Arutz Sheva February 5, 2004

It was release for publication that members of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza have been working to establish a maritime branch whose goal was to carry out naval terrorist attacks against Israeli targets.

An Arab fisherman from the village of Khan Yunis was arrested by the General Security Services last November after he admited to being recruited by Islamic Jihad to assist in the perpetration of a naval attack against an Israeli target.

Iyad Abd Issa Alouan, age 24, was recruited by Islamic Jihad terrorist Ala Hisi, from the Shati slum neighborhood of Gaza City and told that the terror group was interested in establishing a maritime terror unit.

In a meeting with a top Islamic Jihad terrorist known as ‘Abu Islam’ Alouan was asked to purchase as large a number of lifeguard boats as possible without arousing suspicion. He was also asked to train the would-be terrorists who would man the lifeguard boats. Abu Islam informed Alouan of his plans to perpetrate shooting and grenade attacks against an IDF patrol or unit in the Tel Ridan area via sea-borne terrorists. Once acquired by Alouan, the lifeguard boats were to be fitted with a motor to be provided by Ala Hisi. Abu Islam said that the lifeguard boat should have a fishing license in order to provide a cover for its activities and guard against premature discovery. Alouan was asked to gather information on a suitable place to plan an attack and assist in training the would-be terrorists on his lifeguard boat.

Abu Islam said that the attacks could be perpetrated as soon as additional lifeguard boats could be acquired and concealed.

Abu Islam told Alouan that the organization had $500,000 at its disposal. Alouan was also supposed to purchase weapons from an arms dealer, rent apartments in the northern Gaza Strip for use in planning attacks, and purchase equipment for the lifeguard boat. Alouan received funds from Abu Islam and Ala Hisi and purchased a fishing net for use in concealing the lifeguard boats. He also purchased two life-vests for the would-be terrorists and other equipment. Abu Islam told Alouan that he must make all the necessary purchases since his occupation as a fisherman would provide cover. However, Alouan was arrested before he could purchase the lifeguard boats.

Security forces have reason to believe that Islamic Jihad will continue to develop new methods in which to perpetrate terrorist attacks in complete disregard of the possible consequences for the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially the fishermen.

Israel recently displayed an unmanned naval combat system. The system is based on unmanned surface vehicles integrated with radar and targeting equipment. The platform was developed to protect against suicide naval attacks by insurgents.

The Protector system was developed by Rafael, Israel Armament Development Authority and Aeronautics Defense Systems. The system contains search radar and Rafael’s Toplite stabilized multirole multisensor optronic payload, electro-optical day/night observation and targeting pod. Executives said the system can be used in such missions as counter-insurgency, mine warfare, electronic warfare and precision strikes. They said the unmanned system can operate in all weather and at any hour.

In addition to the naval front, Arab terrorist cells in Judea and Samaria claim to have the ability to target Israeli towns and cities with the Hamas-made Qassam rockets, developed in Gaza, despite the presence of the security fence, designed to keep out suicide bombers. “As far as we are concerned, the security fence is nothing but cardboard. It takes just one match to ignite the whole thing.” Nader Abu Lel, a commander from Arafat’s Fatah Tanzim in Nablus told Ynet on Wednesday.

According to Abu Lel and his fellow Tanzim leader Abu Hamdan, the terrorists are simply waiting for the “right time” to launch rocket, mortar, and various other kind of attacks at Israels urban population in the center of the country.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 6th, 2004 and is filed under news.