Israeli court sentences Palestinian rocket engineer to 21 years' jail

Dirar Abu Sisi, detained by Israel in 2011, was a director of the Gaza Strip's sole power station.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Updated: JULY 16, 2015 02:25
HAMAS TACTICIAN and engineer Dar’ar Abu Sis (photo credit: AMIR COHEN - REUTERS)
HAMAS TACTICIAN and engineer Dar’ar Abu Sis
(photo credit: AMIR COHEN - REUTERS)
on Tuesday sentenced Dar’ar Abu Sisi to 21 years in prison after he was convicted for a range of security crimes in his roles as one of Hamas’s top engineers and tacticians.
Sisi was convicted in March for spearheading the establishment of Hamas’s equivalent of a war college intended to improve its commanders’ fighting tactics.
He was appointed to the position by Hamas military commanders Muhammad Deif and Ahmed Jabari after the 2008-2009 Gaza war.
Sisi was also convicted of helping to develop Hamas’s inventory of homemade rockets and mortars. This project included increasing their range to be able to strike Israeli cities at a greater distance from Gaza.
He was also involved in developing weapons which could pierce IDF armored vehicles.
Sisi confessed to the full range of charges against him in an amended and more lenient indictment that was made as part of a plea bargain agreement.
At sentencing, the court emphasized the importance of the struggle against Hamas’s military capabilities including those who contribute to and support them with tactical knowledge and engineering know-how.
The Hamas operative was arrested and was originally indicted by Israel in 2011.
He has claimed that he was kidnapped during a visit to Ukraine in February and that he was then secretly transferred to Israel.
The original indictment included the more serious charges of attempted murder for his role in weapons development and military training.