A top Hamas leader said yesterday that the militant group will continue arming itself, a stance that could jeopardize the fragile cease-fire that is largely holding in Gaza
The statement by Moussa Abu Marzouk could also make negotiations over the easing of border restrictions in Gaza even tougher. Hamas and Israel are communicating via Egyptian intermediaries and are to start fresh negotiations tomorrow.
In another ominous sign, Israeli spy satellites spotted rockets and other weapons potentially bound for Gaza being loaded into a cargo vessel at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
An Israeli security official has said Israel would likely link a significant easing of its Gaza border blockade to Hamas’ willingness to stop smuggling and making weapons there.
Israeli officials were not available for comment yesterday.
But Abu Marzouk rejected demands to cease weapons stockpiling during an interview with AP at his office near Cairo. “These weapons protected us and there is no way to stop obtaining and manufacturing them,” he said.
The weapons seen in the Iranian port are believed by Israeli intelligence to be bound on a well-established route used by Iran to smuggle arms through Sudan into Gaza.