Hamas is negotiating an arms deal with North Korea for missiles and communications equipment to assist them in their conflict with Israel, according to Western security sources, Britain's "The Sunday Telegraph" reports.
"Security officials say the deal between Hamas and North Korea is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and is being handled by a Lebanese-based trading company with close ties to the militant Palestinian organization based in east Beirut," "The Sunday Telegraph" said.
The UK newspaper added, "The introduction of the M-75 and Syrian-made M0302 missiles means Hamas boast offensive weapons with a longer range of up to 100 miles and a much greater explosive impact."
Since Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, the newspaper reported that Hamas has increased the size and strength of its rocket arsenal. Israeli military intelligence puts its stockpile at around 10,000 rockets and mortars, including long-range rockets capable of reaching Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the northern port city of Haifa.
North Korea is eager to support groups that are opposed to Western interests in the region such as Hizbollah, Hamas and other Islamist terror groups. The "Sunday Telegraph" continued, "The relationship between Hamas and North Korea first became public in 2009 when 35 tons of arms, including surface-to-surface rockets and rocket-propelled grenades, were seized after a cargo plane carrying the equipment was forced to make an emergency landing at Bangkok airport. Investigators later confirmed that the arms cache has been destined for Iran, which then planned to smuggle the weapons to Hizbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza."
The newspaper adds, "The North Koreans have one of the world’s most sophisticated network of tunnels running beneath the demilitarized zone with South Korea, and Israeli commanders believe Hamas has used this expertise to improve their own tunnel network."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 27, 2014
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