'Arrested Hamas operative reveals Gaza tunnel secrets to Israel'
The operative "supplied a good deal of information on the location of tunnels and their routes in northern Gaza, as well as Hamas' tunnel digging methods," the Shin Bet said in a statement.
By ANNA AHRONHEIMUpdated: DECEMBER 29, 2016 01:44Arrested Hamas operative Bilal Razania(photo credit: SHIN BET,REUTERS)
A member of Hamas’s military wing was arrested last month after crossing the Gaza border fence, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced on Wednesday.Bilal Razania, the brother of Mustafa Razania, head of the Hamas internal security apparatus in the northern Gaza Strip, was arrested on November 27.Bilal Razania, a member of the Izzadin Kassam Brigades, is said to have been “heavily involved” in building tunnels leading from the Hamas-run coastal territory into Israel. During questioning he gave details of his role within Hamas and the jobs of other Hamas members, as well the names of other wanted Hamas operatives who were active in Operation Protective Edge in 2014.Razania also revealed much of the terrorist organization’s activity in recent years, which included its focus on tunnels as well on the use of civilian infrastructure and many of its military efforts during the 2014 war.According to the Shin Bet, Razania’s brother, Mustafa, and other senior Hamas officials hid in the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza, which they used as a command post.“The information that came forward in the Shin Bet investigation reveals the use of civilian buildings to advance terrorist activities and is another example of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza violating international laws,” the Shin Bet stated.Razania also divulged information about Islamic Jihad, another Gaza based terrorist organization, as well as on the positions of Hamas outpost and details on other Hamas members.“The information collected in this investigation, as well as from other Hamas operatives arrested over the past year, shows the effort Hamas is going through in order to prepare for a military confrontation with Israel.”According to the London-based Al-Quds al-Araby, Iyar Bazam, the spokesman of the Interior Ministry in Gaza denied the report, saying that Razania “is a young man suffering from psychological illnesses and being treated in a mental health and psychological health clinic in Gaza.There is no relation between him and any security apparatus or the Interior Ministry.
In addition, there is no relationship between him and any faction of the resistance factions, which the occupation is claiming.” However, Bazam confirmed that Razania’s brother works for the Interior Ministry in the northern Gaza Strip.Adam Rasgon and Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.