April 1st, 2008

IDF SPOKESPERSON'S ANNOUNCEMENT

Hamas Terror Operative Arrested

Now released for publication: In a joint IDF and ISA activity on February
25th 2008, the forces arrested Muhamad Kassem, a Hamas terror-operative,
during a planned attack on IDF soldiers. The attackers disguised themselves
as protesters during a demonstration against the humanitarian situation in
the Gaza Strip, organized by the Hamas terrorist organization near the Erez
crossing.

Kassem, 18, a resident of Beit Lahiya, admitted during his investigation
that he was involved in a series of attempts to attack IDF soldiers,
including planting and activating explosive devices, ambushing IDF patrols,
scouting for intelligence and participating in the planning of a suicide
bombing attack.

In September 2007, Kassem was recruited for the Hamas' suicide bombers unit
and participated in a training course along with 40 additional Hamas
terror-operatives. As a part of his training, Kassem was supposed to receive
an explosive belt weighing 20kg intended for a suicide bombing attack.
Kassem was arrested before he received the belt.

During his investigation, Kassem said he was involved, along with other
Hamas terror-operatives, in planting and activating explosive devices
against IDF tanks. According to their plan, after activating the explosives
the terror-operatives were supposed to open fire at the soldiers.

In one these incidents, Kassem was involved in an attempt to plant an
explosive device weighing 25kg. He and another Hamas terror-operative
conducted surveillance on IDF forces in order to activate it against IDF
soldiers. Due to technical difficulties the explosive device did not go off.