Hamas: Anti-aircraft fire aimed at capturing Israeli pilots
Islamist group says it is increasing attacks on war planes, helicopters hovering over Strip in hopes they'll lead to capture of additional Israeli soldiers, thus strengthening its position in future prisoner exchange deal. Air Force official: Flow of arms into Gaza increasing threat
The increased attacks on Israeli helicopters flying over Gaza are aimed at abducting pilots to be used as bargaining chips in a future prisoner exchange deal, a source in Hamas told Ynet on Sunday.
"The main objective of these attacks is to shoot down manned Israeli aircrafts," the source said.
"Regardless of whether the pilot dies or is taken alive, we hope these attacks will eventually lead to the capture of additional Israeli soldiers."
"This afternoon our anti-aircraft crew opened fire at an Israeli aircraft over north Gaza, we know that it was hit," said Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades, Hamas' military wing.
'Israel does not want to see lull succeed'
Abu Ubaida said Hamas would continue to try to target Israeli aircraft with ever-improving munitions at their disposal.
A senior Air Force officer told Ynet that the threats against Israeli aircraft are "increasing with each passing day", adding that the "terror organizations are highly motivated to hit our aircraft, and helicopters are a naturally targeted because they fly at a relatively low altitude."
The officer refused to say whether Israeli aircraft were in fact hit recently, particularly during the recent Operation Warm Winter waged by the IDF in Gaza, but he did confirm that all aircraft returned safely to their bases. He denied Palestinian claims that during the operation Israel refrained from scrambling planes and helicopters to the Strip due to concrete threats.
"The flow of weapons into Gaza only increases this threat, and this is definitely worrying," the officer said. "We are making every effort to reduce the risk."
In a conversation with Ynet the Hamas source reiterated spokesman Abu Ubaida's claim that the anti-aircraft weapons were seized during raids on Palestinian Authority and Fatah headquarters during the Islamist group's violent takeover of Gaza last June.
"We look to improve all of our activities, including the attacks against Israeli aircraft – and we will be successful in this as well," the Hamas source said.
However, he added that Hamas has no intention of escalating the situation. "If Israel halts its aggression, we will stop firing," he said, "but as long as the targeted killings in Gaza continue, so will the retaliation on the part of the Palestinian resistance. It is our impression that Israel does not want to see the lull succeed."
Hanan Greenberg and Reuters contributed to the report
