COGAT reveals Hamas threats against bus company owners
Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai published a recording Thursday evening on COGAT’s Arabic-language Facebook page that revealed the manner in which Hamas is strong-arming executives of local bus companies to ferry rioters and terrorists to participate in border protests.
“In a talk a COGAT officer held with a representative of a bus company from the strip, a horrifying sequence of events emerged: threats, arrests, impounding and even sending Hamas-affiliated drivers to force bus companies to bring rioters to violent clashes near the border with Israel,” Mordechai posted.
“This is the true face of the terror organization that claims the violent riots are spontaneous. Hamas is also using terrorism against its own people, and we have further proof of that,” he concluded.
In the recording, the owner of a Gaza transportation company is heard telling the officer, “They came in, arrested us and pressed charges. They told me they wanted to lock me up and brought in other drivers. They said they wanted to impound my buses. What was I supposed to do?”
Israel warns bus company owners away from transporting protesters
Last week, COGAT sent a message to Hamas and owners of local bus companies alike, warning them to refrain from cooperating with the terror group ruling the isolated enclave and transporting residents to the fence to attend last Friday’s protests.
The recording, sent to owners of bus companies, said in part, “Anyone approaching the border is risking their lives. As far as we’re concerned, if the bus company you own takes part in transporting protesters (to the fence), you and your family will bear personal responsibility.”
Owners were then told that if they enjoyed any relief measures in the past, they will be annulled should they choose to cooperate with Hamas.
Read More: Y Net