Israel is sceptical about the duration of the ceasefire with Hamas and is keeping a close watch on the situation, warning it will take adequate action to protect its citizens.
Sounding this note of caution on Monday more than 10 days after the ceasefire came into force, Nevo Barchad, head of counter-terrorism department of strategic affairs, Israel foreign affairs ministry, expressed apprehension if peace would be long lasting in the region.
“We do not see lasting peace or ceasefire with Hamas,” he said during a virtual interaction with the media here. The only solution to ensure normalcy in the region is to see that Hamas, a terrorist organization, steps down, and Palestine parties take control. Israel and Palestine can then hold talks to find ways to bring peace, he said.
Claiming that more than 80 per cent of Palestine people and an identical number of Israeli citizens favour peace, Barchad said.
Hamas, however, has openly declared its hostility towards Israel. He also said many countries had declared Hamas as a terrorist organization but India is yet to take action.
On the capabilities of Hamas, he said it had developed sophisticated indigenous manufacturing expertise and the next wave of violence may see it using unmanned aerial vehicles(UAV)or drones guided by GPS. Barchad said it will be difficult to track.
At present, more than 50 per cent of funding and weaponry to the Hamas comes from Iran and its proxies besides some organisations in Britain, Belgium, Netherlands and France, he said.
Asked about involvement of any terrorist organisations of South East Asia especially Pakistan, the Israeli expert said so far there were no traces. However, some small groups in Malaysia were backing Hamas, he added.