Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center Hamas and the terrorist threat: The Goldstone Report vs. the factual findings

The structure of the study The general description of the ITIC Report Historical background The use of civilians as human shields: Hamas’ combat doctrine The military use of public institutions Hamas’ urban battle tactics Hamas’ security services as military-terrorist forces Statistics of Palestinian casualties

General description Objective: To examine how the Goldstone Report relates to Hamas and the terrorist threat from the Gaza Strip. The study does not deal with the military aspects of the Report. Methodology: The study compares the findings of the Goldstone Report with the factual findings on the ground as reflected by reliable information.

Authors: An ITIC team headed by Dr. Reuven Erlich (Col. Ret Authors: An ITIC team headed by Dr. Reuven Erlich (Col. Ret.) with the support of the Israeli defense establishment.

Methodology of the Goldstone Report The objective of the Report’s methodology was to accuse Israel of “war crimes” against Palestinian civilians. The main flaws of the Report are imbalance, overt bias in favor of the Hamas narrative, and anti-Israel prejudice. The Report is tainted by a total lack of symmetry in gathering information, relying on biased reports supplied by Hamas.

Sources Intelligence information Interrogation of terrorists Israeli Air Force video clips Aerial photographs Seized documents Open source videos and information Photographs taken by IDF ground forces Statements from IDF officers The full study can be accessed in English on the ITIC website, terrorism-info.org.il.

Part One: Historical background

The Goldstone Report presents a biased analysis of the historical background in order to undermine the legitimacy of Operation Cast Lead. Its main flaws are: Flaw No. 1: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is presented from a pro-Palestinian and Hamas perspective, while the terrorist threat facing Israel is minimized.

Flaw No. 2: The Goldstone Report ignores Hamas’ terrorist nature Flaw No. 2: The Goldstone Report ignores Hamas’ terrorist nature. It does not relate to Hamas’ Radical nature. Ideology. Terrorist strategy. Terrorist record. Brutality toward its opponents.

Brainwashing kindergarten children with jihad ideology. Hamas’ ideology Brainwashing kindergarten children with jihad ideology. The Hamas Charter, an anti-Semitic document calling for the destruction of the State of Israel. Click for video

Flaw No. 3: The Report ignores the firm links between Hamas’ political and military-terrorist wings. The ITIC study proves that Hamas’ military, political and administrative wings are part of one comprehensive organizational system. Interview with Ahmed al-Jaabari, head of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, in which he admits that Hamas funds the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Click for video

Mahmoud al-Zahar and Sayid Siyam, two Hamas leaders, at a shooting range with Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operatives. Click for video

Flaw No. 4: The Goldstone Report minimizes the terrorist threat from the Gaza Strip. The Report focuses on rocket fire during the six months before Operation Cast Lead, ignoring terrorist activities from the Gaza Strip since 2001. Flaw No. 5: The Goldstone Report ignores Hamas’ intensive military buildup. Flaw No. 6: The Goldstone Report ignores the massive amounts of Iranian and Syrian military support (the smuggling of weapons, technical knowhow, training, financial aid, political and propaganda support).

Flaw No. 7: The Goldstone Report adopts Hamas’ perspective regarding the events leading to Operation Cast Lead. It ignores or minimizes the following: The worsening of the rocket threat throughout 2008 (more rockets and with extended ranges fired). Hamas’ systematic violations of the lull in the fighting. Hamas’ unilateral end of the lull (December 18, 2008) accompanied by a massive rocket attack.

Conclusions The Report is totally unbalanced in its analysis of the historical background, with the aim of undermining Israel’s legitimacy in undertaking Operation Cast Lead.