Just more than one year ago, Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip after a nearly forty year presence.  The Israeli government sent thousands of soldiers and police to evict 9500 Jews in what was called “painful concessions for peace.”  These Gaza Jewish residents spent more than a generation building homes, communities and a vibrant livelihood in the once barren sands of the Gaza Strip.  For months preceding the eviction, many of these same residents warned that if they were removed, the vacuum left behind would be filled by terror groups and that Gaza would turn into a center for global terror.  They were right. 

A story in today’s Jerusalem Post is just one more piece of evidence that the Gaza Strip – now free of Israelis – has become a growing menace and threat to the state of Israel and even the West.  According to the Post, “Hamas is smuggling advanced weaponry including anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles into the Gaza Strip, changing the tactical military picture there, the head of the IDF intelligence directorate's research department told the cabinet on Sunday.”

Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz said that this weaponry could make it significantly more difficult for the IDF to launch ground operations inside Gaza. Israel would face 'stronger' and 'different types' of resistance inside Gaza as a result of this new weaponry, he said. In addition, he said, these weapons would also increase the threats to the Negev communities around Gaza. 

The deputy head of the Shin Bet (Israel's Security Agency) told the cabinet that in addition to the weaponry, various experts have been smuggled into Gaza in order to improve Hamas' fighting capabilities. He said some of these experts came from Syria, and were using Hizbullah's fighting strategies as a model to be used by Hamas.”

Last week, CBN News provided another piece of evidence of the growing menace within Gaza.  CBN correspondent John Waage and producer Salam Eid reported on one of the many terror groups inside Gaza - The Knights of the Storm - and showed exclusive footage of their weapons manufacturing.  They’re building mortars and missiles in their continued Islamic struggle against Israel and the West.  “The Knights of the Storm” are a military branch of Fatah, the party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.  Abbas is touted by some as a partner for peace but as Waage points out in his report:  “While Abbas talks peace at the United Nations, his fellow party members run a weapons making factory in Gaza.”

Hamas, the ruling party of the Palestinians is more open about its intentions.  In Waage’s report, a Hamas spokesman threatened a third “intifada” or uprising.  He said, “The third 'intifada' will surpass the political geography.  And it will overthrow the balance of power in the area and then it will get out of hand.”  Whether it’s Hamas, Fatah or outside experts, the rise of Islamic militancy within Gaza presents a threat to both Israel and the West.  While it is on Israel’s border and may seem far away from America, it affects us too.  It’s just one more front in the global battle the West faces with Islamic fundamentalism.