Shin Bet: Hamas has been hit by IAF's Gaza offensive like never before

Shin Bet Security Services Director Yuval Diskin said Wednesday that the current Israel Air Force offensive on the Gaza Strip has caused unprecedented damage to Hamas' infrastructure and personnel.

Hamas "has been hit like it has never been hit before," Diskin told a meeting of cabinet officials in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

The Cabinet meeting was attended by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, and the head of Military Intelligence, Amos Yadlin.

Diskin told the officials present at the meeting that the Islamic group's ability to govern the Strip has been seriously damaged, and that senior Hamas officials are hiding out in Gaza's hospitals, where they have "disguised themselves as doctors and nurses."

"Many Hamas officials are hiding in mosques throughout Gaza, out of the assumption that Israel will avoid attacking Muslim houses of worship," the Shin Bet chief said. Dozens of the mosques have been turned into weapons stockpiles and command centers, he added.

Diskin also said the weapons factories used by Hamas have been wiped out in the offensive and dozens of tunnels used to smuggle arms into the coastal territory have been destroyed.

Diskin added that Hamas is currently trying to repair the tunnels, in order to evacuate their leadership to Egypt so as to avoid being arrested or killed at the hands of the IDF.

According to a Military Intelligence assessment released Tuesday, Israel's air offensive on Gaza has thus far destroyed one-third of the Hamas' rocket arsenal.

	Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin. (Bau Bau)