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Hamas 'Father of Rockets' Sentenced to 21 Years

CBN

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- It took four years for the trial and sentencing of senior Hamas engineer Dirar Abu Sissi, who some call the "father of rockets."

Sissi was arrested in 2011, reportedly while traveling by train with his wife to Kiev where they hoped to immigrate.

Years earlier, Sissi received his doctorate in electrical engineering at the Military Academy of Engineering in Ukraine. He later served on the staff of the Hamas military wing's Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades' military college in the Gaza Strip.

In a plea bargain, the Beersheva District Court sentenced the rocket engineer to 21 years in prison for manufacturing arms, conspiracy to commit murder, membership in a terror organization, and weapons possession.

Sissi is accredited with increasing the range of Hamas rocket fire and manufacturing mortar shells and other types of rockets and missiles.

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