IDF soldiers managed to capture hundreds of terror suspects during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. One of them, 20-year-old Mohammed Amazi, was revealed to be one of Hamas' more senior fighters. Parts of Amazi's interrogation were published this week by the Hebrew-language Maariv.
Amazi told security forces that he was recruited by Hamas at age 12 as he left a mosque in his hometown of Jabalia. At first his participation in the group consisted only of daily Koran classes, he said. However, at age 13 he was officially sworn in to the terrorist group, and soon began actively supporting Hamas's armed forces as well.
At age 15, Amazi was an active member of one of Hamas's youth patrol groups. The groups patrolled Gaza in search of any evidence of impending IDF activities in the area.
"There were rumors that Israeli soldiers would invade Gaza, and we had to be ready to fight them at any price, to kill them,” he said.
At age 17, the young terrorist took a leave of absence from Hamas to study for his final high school exams. When he returned, he began military training, and was incorporated into a special suicide bombing unit trained to kill IDF soldiers.
Would-be suicide bombers underwent special training led by senior members of Hamas who had trained in Syria or Iran. The unit also helped Hamas prepare for the possibility of IDF operations in Gaza by hiding anti-tank bombs and testing explosives.
As Operation Cast Lead approached, members of Amazi's unit received uniforms similar in appearance to those worn by soldiers in the IDF's Givati brigades. Their plan was to confuse soldiers in order to draw close and carry out a kidnapping or suicide bombing.
Kidnapping a soldier was seen as “the most important thing, in order to stop the operation,” Amazi said.
Amazi and his companions ultimately failed in their mission. As he and a fellow Hamas terrorist fled from a Jabalia home after firing on soldiers, they came under fire, and Amazi was wounded while his companion was killed. Amazi took shelter in a local family's home and pretended to be a civilian engaged to the family's daughter, but was apprehended by soldiers despite the ruse.
Amazi admitted that he and other members of Hamas used civilian homes during the operation, even when the homeowners objected.
State prosecutors have filed an indictment against Amazi for murder, attempted murder and membership in a terrorist organization.