Will new Sudanese regime stop arms flow to Gaza?
The toppled regime of Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir had turned a blind eye to the smuggling of weapons through Sudan to Gaza, and Hamas is hoping that any successor government will adopt a similar attitude.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas has remained silent about the Sudanese government transition after Defense Minister Ahmed Awad ibn Auf stood down on April 12, the day after leading a coup that toppled President Omar al-Bashir, with whom the movement had had strong ties. Sudan's significance to Hamas lies in it being one of the most important routes for the transfer of arms to Gaza. Bashir's regime boasted of its political support for Hamas and allowed it to open an office there. Hamas members also studied in Sudan.
Israel has over the years repeatedly reproached Sudan for opening its territory and ports to arms smuggled overland from Libya and by sea and air from Iran en route to Hamas via the Sinai. A retired Sudanese military commander who spoke to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity said, “The former Sudanese regime did not provide any weapons to Hamas, but it turned a blind eye to the smuggling of its weapons through its territory to the Gaza Strip.”
