Mashaal. Seeking approval
Photo: AFP
Report: Hamas to escalate attacks on Israel
Kuwait based Al-Jarida newspaper reports Hamas' Khaled Mashaal met with Iranian officials, asked for backing when organization exacerbates attacks on Israel
Hamas has asked Iran to allow the organization to escalate its altercations with Israel, carry out more suicide attacks and if need be – threaten kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit with execution, Kuwait's Al-Jarida newspaper reported Friday.
The report, citing senior Hamas officials, Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal recently met with a senior Iranian intelligence official, who accompanied Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his visit to Qatar last week.
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Mashaal, said the report, told the Iranians Hamas will need their political support, as well as Iran and Syria's go-ahead to carry out a series of major attacks on Israel.
Al-Jarida further reported that Mashaal told the Iranians Hamas wants to kidnap more Israeli soldiers, as well as threaten Gilad Shalit's well-being in order to "stir Israeli public opinion, pressure Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and hinder the Israeli-Palestinian peace process."
