Non-Subscriber Extract
Israel claims Hamas is a 20,000-strong force
By Alon Ben-David
25 April 2008
The Palestinian Islamic Resistance in Gaza (Hamas) has built up a military force of 20,000 combatants equipped with standard rockets, mortars, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and anti-aircraft guns, according to an Israeli study.
According to a study published by the Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre, Hamas has been able to smuggle more than 80 tonnes of explosives into the Gaza Strip, despite the international blockade.
A powerful demonstration of the organisation’s improved military capabilities was given on 19 April when Hamas launched its most sophisticated attack so far on the Kerem-Shalom border crossing with Israel.
With the apparent aim of killing and abducting Israeli troops, Hamas sent two M-240 Storm car bombs, each carrying about 300 kg of explosives, which were disguised as Israel Defence Force (IDF) vehicles. Those were accompanied by two BRDM-2 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) that were supposed to carry the kidnapped troops or bodies into Gaza.
IDF units, which were placed on high alert on the eve of Passover but did not have a specific warning of the attack, managed to thwart it, sustaining 13 injured servicemen.
A Merkava Mk 4 main battle tank destroyed one of the Palestinian APCs and the other was captured after its crew was killed. During the clash, Hamas attacked IDF positions in the area with mortar rounds.