Hamas' plan for the continuation of the war: Expansion of tensions on Syrian border

The organization has established an infrastructure numbering dozens of operatives Syrian refugee camps and in the south of country; goal is to 'heat up' Golan front with rockets

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Hamas has established its military branches not only in Lebanon but also in Syria, according to a KAN 11 news report on Monday evening.

The Syrian branch has allegedly been involved in the shooting at Israel from Syria last Passover, which accompanied the barrage by the Hamas branch in Lebanon towards the north of Israel. The branch numbers several dozens of operatives. Most of their activities are concentrated in refugee camps in Syria and the area of Damascus, as well as in the south of the country, in the areas of Quneitra and Daraa.

In recent years, there has been bad blood between the Assad regime and Hamas due to the terrorist organization's support for the regime’s opponents a decade ago. However, the parties seem to be reconciling their differences.

According to KAN 11, in a meeting held in Turkey, Hamas leaders aimed to coordinate their positions regarding the continuation of the war, both in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon, and the possibility of holding further negotiations for another prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas leadership chose to hold this meeting in a third country – and not via other methods, such as a video conference or an encrypted phone call – in order to gather everyone together in a closed and secure room, to which Israel has no intelligence access.

Palestinian sources privy to details of the meeting, attended by Hamas deputy head, Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, and other senior members of the organization, say it was arranged to "heat up" the Israeli-Syrian border through rocket fire by Hamas military cells already in Syria.

Another issue discussed during the meeting was the escalation of attacks as part of a planned move to expand tensions on the northern front, while receiving the assistance and cooperation that Hamas enjoys.

An additional topic that came up during the meeting was the involvement of Hamas infrastructure in Turkey as part of the war effort.

Written by KAN 11 correspondents Elior Levy and Roi Kais.