Hamas threatens to resume suicide bombings

Hamas threatens to resume suicide bombings
Terror group warns if government toppled, 'all options open'

Posted: December 18, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

TEL AVIV – Hamas is debating whether to resume suicide bombings inside the Jewish state and may allow its so-called military wing to openly engage in anti-Israeli attacks if Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is aided in his calls for new Palestinian elections, Hamas members told WND.

"If the Israelis or the Americans and international community interferes in Palestinian affairs and encourages Abu Mazen (Abbas) to go on with elections, this will lead to internal Palestinian clashes, but the fighting will not just remain internal," said Abu Abdullah, who is considered one of the most important operational members of Hamas' Izzedine al-Qassam Martyrs Brigades, Hamas' declared "resistance" department.

Abu Abdullah warned if the Hamas government falters the terror group "will use all tools it has, including coming back to suicide attacks inside Israel."

Abbas this weekend called for new Palestinian elections in a move widely scene as an attempt to dismantle the Hamas-led PA. Hamas has said it would boycott any new ballots. As Palestinian president, Abbas has the authority to abolish the PA and order new elections held.

Hamas won a majority of Palestinian parliamentary seats in elections earlier this year.

Since his call for new ballots, Hamas and militants from Abbas' Fatah faction have been engaging in heavy fighting.

Yesterday, the convoy of Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar came under fire as it passed through Gaza City. Members of Hamas accused Fatah of trying to assassinate al-Zahar.

Hours later, Hamas assaulted a Force 17 base in the Gaza Strip just outside Abbas' office and Gaza residence. Abbas was in the West Bank at the time.

A presidential guard official denounced the Hamas attack as an assault on the "symbol of Palestinian legitimacy."

Hamas members also reportedly opened fire at a major political rally in Gaza last night held in support of Fatah. Three people were wounded at the gathering, Palestinian security officials said. An estimated 100,000 Fatah supporters participated in the rally.

Hamas sources told WND the terror group is debating whether to publicly reintroduce its "military wing" and carry out attacks against Israel.

"It is only a matter of a political decision before we restart attacks and put our military wing into effect," said a top Hamas source.

The last Hamas suicide bombing inside Israel took place in 2004. In November, a Palestinian woman attempted a suicide attack on behalf of Hamas against Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. The woman blew herself up prematurely after being identified by Israeli soldiers.

Hamas largely has refrained from openly carrying out attacks against Israel since it took over the Palestinian government, although the terror group took part in the raid of an Israeli military station in June in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped.

Israeli security officials say Hamas members have participated in rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip aimed at nearby Jewish cities. Also, Israel says Hamas facilitates attacks by the Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella of terror organizations operating in Gaza.

Still, Hamas' "military wing" has reportedly been active.

Abu Abdullah previously told WND Hamas has been preparing in the Gaza Strip for attacks against Israel.

"In the last fifteen months, even though the fighters of Hamas kept the cease-fire, we did not stop making important advancements and professional training on the military level. In the future, after Hamas is obliged to stop the cease-fire, the world shall see our new military capabilities," Abu Abdullah said.