EGYPT CATCHES SUICIDE BOMBER HEADED TO ISRAEL; HAMAS THREATENS ATTACKS

Egypt Says It Caught Palestinian Suicide Bomber Headed for Israel (Reuters)
Three Palestinians caught entering Egypt through a tunnel from Gaza this month are members of an al-Qaeda-inspired group who planned to enter Israel to carry out suicide attacks, Egyptian police sources said on Tuesday. One of the men was wearing explosives around his waist and the group also had other explosives and hand grenades. The men said they were from the Army of Islam, which kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza in March and took part in the abduction of an Israeli soldier last year. Police had advance warning of their plan and detained them on Oct. 16 as they were coming out of a tunnel on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border. A fourth man crawled back through the 950-meter tunnel. Egyptian authorities publicize their activities against smuggling and illegal crossings following repeated Israeli complaints that they are not doing enough to prevent arms and explosives reaching the Palestinians.

Hamas Military Commander: We'll Strike in the Heart of Israel - Ali Waked
Muhammad Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, has said that Hamas will strike in the heart of Israel in the near future, a senior Hamas member said Tuesday. Sheikh Ahmed Hamdan said he recently met with Deif, and heard from him that Hamas will soon replace its defensive fighting policy with an offensive one. "Deif promised me that the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades will hit the Zionist enemy hard. The organization has completed its preparations and is only waiting for orders," he said. Deif is responsible for the deaths of dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings he planned. (Ynet News)