Speaking before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Maj. Gen. Galant, head of the IDF Southern Command, said, "If there will be a seeming calm that will force a decrease in our forces' operations, from the level they are operating at today, then all the [Palestinian Authority] organizations will use the time to prepare for action."
Galant opened his remarks to the committee by noting that "the Gaza Strip was a closed area for more than 30 years, and our withdrawal from the Philadelphi Route led to the almost completely free flow of smuggled weaponry."
The IDF commander described a complex system of tunnels along the Philadelphi Route, "most of which are camouflaged. The openings of the tunnels are completely camouflaged, and not even dug up. The minute there is an order for smuggling, they dig out an opening and connect to a preexisting tunnel; and after the smuggling is completed, they cover it over."
Regarding Hamas, currently heading the Palestinian Authority, Galant said that the terrorist organization has begun building an army-like hierarchical infrastructure, including special forces, brigades and battalions. In part, these units are meant to counterbalance such forces currently under the command of the Fatah organization, headed by Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
"We found in Gaza explosive devices engraved with manufacturing serial numbers, the name of the factory and the text 'Made in Gaza,'" Maj. Gen. Galant told legislators. "It is reasonable to assume that, in the future, Hamas will put into the field a force of thousands of terrorists, organized and well armed... with weapons systems and night-vision systems, which will form a division. In addition, Hamas is constantly working to increase the range of the Kassam [rockets] - and the technology is within reach."
In contrast, Galant noted that all of the IDF operations in Gaza thus far since the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit - no matter how extensive - have been part of general security operations, "and were not specifically intended to degrade the strengthening Hamas or its building up of its forces."
Overall, Maj. Gen. Galant said, "the strength of Hamas has grown immensely and significantly since the Disengagement program."
Galant opened his remarks to the committee by noting that "the Gaza Strip was a closed area for more than 30 years, and our withdrawal from the Philadelphi Route led to the almost completely free flow of smuggled weaponry."
The IDF commander described a complex system of tunnels along the Philadelphi Route, "most of which are camouflaged. The openings of the tunnels are completely camouflaged, and not even dug up. The minute there is an order for smuggling, they dig out an opening and connect to a preexisting tunnel; and after the smuggling is completed, they cover it over."
Regarding Hamas, currently heading the Palestinian Authority, Galant said that the terrorist organization has begun building an army-like hierarchical infrastructure, including special forces, brigades and battalions. In part, these units are meant to counterbalance such forces currently under the command of the Fatah organization, headed by Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
"We found in Gaza explosive devices engraved with manufacturing serial numbers, the name of the factory and the text 'Made in Gaza,'" Maj. Gen. Galant told legislators. "It is reasonable to assume that, in the future, Hamas will put into the field a force of thousands of terrorists, organized and well armed... with weapons systems and night-vision systems, which will form a division. In addition, Hamas is constantly working to increase the range of the Kassam [rockets] - and the technology is within reach."
In contrast, Galant noted that all of the IDF operations in Gaza thus far since the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit - no matter how extensive - have been part of general security operations, "and were not specifically intended to degrade the strengthening Hamas or its building up of its forces."
Overall, Maj. Gen. Galant said, "the strength of Hamas has grown immensely and significantly since the Disengagement program."