‘Gaza deal will strengthen Hamas,’ Shin Bet head warns

Signing a deal with Hamas will “show Hamas that terror pays,” the head of the Israeli Security Agency stated.

By TPS and World Israel News Staff

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will strengthen terrorist groups in Judea and Samaria, Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency) head Nadav Argaman told the security cabinet ministers during a special meeting Thursday discussing the deal.

According to Argaman, signing a deal with Hamas will weaken Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and “show Hamas that terror pays.”

“A move like this will also weaken the moderates and show the Palestinians that only violence achieves results from Israel,” he said.

Education Minister and Jewish Home party chairman Naftali Bennett has repeatedly warned against an agreement with Hamas, calling it a “serious, irresponsible mistake” that will give the Hamas terror group an opportunity to replenish its rocket supply.

“This is a prize in return for 130 days of terror, rockets, snipers and incendiary balloons,” Bennett said, as translated by Ynet. “This ‘quiet’ will award Hamas total immunity to replenish tens of thousands of rockets threatening all parts of the country and allow them to launch a war against Israel at a time and under conditions most convenient to them.”

Earlier, it was reported that Egyptian Chief of Intelligence Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Wednesday in order to discuss the emerging deal.