RAMALLAH Ñ Hamas has taken a break from suicide bombing
attacks on Israel in order to rebuild its insurgency network.
Palestinian sources said Hamas seeks to restore its network of agents
and reestablish strongholds in the West Bank as an intense Israeli
military campaign has led to the capture or deaths of more than 150
members. The sources said Hamas appears intent on recruiting and training
new agents before it embarks on a new wave of attacks against the Jewish
state.
Hamas spokespeople have acknowledged losses as a result of Israeli
military operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. They said that
suicide bombers have been harder to recruit as their families fear Israeli
demolition of their homes.
On Thursday, Israeli elite units, backed by armored vehicles and
helicopters, launched a drive against Hamas in the Ramallah area. Military
sources said troops captured 55 suspected Hamas agents in a raid of more
than 50 villages in the central West Bank.
Hours later, a Palestinian blew himself up near an Israeli university
outside Tel Aviv, killing an Israeli woman and injuring at least six people
others. Witnesses said the bomber tried to board a moving bus packed with
soldiers and slipped. The soldiers tried to help the Palestinian until one
of them saw his explosive belt. The attacker broke free, ran after the
passengers and detonated his bomb.
Hamas spokesman, Abdul Aziz Rentisi said Hamas has found it difficult to
operate amid the Israeli crackdown. He said his organization will resume
what he termed was full-scale activities once it adjusts to the heavy
Israeli military presence.
Palestinian sources said Hamas is receiving help from a range of
Palestinian insurgency groups to launch a wave of revenge attacks. The
sources cited the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad and the ruling Fatah movement
headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
PA officials said they have drafted a plan to reimpose security in the
Gaza Strip to help end attack on Israeli positions.
They said the PA first wants to clear the plan with the United States and
ensure that Israel will end incursions into their areas under control.
"We have a scenario in our mind," PLO Executive Committee secretary
Mahmoud Abbas said. "First we can start by taking charge of security
wherever we can, for example in Gaza, where we still have some remaining
security forces and where Palestinian organizations could cooperate with
us."
