Military sources said Hamas and its Palestinian allies were employing a
range of routes to bring weapons, fuel and cash to the Gaza Strip. The
sources said Hamas was being hampered by increasing efforts by Egypt and
Israel.
"Hamas uses all means available to smuggle weaponry into Gaza," the
Israeli military said.
In a May 25 statement, the military said Hamas has sought to build a
huge weapons stockpile with support from Iran. The military also said Hamas
was trying to smuggle material for indigenous weapons production in the Gaza
Strip.
"Whether they are using smuggling tunnels or fisherman boats, Hamas is
constantly trying to smuggle in missiles, launchers, guns, explosives and
materials for building weapons," the military said.
The statement did not provide details of the weapons smuggling. But
military sources said the intensified smuggling has allowed Hamas and its
Palestinian militia allies to sustain missile and rocket fire toward Israel
in 2010.
"Hamas, supported and funded by Iran, denies Israel's right to exist and
continues to build up its weapons stockpiles so as to continue attacking the
Israeli civilian population," the military said. "Since 2010, 140 rockets
and mortars were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip."
The sources said Israel has expanded maritime security patrols in the
Mediterranean Sea along the coast of the Gaza Strip. They said suspected
smuggling vessels have been approaching the Gaza Strip from the west on a
nearly daily basis.
"IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, including the maritime closure and
crossing restrictions, arise from the need to maintain the safety of the
citizens of Israel from the terrorist threat in the Gaza Strip and to
prevent weapons smuggling," the military said. "Hamas, in its continued
efforts to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip, harms the people of Gaza and
prevents them from further development."