Hamas official: Heart of Israel will be the target in future war

Iran and Gaza taking special measures to improve ties, Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar says.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Statue of M-75 rocket in Gaza (photo credit: REUTERS)
Statue of M-75 rocket in Gaza
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Hamas will target cities in the far north in any future confrontation with Israel, an official of the organization  was quoted by AFP as saying on Monday, on condition of anonymity.
The comments were made during a Hamas ceremony in Gaza City for the unveiling of a rocket-statue which features a life size M-75 rocket, whose real life counterpart can reach 75 kilometers into Israel. The M-75 was used to target Tel Aviv and its surroundings as well as the greater Jerusalem area during 2012's Operation Pillar of Defense.
Hamas referred to the M-75 as "an improved Kassam" upon first using it during Operation Pillar of Defense.
The ceremony took place in conjunction with Israel's public showcasing of the weapons seized from the Klos C, a Gaza-bound ship from Iran which had been under surveillance by US and Israeli intelligence for weeks.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who spoke at the event in Eilat, stated that the huge cache of weapons "expose the true face of Iran," despite a purportedly more moderate Iranian administration and warming ties with the West.
Iran has denied all ties to the weapons shipment, which included 40 missiles with a range of 100 miles or 160 kilometers. The range would effectively reach Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and even Haifa. The ship was also carrying 181 mortar shells and 400,000 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazzayeri stated to the semi-official Fars News Agency on Sunday, “The Americans and the Zionists have probably ordered to Hollywood the production of a movie with the scenario of a cargo ship carrying Iranian weapons to Gaza in Palestine.”
Regarding ties between Iran and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the same report quoted senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar saying that "the Hamas movement and Iran have taken special measures and we will see many changes in these relations soon,” implying that Hamas and Iran are improving political ties in face of a common enemy, Israel, despite their differences.