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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israeli Navy stops Gaza-bound boat with rocket manufacturing material
2015-02-12
[Ynet] Forces trap boat with ton's worth of materials for rocket-making intended for Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, in Gazoo; operation captured on camera and cleared for publication Wednesday night.
Video can be seen at the link. Enjoy!
Israeli Navy forces trapped a boat three weeks ago with shipment of a ton's worth of materials for rocket manufacturing, intended for Hamas in Gazoo. The operation was captured on camera and was cleared for publication on Wednesday night.

The operation was manned by the 916th Company, based in Ashdod, which is charged with protecting Israel's southern shores. "Thwarting smuggling attempts like this happens almost every week," Lt. Col. Liav Zilberman ‐ whose unit was awarded a citation for its performance in Operation Protective Edge ‐ told Ynet..

"The Egyptians are doing great work on land against the smuggling tunnels, making the sea the endless tunnel for Hamas," he said.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of January 19th, when naval forces identified the suspicious boat making its way from the shores of Sinai to the Strip's shores. Before it arrives at the Gazook beach, the navy soldiers called on three Paleostinians aboard the ship to stop.

A search by the soldiers discovered liquid fiberglass on the vessel. The three Paleostinians were taken in for investigation by the Shin Bet, where they admitted the materials were meant for rocket and mortar manufacture in Gazoo.

They said they were sent to collect the materials from Sinai and deliver it to Hamas' military wing in a timely manner. An indictment was filed against the three at a courthouse in Be'er Sheva.

Lt. Col. Zilberman said that the preparation to seize the vessel did not occur overnight. "The Dvora-class ships and our Shaldag-class knew to seize the vessel quietly and discreetly. After following it for hours, patiently, from the moment it crossed the southern border," he said.

He said the smugglers knew to hide the materials under their fishing gear. "Hamas is making a massive effort to rebuild, and most of the smuggling vessels which we thwarted were sunk from afar when we knew they had weapons on them."

Since Protective Edge, several similar incidents occurred, in which the naval forces stopped smuggling operations from Sinai, with most involving fishing vessels.

At the IDF, officials believe that because of the destruction or damage to the hundreds of smuggling tunnels in Sinai's Rafah by the Egyptian military in the past year, Hamas has been trying to develop other paths.

However,
a good lie finds more believers than a bad truth...
dozens of such tunnels remain under Rafah, though the Egyptian military has expanded its 'perimeter' around the Strip, leveling homes on the border up to a kilometer away from the fence.
The Times of Israel adds:
They also supplied information regarding the maritime smuggling route between Sinai and the Gazoo Strip, and Hamas' use of fishermen and smugglers for its purposes.

The interrogations also shed light on Hamas economic tactics. According to a statement from the Shin Bet, the men claimed the terror group also smuggled civilian products, which it then sold at a profit to Gazoo residents, using the earnings to fund its activities.

The three suspects were charged with a number of security offenses Thursday in the Beersheba District Court.
Posted by:trailing wife

#10  With the, uhem, success of Yemen, I'm a bit concerned that the sudden rule of law Congressional War Approval has an ominous unavoidable event on the near horizion; time to redistribute the blame.

And since everything is domestic politics with TFG, I'm starting to pen in that these overseas contengency plans of strategic wanking are political bones to throw at political hawks and AAA potential political pitchers.

BTW, anyone else puzzled by the rather let'em go attitude of the Yemeni rebels concerning foreign personelle after so many years of promising dire revenge? Or why our persons were still there after a month of game over?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2015-02-12 12:07  

#9  You mean the white house who arms Mexican drug cartels, boosts the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, armed and supplied a number of groups which 'unexpectedly' turned to ISJV? Among others:

Boycott of Honduras
Legal argument for Argentina to claim Falklands
Did not support Iranians vs Dinnerjacket election
Schmoozing with Chavez, Castros
War with Syria without Congressional approval
War with Libya outside of UN mandate
Disarming east Europe anti-missile systems
Public alignment, or at least acceptance, of Erdagon
Standoffish, at least, of US LEOs
The demilitarization of the military
The militarization of Fed Offices
The War on Productivity
Moham is a peacemaker/Jesus kills slaves
Posted by: swksvolFF   2015-02-12 11:46  

#8  strategic input
Posted by: Frank G   2015-02-12 11:38  

#7  What the hell is the white house talking to Hamas for? Aren't they on the terrorist org. list? Posted by chris

See it for what it is, a gathering of 'like minds.'
Posted by: Besoeker   2015-02-12 11:06  

#6  What the hell is the white house talking to Hamas for? Aren't they on the terrorist org. list?
Posted by: chris    2015-02-12 10:27  

#5  And the White House had talks with Hamas.
I am wondering what they talk about how to kill Jews more efficiently?
As a Jewish person living here, I am scare.
And I have very good reasons, I know that a Islamic radical lives in the White House.
Posted by: Ana   2015-02-12 10:22  

#4  In an unrelated story, sharks in the eastern Med look unusually plump...
Posted by: Steve White   2015-02-12 09:47  

#3  "...most of the smuggling vessels which we thwarted were sunk from afar when we knew they had weapons on them."


I like this kind of action. No word on whether anybody was rescued after the sinking. Wonder why there is nothing from Hamas on this?????
Posted by: USN, Ret   2015-02-12 06:49  

#2  That was a nice hat tip towards the Egyptians.
Posted by: Shipman   2015-02-12 05:47  

#1  ""The Egyptians are doing great work on land against the smuggling tunnels, making the sea the endless tunnel for Hamas,"

Darn right.

So now Egypt improvises.

Overcomes.
Posted by: newc   2015-02-12 00:29  

00:00