It was announced today that the General Security Service recently uncovered a terrorist cell in the Gaza Strip operated and financed by Hizbullah. Among its planned attacks was one to be effected with an explosives-laden model aircraft.
The cell was established in Khan Yunis by Shadi Abu Alhatzin, who was arrested by Israel three months ago, and who intended to perpetrate the above attack against an Israeli community in Jewish Gaza. The cell maintained links with other terrorist organizations in the area. Alhatzin, 23, married and the father of two, lived in Yemen until ten years ago, when he arrived in Gaza. He lived in the Khan Yunis refugee camp without a residence permit, studying pharmacology and learning about explosives at the Khan Yunis technical college. In 2000, he made contact with Hizbullah via his uncle - a Lebanese resident and Hizbullah member.
Alhatzin admitted that his cell has perpetrated several rocket, mortar and shooting attacks in Gaza on behalf of Hizbullah. He said that Hizbullah instructed him - via email - in preparing and developing bombs, rockets and anti-tank missiles, and that his cell received several thousand dollars from Hizbullah. The cell carried out attempts to build an explosives-laden model airplane in order to attack an Israeli community in the Gaza Strip.
In order to improve the Khan Yunis cell's capabilities, Alhatzin tried during 2002 to send two emissaries from Gaza to Lebanon for military training. The two were arrested by Israel upon their return to the Gaza Strip from Egypt, and admitted that they were supposed to undergo military training in Lebanon.
The cell was established in Khan Yunis by Shadi Abu Alhatzin, who was arrested by Israel three months ago, and who intended to perpetrate the above attack against an Israeli community in Jewish Gaza. The cell maintained links with other terrorist organizations in the area. Alhatzin, 23, married and the father of two, lived in Yemen until ten years ago, when he arrived in Gaza. He lived in the Khan Yunis refugee camp without a residence permit, studying pharmacology and learning about explosives at the Khan Yunis technical college. In 2000, he made contact with Hizbullah via his uncle - a Lebanese resident and Hizbullah member.
Alhatzin admitted that his cell has perpetrated several rocket, mortar and shooting attacks in Gaza on behalf of Hizbullah. He said that Hizbullah instructed him - via email - in preparing and developing bombs, rockets and anti-tank missiles, and that his cell received several thousand dollars from Hizbullah. The cell carried out attempts to build an explosives-laden model airplane in order to attack an Israeli community in the Gaza Strip.
In order to improve the Khan Yunis cell's capabilities, Alhatzin tried during 2002 to send two emissaries from Gaza to Lebanon for military training. The two were arrested by Israel upon their return to the Gaza Strip from Egypt, and admitted that they were supposed to undergo military training in Lebanon.