By Gavriel Queenann
The IDF said Wednesday that the Israel Security Agency (ISA) arrested a Hamas terrorist who planned to kidnap an IDF soldier and aid in a suicide bombing in Eilat.
The ISA arrested Mahmed Abu Aadram, an operative in the Hamas terror organization and Rafiah resident, as he attempted to infiltrate into Israel through the Gaza border with other terrorists.
Abu Aadram confessed to investigators that he escaped to Sinai approximately one year ago through a tunnel after having committed several crimes. It was there he was contacted by Yones Shalof, described as commander of Hamas artillery responsible for the Hamas's outposts in Sinai.
Shalof asked Abu Aadra to work for Hamas in Sinai, manning observation posts and taking pictures of Israeli posts along the border, in order to carry out a terror attack against Israel from the region.
Abu Aadra understood from Shalof that other operatives were are already stationed in Sinai gathering intelligence for Hamas terror attacks, some receiving high salaries for their work.
After agreeing to work for Hamas, Abu Aadra was smuggled to the Gaza Strip through a terror tunnel by Hamas operatives for a thorough briefing.
During August 2011, Mahmed and Roshdi Abu Aadra performed most of the observations equipped with high-tech cameras and GPS devices to mark their targets.
Among the targets was the Taba border crossing, specifically the security forces and guard posts. They also gathered intelligence on IDF military posts on the border, and several civilian targets in Eilat.
As part of their activity, the two terrorists crossed into Israeli territory several times.
After completing the observations, the two transferred the information to Gaza where it was examined by Hamas terror operatives.
ISA investigators also determined Abu Aadra supported terror attacks on both civilian and military targets in Israel using anti-tank missiles, as well as launching rockets from Sinai towards Israel.
The Hamas commander in Rafiah, Raad Ataar, told Mahmed Abu Aadra his tasks would be to abduct an IDF soldier while aiding a squad of suicide bombers in reaching Eilat - which Aadra told investigators he had agreed to.
The ISA release came shortly after Aadra was indicted on a raft of security charges in Israel on Wednesday.
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General: IDF Readying New Tools against Gaza
Source: Arutz Sheva
By Gil Ronen
The Head of the IDF's Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Tal Russo, said Thursday that the IDF is working on new "tools" for use against the terrorists in Gaza.
In a meeting between the Southern Command's top brass and the heads of local government in the south, Maj. Gen. Russo said that "The south was the first to experience the dramatic change that followed the Arab rebellion in the past year."
"We must understand that the Arab rebellion is neither a tsunami nor a passing wave – but a stormy sea that requires us to develop a full response to all of the security challenges," he explained. "And we have good operational capability. The IDF can provide the response to the instability in Egypt and Gaza."
"All in all, in the last year we have advanced quite a few things, security-wise, around Gaza, like the alerts for mortar shells and Iron Dome. As far as the attack mode is concerned there are many tools we have not yet used, and we are preparing them. The IDF is ready for every scenario, as regards the attack mode."
Russo said that in terms of casualties from enemy actions, Israel is currently in the quietest period it has known since it was established. "And yet one does not feel this," he noted. "Part of the aims of the other side is to hurt morale and civilian life in the country and we must not let that happen."
