The terrorist organization Hamas has warned that the Gaza Strip could become a breeding ground for extremism unless the world delivers more funds for reconstruction to repair the damage from last summer’s war against Israel.
In an apparent attempt to capitalize on last week’s terror attacks in Paris, Hamas official Khalil al-Haya was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying:
Our message to the world, which is scared of terrorism and extremism, is that the delay in rebuilding Gaza and the continuing blockade against it will make it a ripe environment for the spread of extremism and terrorism. We warn of the consequences.
Despite a condemnation of the terrorists who attacked the offices of the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, Ha’aretz reports that Hamas, in a cartoon published in its official newspaper, suggested that the principle of free speech does not cover insults to Mohammad.
Israel, which controls two of the three crossings into Hamas-controlled Gaza, restricts what can be imported into the territory. The restrictions are to prevent illegal arms smuggling and the importation of construction materials that could be used to create terroristic infrastructure like tunnels or bunkers.
Hamas invested a large amount of resources, including tons of concrete, into building dozens of attack tunnels under the Gaza-Israel border. These tunnels, which were discovered and destroyed during Operation Protective Edge last year, were intended by Hamas to be used to stage a massive terror attack into Israel.
An editorial in The Washington Post this past summer criticized Hamas for spending millions on building its terror infrastructure while failing to provide for the needs of Gaza’s residents.
Hamas and Fatah continue to disagree over the allocation of money for reconstruction. Hamas has refused to cede control of Gaza to Fatah to allow for the rebuilding, and has been arresting Fatah officials. Last month an analysis concluded that Israel was doing more than either Palestinian faction to facilitate the rebuilding of Gaza.
[Photo: michael loadenthal / Flickr]