While disarmament and truce are being discussed, Hamas is strengthening its logistical network outside Gaza, opening new fronts in Europe and Israel is divided on the nature of the investigation into October 7th.
While diplomacy discusses disarmament plans and scenarios for the “after Gaza”, Hamas works on a completely opposite front. An investigation released by Kan News revealed that the organization is accumulating advanced weaponry outside the Strip, with hidden caches in Africa, Yemen and in other countries considered allies. The war material, according to sources, has already been secured and destined to be clandestinely transferred to key areas – including Gaza – through a parallel and difficult to intercept logistics network. The most significant fact is the timing: these operations proceed as international pressure grows to force Hamas to give up its arsenal. The choice to source elsewhere seems to indicate that the Islamist movement is planning not only to survive the Israeli offensive, but to rebuild an autonomous military capacity in the coming years, bypassing any future agreements. The alarm on external activities of the group had already exploded ten days ago, when the services of Austrian security they had discovered a Vienna a reserve of weapons attributable to Hamaspotentially linked to terrorist projects on European soil. During the investigations, a 39-year-old British citizen, identified as Muhammad, accused of having played a role in the management of the warehouse. The Austrian Ministry of the Interior clarified that the alleged targets were “Israeli or Jewish structures and people present in Europe”. The suspect is now under extradition proceedings.
The investigation was conducted with the involvement of multiple intelligence European countries and highlighted the existence of a small nucleus of operators or sympathizers who would have managed to get weapons into Austria going under the radar. The German federal prosecutor also confirmed that Mohammed he would meet a named individual twice Abed, arrested in Germany the previous month on charges of planning attacks against Jewish and Israeli centers. Five pistols and ten magazines hidden in a suitcase were seized in the Viennese warehouse. Investigators believe that the arsenal could only be part of a larger agreement and that there were still unknown plans. From the Gaza Strip further signs of armed resistance arrive. A Palestinian source told Kan News that around a hundred militiamen are barricaded in a tunnel below Rafah and continues to oppose any surrender. The men, led by a battalion or vice battalion level commander, refuse to come out unless “under conditions that guarantee their dignity”. It is considered one of the last structured pockets of the Hamas military apparatus.
At the same time, in Israel the political debate is reignited October 7. The government announced the creation of a commission of inquiry defined as “independent”, tasked with examining what happened during the attack on Hamas. The prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will appoint a ministerial committee to set the boundaries of the investigation, with an initial report expected within 45 days. Within two months, the body will also have to submit updates to the Supreme Court. The decision provoked an immediate reaction from the opposition. Yair Lapid he accused the executive of wanting to avoid a real state commission, declaring that “the refusal to investigate its responsibilities represents a threat to the security of the country and is an affront to the families affected and the soldiers”.
The response from theZulat Institutepromoter of a petition signed by 86 former parliamentarians and public officials: «The government has chosen to avoid a transparent investigation into the worst failure in national history. What was announced is a structure designed to hide responsibilities. It is an attempt at concealment, the largest ever seen since the foundation of the State, after a tragedy that caused thousands of victims and entire cities devastated.” The organization has announced that it will appeal to the Supreme Court to obtain the establishment of a full state commission of inquiry. While the war on the ground slows down and the political debate heats up, the news on weapons depots abroad and on operational cells in Europe they point out that Hamas he is not waiting for diplomatic negotiations: is preparing for next October 7th.
