Hamas: Botched Israeli Mission In Gaza Aimed At Installing Spyware

According to Hamas’ deputy chief in the Gaza Strip, Israeli special forces uncovered in the Palestinian enclave last week were attempting to install spyware to enable the army to eavesdrop on terrorist groups as well as locate military infrastructure such as cross-border attack tunnels. The Israeli soldiers are believed to have entered the territory disguised and in an unmarked vehicle, but were subsequently identified leading to a firefight that killed one officer and a top Hamas commander along with six other members of the organization. The following day, Hamas responded by firing hundreds of mortars, rockets and missiles into Israel, pushing the sides to the brink of war. An eleventh-hour cease-fire was subsequently agreed to, the exact details of which remain undisclosed. The decision was criticized by many in Israel and led to the resignation of defense minister Avigdor Liberman. The Israeli army has not divulged specifics pertaining to the botched operation.