came from the IDF OC southern command Maj.-Gen Yoav Galant in a briefing to Knesset foreign affairs and defense committee Tuesday, Oct. 31. He described Hamas commando and anti-tank units under training and an organized Hamas weapons industry topped up by massive arms smuggling. The IDF has prepared effective plans to forestall Hamas’ dangerous military enhancement in Gaza, said Gen. Galant. But, he added, the military needs the policy-makers’ signal to go ahead before it is too late.

Current military activity in the Gaza Strip goes no further than routine defensive measures, but falls far short of the comprehensive operation the IDF is capable of for eroding Hamas strength. Monday, prime minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would expand its operations in the Gaza Strip but the military is clearly not satisfied with this general assertion.