Evidence from Operation Cast Lead Shows Hamas Uses Mosques to Store Weapons and as Sites Launch Rockets and Mortar Shells
Evidence from Operation Cast Lead Shows Hamas Uses Mosques to Store Weapons and as Sites Launch Rockets and Mortar Shells
February 18, 2009 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - The following evidence was recently presented by the IDF. It conclusively shows that mosques were used to store weapons and as staging areas for Hamas and other terrorist entities during the Israeli action in Gaza.
Mosque pulpit where a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a bullet-proof vest and binoculars were hidden. (Photographs taken during Operation Cast Lead, IDF Spokesman, January 15, 2009)
Overview
1. The many mosques in the Gaza Strip serve not only religious functions, but are also put to military use by Hamas and the other terrorist organizations. They are used to hide terrorist operatives, store weapons, as sites from which rockets and mortar shells are launched, sites for launching terrorist attacks and for training terrorist operatives. All of those military uses are grave violations of the international laws governing armed combat and an exploitation of the special protection international law gives houses of worship. Large amounts of evidence pointing to forbidden uses of mosques were found during Operation Cast Lead.
2. The bulletin presents the following:
i) Photographs showing mosques are used to store weapons.
ii) Film clips of Israeli Air Force attacks showing mosques used to store weapons.
iii) Israeli Air Force aerial photographs and a film clip showing rockets and mortar shells launched near mosques.
iv) Statements made by Hamas operatives detained by IDF forces regarding the use made of mosques to store weapons and as sites for military training.
Photographs Showing Mosques Are Used to Store Weapons
Weapons and ammunition found in a mosque in Gaza (IDF Spokesman, January 15, 2009).
Weapons and ammunition found in a mosque in Gaza (IDF Spokesman, January 15, 2009).
Weapons uncovered in a mosque by IDF soldiers. Left: Anti-aircraft gun (IDF Spokesman, January 13, 2009).
Film Clips of Israeli Air Force Attacks Showing Mosques Used to Store Weapons
3. An Israeli Air Force attack on a mosque used to store rockets, including Grad rockets. The film shows that after the attack there was a series of powerful secondary explosions, indicating that large quantities of weapons had been stored in the mosque ( December 31, 2009 ). Click to view
4. The film shows an attack on the Al-Khulafaa' mosque in Jabaliya (northern Gaza Strip), which was used to store weapons. The film shows the explosion caused by the Israeli Air Force attack and a series of secondary attacks, indicating that a large quantity of weapons and explosives had been stored there ( January 2, 2009 ). Click to view
5. The film shows various weapons found by IDF soldiers in a mosque, including rockets and an anti-aircraft gun (January 3, 2009). Click to view
Israeli Air Force Aerial Photographs and a Film Clip Showing Rockets and Mortar Shells Launched near Mosques
Aerial photographs of the mosques around rocket and mortar shell launcher positions.
Left: Cable leading from mosque to IED. Right: Rocket launched from mosque courtyard
Left: Palestinian mosque with cable leading from it to IED Right:A mosque with a launching site in close proximity
7. Rocket launched from mosque courtyard ( January 7, 2009 ) Click to view
Statements Made by Hamas Operatives Detained by IDF Forces Regarding the Use Made of Mosques to Store Weapons and As Sites for Military Training
8. The following two statements were made by Hamas operatives detained by IDF forces during Operation Cast Lead, regarding the military use made of mosques:
i) Subhi Majid Atar , a Hamas military-terrorist operative from Al-Atatra, said that part of the military training he received from Hamas included theoretical lectures on topics such as rockets and RPGs. The lectures were given at the Bilal ibn Rabah mosque in Al-Atatra in the northern Gaza Strip .ii) Rami Musbah Abd Rabbo , a Hamas military-terrorist operative from Jabaliya, said that Hamas stored weapons in many mosques. He said that Hamas used the Salah al-Din mosque (located at Police Square in the Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City ) to store rockets and other weapons.
©2009 Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)