Rogue militants defy Hamas’ policy of restraint
The thwarted terror attacks of recent days indicate that Hamas' leadership is losing control over some of its operatives.
Hamas has denied responsibility for the five Palestinian terrorists who tried to infiltrate Israel last week on two separate occasions, describing them in media briefings as “rogue” figures. Still, it seems that the more accurate way to define these perpetrators would be "rebels."
Both incidents appear to signal the first signs of a clear, significant revolt by members of the organization’s armed wing dissatisfied with their leadership’s policy of restraint vis-a-vis Israel.
The most serious incident occurred in the early hours of Aug. 10, when four terrorists armed with Kalashnikov rifles, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers approached the southern section of the Gaza Strip’s fence with Israel. One cut through the fence, but Israeli army lookouts spotted the four and a Golani Brigade force shot them dead. A military spokesperson claimed the force’s speedy, effective reaction had foiled a major terrorist attack within Israel. According to reports from Gaza, the four had been ousted from Hamas because they had “crossed the line” under the radical influence of Salafist organizations in the enclave.
The next day, another Palestinian, Marwan Nasser, 26, from the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun reached the northern section of the fence, firing at Israeli troops who fired back and killed him. Unlike the four would-be infiltrators the day before, Nasser was not a disgraced Hamas operative. He was a member of the organization’s elite Nuhba unit, trained to infiltrate Israel through underground tunnels. He was dressed in Hamas fatigues, carried his personal weapon and was buried in his uniform as a Hamas member.
