Special to WorldTribune.com

JERUSALEM — Israel has determined that Hamas was enhancing its ability to track security officials.

Officials said the Hamas killing of a police commander in April 2014 marked an upgrade of the Islamist movement’s intelligence capabilities.

The officials said the suspected attacker, captured by the Israel Army, was a Hamas
operative released in the Palestinian prisoner exchange in 2011.

“This attack was thoroughly planned ahead of time,” a senior Israeli
security source said.

On June 23, the Israeli military and Israel Security Agency announced
the arrest of Ziad Awad and his 18-year-old son, charged with the killing of
the Israeli police commander. The 42-year-old Awad was said to have tracked
the officer, identified as Avi Mizrachi, as he drove near the West Bank city
of Hebron.

Hours before the Passover holiday, Awad allegedly opened fire from an
AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle and escaped on a motorcycle. Officials
said this marked the latest attempt by Hamas to target senior police and
military officers.

“The investigation of the defendants showed that Awad planned the attack
in advance and arrived at the scene of the attack before its execution, to
conduct surveillance and collect information,” a joint statement by the
military and ISA said.

The statement said Awad and his son Izzedin — arrested on May 7 — did
not receive assistance from Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Neither the military
nor ISA explained how the Hamas operative was able to maintain surveillance
of a senior police officer.

Awad has been accused in military court of opening fire on seven Israeli
vehicles near an Israel Army checkpoint. Officials said the attack pointed
to the need for Israel to enhance force protection as well as surveillance
of major arteries in the West Bank.

“Following the attack, the Israel Defense Forces will intensify its
covert and overt activities along roads and sensitive areas to foil ambushes
and terrorist attacks,” the military said.

  Avi Mizrachi, Hamas demonstrated improved intel capabilities in killing of Israeli officer, Hebron, Ziad Awad