The sources said that in
July 2008, Hamas constructed at least two pipes from Sinai for the transfer
of diesel oil and natural gas to the Gaza Strip.
As a result, the sources said, the Hamas regime receives 150,000 liters
of diesel fuel per day from Egypt. The sources said the fuel cost less than
half the price of that sold by Israel. The Israeli fuel — 120,000 liters
per daily — has been supplied to the Gaza Strip by Israel's Dor Energy.
"Hamas has told Dor it would buy a much smaller quantity," the source
said.
"I can confirm one thing: if there is only one kilowatt in all of Gaza
it will be in one only place, a workshop that manufactures rockets," Israeli
Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said. "They are using us. They know us.
They know our sensitivity to humanitarian issues and they are playing with
it."
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said Hamas and Islamic Jihad have
improved their missile capabilities. During a Cabinet meeting on Nov. 9,
Dichter said Israel could not defend against Palestinian missile or mortar
fire.
The sources said the Hamas preparations for conflict were accelerated
amid the regime's takeover of the estimated 500 tunnels that spanned the
divided city of Rafah. They said Hamas forced operators to pay commissions
while taking direct control of more than 100 tunnels.
At that point, Hamas installed fuel pipes and other equipment for the
smuggling of weapons. So far, the sources said, the Gaza gas pipe has not
yet been operating adequately.
Over the next few months, Hamas would seek to smuggle cement and iron
through the tunnels. The sources said the tunnel network provides about $50
million in goods per month.
