The Gazan Engineer who was reportedly abducted in Ukraine and brought to Israel, confessed his extensive involvement in Hamas' rocket program and his role in the founding of a Hamas military academy, according to the details of an investigation released on Thursday. Dirar Abu Sisi, former technical engineer in the Gaza Strip's sole electrical power plant, was reportedly snatched from the Ukraine and brought to Israel in February, under accusations of involvement in Hamas' weapon development programs and suspected knowledge about captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Abu Sisi originally denied all allegations against him, but released information on Thursday that turned him into a military intelligence gold mine. Abu Sisi told investigators all about Hamas' rocket development program and their enlistment techniques, and offered information he was privy to while he was in contact with Hamas general Ahmed Jabri and military chief Muhammad Deif. The charges against Abu Sisi include multiple counts of murder, involvement with a terrorist organization and contact with a foreign agent. In his confessions, Abu Sisi mentioned the IDF's successful incursion into the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead in 2009. According to Abu Sisi, Hamas military chiefs Ahmed Jabri and Muhammad Deif declared the armed wing's performance during the operation as a total failure, and asked Abu Sisi to establish a military academy to revamp their forces. "Many Hamas fighters simply abandoned their posts and were paralyzed with fear, unable to operate their weapons," Abu Sisi said. "I was in charge of upgrading [Hamas'] anti-tank rockets so they would pierce Israeli tank armor. Deif introduced me to [Hamas rocket and explosives expert] Saad Al-Arbid and Ednan Al'ul and we worked on development together." In 2003, while working at the electricity company in the Gaza Strip, Abu Sisi said he began to develop an improved rocket, with a 22km (13.2 mile) range. In 2007, he said he began working on a rocket with a 37-60km (22-36 mile) range. "Ednan Al'ul's assassination stalled the project for more than two years," he said.
