Iran Complicit in Gaza Takeover By Hamas: Palestinian Intelligence Chief
June 24, 2007 by pulkit
There have been glaring indications of a rift between Hamas and the Palestinian authorities. The two were irreconcilably cleft into twain last month, when Hamas took Gaza under its control. Hamas was able to waive its flag over Gaza after a week long armed battle with the Mahmoud Abbas led Fatah. The fighting left 90 people dead. It also provoked President of Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to dissolve the Unity government in coalition with Hamas.
After the Gaza takeover, Egypt accused Iran of lending weapons and imparting training to the Hamas guerrillas. The Palestinian intelligence chief, Tawfiq Al-Tirawi, has corroborated those allegations.
According to our information, Iran has played a big role in what happened in Gaza. Dozens of members of Hamas have been trained in Iran, and Hamas smuggled in weapons through tunnels not to fight Israel but against the Palestinian Authority,” Tirawi told a news conference.[source]
Iran has made no bones about its support to Hamas, but maintains that the assistance is only of a moral and spiritual kind.
The fact remains that Iran is increasingly trying to flex its military muscle in Palestine, very slyly. In a manner that will pile on the worries for Israel, as the danger of a baneful Hamas backed by Iran would loom close to home. Action is need of the hour. Iran’s wing of clandestine intrigue need to be clipped before they start flapping and increase its reach.
