Though many Israelis underestimate its capabilities, Hamas actually has sophisticated computer and networking resources in terror tunnels to detect the presence of IDF troops and to automatically fire rockets and missiles at Israeli targets — and a rich sponsor is helping them.
That sponsor is Gulf oil powerhouse Qatar, says Aviad Dadon of Israeli cyber-security firm AdoreGroup. “The Qataris have invested hundreds of millions in both defensive and offensive cyber capabilities,” says Dadon.
Soldiers from the Givati brigade seen at the entrance to a Hamas ‘attack tunnel’ on Wednesday, July 23. The brigade’s mission is to target Hamas’ tunnels that cross under the Israel-Gaza border and enable Hamas terrorists to infiltrate into Israel and carry out attacks. (Photo credit: IDF Spokesperson/FLASH90)
“We have sourced 70% of the cyber-attacks on Israeli government sites in recent weeks to IP addresses associated with Qatar.”
According to Dadon, Hamas has embedded sophisticated network systems inside its terror tunnels, giving operatives in command and control centers the ability to monitor events in any of the tunnels. Using sensors and other networked equipment, terrorists can quickly be notified if an IDF unit is advancing in a tunnel, allowing them to disperse quickly — and allowing the command and control staff to set off explosives when soldiers approach a booby trap.
In addition, he says, Hamas has automated its rocket firing system using networked, cloud-based launching software provided by Qatar. “They can set off a rocket from any distance, and set them to go off at a specific time, using timers,” Dadon says. “Anyone who thinks they have dozens of people sitting next to launchers firing rockets each time there is a barrage is mistaken.”
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