In the Media
Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser: if Israel were to withdraw, there would be a resurgence of arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza.The reality of so many tunnels under the corridor makes it clear that what will happen is a renewal of the smuggling of arms from Egypt to Gaza. Why does Hamas so insist on this corridor, if nothing is supposed to happen?
Prof. Kobi Michael: The Rafah Crossing has served as the main platform for smuggling weapons into Gaza, all with Egypt turning a blind eye. Abandoning the corridor and crossing before establishing monitoring and control mechanisms transparent to Israel means losing control over the corridor and crossing in the future.
Published algemeiner , September 1, 2024.
Prof. Kobi Michael: Iran and the Hamas leadership abroad are very concerned with the loss of Hamas’s fighting capacities in Gaza, hence they put great efforts into stirring up unrest and bolstering terrorist networks in the West Bank.
The interview took place on the I24 channel on August 31, 2024.
Prof. Kobi Michael: The Iranians and Hamas leadership abroad are making huge efforts to supply and fortify the terror infrastructure in the West Bank by smuggling weapons, explosives, and money from Lebanon through Syria and Jordan, and then to the northern districts of the West Bank.
The IDF is taking a “much more aggressive” approach in response to a perceived growing threat. Hamas had threatened to deploy suicide bombers in Israel after a failed bombing in Tel Aviv last week.
Published in Inews UK, August 17, 2024.
Prof. Kobi Michael in JNS: The Rafah Crossing has served as the main platform for smuggling weapons into Gaza, all with Egypt turning a blind eye. Abandoning the corridor and crossing before establishing monitoring and control mechanisms transparent to Israel means losing control over the corridor and crossing in the future.
Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser: The reality of so many tunnels under the corridor makes it clear that what will happen is a renewal of the smuggling of arms from Egypt to Gaza, Why does Hamas so insist on this corridor, if nothing is supposed to happen? The reality of so many tunnels under the corridor makes it clear that what will happen is a renewal of the smuggling of arms from Egypt to Gaza, Why does Hamas so insist on this corridor, if nothing is supposed to happen?
It’s obvious that Israel can’t rely on the Egyptians. They promised and supposedly acted to prevent these smuggling activities, but in practice, you see the vast amounts of weapons Hamas has. Why should this change?
Published in JNS, August 27, 2024.
Prof. Kobi Michael: This is pathetic. Not only Israel but also the Palestinian people do not trust Abbas to rule Gaza since Al Fatah is not even capable of taking care of the West Bank right now.
Israel may maintain a temporary military presence in the Strip to ensure that Hamas won’t pose a threat anymore and to monitor the humanitarian aid coming in, but the ruling must be in the hands of a ‘revitalized’ PA, with an international involvement as well.
Published in The Media Line, August 19, 2024.