Aaron Klein reports:
The weapons were seized when Hamas last June took complete control of the Gaza Strip, overtaking all U.S.-backed security compounds in the territory associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party.
"We fired at incoming Israeli helicopters using the seized weapons. We will continue to balance the equilibrium of terror with the Zionists," said Hamas spokesman Abu Oubeida.
On Friday, Hamas gunmen used mounted heavy machine guns to fire at Israeli helicopters that were attacking a cell of terrorists attempting to launch Qassam rockets into Israel. Hamas claimed they struck one helicopter.
The IDF confirmed a helicopter on Friday was fired at and returned to its base outside the Gaza Strip but the army would not state whether or not the chopper was hit or sustained any damaged.
According to Oubeida and to Abu Abdullah, a senior member of Hamas' so-called military wing, the terror group's purported use of U.S. weapons against the helicopter on Friday was not the first such incident.
Abdullah said Hamas has been firing at Israeli helicopters the past few weeks and said he noticed many of the IDF's recent aerial operations in Gaza were carried out by F-16's, a contention denied by IDF officials.
"They are afraid to use the helicopters," said Abdullah.
The terrorist warned Hamas also possesses a number of U.S. anti-aircraft missiles he said can strike F-16's.
A senior Israel Air Force officer told Israel's Ynet news website the threats against Israeli aircraft are "increasing with each passing day,",adding the "terror organizations are highly motivated to hit our aircraft, and helicopters are naturally targeted because they fly at a relatively low altitude."
Immediately after Hamas staged their coup and took over Gaza, WND quoted Hamas officials stating they seized "enormous" stockpiles of foreign weapons, including U.S. arms, that had been stored in Fatah security compounds.
The U.S. in recent years reportedly transferred large quantities of weaponry to build up Fatah forces against rival Hamas. Hamas officials told WND in multiple interviews prior to last June they would seize the American weapons.
Hamas last summer provided WND with a partial list of what the terror group said were seized weapons, The list included:
- "Dozens" of mounted machine guns that can fire at Israeli helicopters
- Approximately 7,400 American M-16 assault rifles
- About 800,000 rounds of bullets.
- Eighteen armored personnel carriers
- Seven armored military jeeps
- "Tens" of armored civilian cars, including pickup trucks and magnums.
- Eight massive trucks equipped with water cannons for dispersing protests
- Fourteen military-sized bulldozers
Hamas officials said the list they provided didn't include what they said were large quantities of U.S.-provided, rocket-propelled grenades, grenade launchers, explosives, and military equipment, such as boots and tents.
Abu Abdullah told WND Hamas estimates they obtained at least $400 million worth of American weapons and equipment. That number couldn't be verified. Source:Hamas using U.S. weapons
These days the President is pressuring congress to release additional aid to Abu Mazen's Palestinian Authority. Maybe its time for Congress to push back and say no more aid until terrorist attacks from the West Bank and Gaza cease, and if they want aid we will by back stolen weapons which they can use for food and medicine. But that would never happen, neither Hamas or Fatah act like peace is in their best interests. Because if they did, there would have been peace a long time ago.
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