The sources said the foreign volunteers quietly entered Egypt in late
2007 and early 2008 in preparation to enter the Gaza Strip. They said the
need to recruit trained fighters and acquire weapons was a major reason for
the destruction of the border wall with Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Jan. 23.
In late January, the Al Qaida-aligned Fatah Al Islam called on Muslims
to flock to Sinai and enter the Gaza Strip. Fatah Al Islam fought the
Lebanese Army for more than 100 days in 2007.
The Maan news agency, quoting Hamas sources, said 2,000 volunteers
entered the Gaza Strip over a two-week period. Maan said the fighters would
join Hamas and other militias.
Many of the fighters have begun training in Hamas and Islamic Jihad
military camps, the sources said. They said the volunteers entered with
weapons, explosives and missiles.
"The armed wing of Hamas has decided to resume martyrdom [suicide]
operations against Israel after a one-year lull," Abu Osama Abdul Muti,
Hamas's representatives in Iran, said. "The enemy should expect more
attacks."
But Hamas sources said many of the foreign volunteers were forced to
leave the Gaza Strip. The sources said Hamas has told foreign Islamic
insurgency groups that the Palestinians have enough combatants.
The Jerusalem Post quoted a Palestinian Authority official as saying
that Iranian security specialists also crossed into Gaza. The official
said the Iranians would help train Hamas and Jihad forces.
