Troops face bitter battle of the tunnels

[bemildred]

FOR a week the Israeli air force attacked the militant Islamic group Hamas in Gaza in the hope of destroying its ability to launch rockets that have menaced Israeli cities. The strikes failed.

Despite the destruction wreaked on Gaza, Hamas was yesterday still able to fire off 30 missiles against Israel, some capable of reaching cities 25 miles from Gaza.

Hamas had been preparing for months for exactly the present conflict. A senior Hamas militant described last week how they had changed their rocket-launching operations to survive the expected Israeli air assault.

Previously Hamas military units would trundle vehicles to a site and fire off a rocket – a near-suicidal action if, as last week, Israeli drones, jets and helicopters were patrolling Gazan skies. Instead, the Hamas official said, his men had dug tunnels and run lengths of detonation wire so that they could launch from a distance.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5441034.ece

[Vegasaurus]

1. Hamas has put rocket launching and goading Israel

above the health and welfare of its 1.5 million citizens.

Hamas bears responsbility for any civilian deaths, since there never needed to be a military incursion by Israel, and it could end tomorrow, if Hamas stopped the rockets.

It's all Israel asks, but Hamas is too stupid to get that.

[ohio2007]

3. as long as there is one black ski mask left in gaza to hide behind

the people of Gaza will never know half the truth behind why the fight must continue

[ohio2007]

2. If they put 1/2 as much effort in finding a peacfull settlement instead of finding news ways to

launch rockets, the people in Gaza may have less trouble with border closures.

jmo
but we all know Hamas has a strong constitution when it comes to the existance of Israel

[Vegasaurus]

4. There would be NO border closures if they stopped their terrorism

There would be free trade, jobs, a growing economy, health and prosperity for the Gazans.

All they have to do is give up terrorism.

But Hamas refuses, and thus continues to endanger the Gazans and sink them deeper into misery.

[AnOhioan]

8. Yeah, everything would be just hunky-dory

If only Hamas would give up. What you describe has never occurred in Gaza, even before Hamas ever came to be.

Your statements are growing more absurd as time passes.

The citizens of Gaza will not know prosperity and peace until an independent Palestine exists. A Palestine that has secure borders, enforced by the UN. A Palestine that has no blockades or impediments to economic growth.

Will Israel agree to this? Highly doubtful.

[Duckhunter935]

18. They did in 1947

The UN two state solution, The Arabs did not and declared war on Israel

[bemildred]

5. I'm not much interested in blathering about who is at fault.

I'm more interested in what they are up to. I think we have a game of cat and mouse here, since it is clearly not (yet) a massive invasion designed to take control of the strip. Two opposing parties trying to draw each other out, or in, as the case may be.
:hi:

[The Magistrate]

9. I Agree This Seems More a Reconnaissance In Force So Far, Sir

It will take a couple of days to develop the full penetration,

[bemildred]

10. It seems to me it is hard to say.

One has to speculate on the intentions of the two parties. It seems to me that reason is probably not a useful guide here.

[The Magistrate]

11. There Is Not Really Much To Go On In The Reports at Present, Sir

So recourse must be had to first principles and past practices, albeit as you say in the service of speculation....

The stated Israeli objective seems a reasonable enough one, to occupy the area from which rockets are launched, long enough to destroy the facilities employed. It can be done, though only a short-lived relief can result.

The first need of the action would seem to me to be to have a fair gauge of the actual fighting design and capabilities of the proclaimed Hamas fortifications and newly trained men. This cannot be known in advance, and can only be tested by contact.

[bemildred]

13. From the al Jazeera report, it appeared the idea

might be to slice off the top of the strip, which fits, and of course that can serve as RIF too.

[bemildred]

14. I suppose I am still resisting the idea that the IDF has decided to take the whole strip.

What do you think?

[The Magistrate]

16. My Guess is They Do Not Want To Move On the Whole Thing, Sir

But that is based on having no good answer to 'what would it gain them?' and that is a tool of analysis that may have broken off a week or so ago....

[bemildred]

19. Indeed. I feel much the same.

Nevertheless, one assumes they have some goal in mind.

The one thing that seems certain is that both parties have an interest in feeling the situation out. I thought the IDF in particular would have an interest in drawing the enemy out.

[bemildred]

12. But RIF does indeed work well. nt

[IndianaGreen]

6. Latest video: MOBILE BULLETIN 0035GMT 04 Jan 09

MOBILE BULLETIN 0035GMT 04 Jan 09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw7sy_w17YE&eurl=http://english.aljazeera.net/

[bemildred]

7. Damn! nt

[IndianaGreen]

15. Hamas says nine Israeli troops, including an officer, have been killed in Gaza, after monitoring Is

Hamas says nine Israeli troops, including an officer, have been killed in #Gaza, after monitoring Israeli military radio traffic.

Taro Aso, Japan's prime minister, calls on both Israel and Hamas to exercise "self-restraint". 2 minutes ago from web

Mexico, which joins the UN Security Council this month as a non-permanent member, appeals for "end to hostilities, and immediate ceasefire." 3 minutes ago from web

Naval blockade of #Gaza extended from six nautical miles to 20 nautical miles, preventing ships from breaking the siege, Al Jazeera reports. 22 minutes ago from web

Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters have been engaging in heavy fire-fighting in #Gaza, Al Jazeera reports. 32 minutes ago from web

Israeli army have reached Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in #Gaza, Al Jazeera can report. 33 minutes ago from web

http://twitter.com/ajgaza

[bemildred]

20. Invading Israeli troops battle Hamas fighters in Gaza

GAZA CITY (AFP) — Invading Israeli ground forces fought fierce battles with Hamas in Gaza on Sunday after escalating an eight-day bombing blitz that killed hundreds of Palestinians and wreaked widespread destruction.

---

Israeli tanks supported by helicopter gunships were battling around Gaza City and in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, while Hamas fighters fired back with mortars and rockets , witnesses said.

---

An Israeli military spokesman said dozens of Hamas fighters were killed in the initial battles, while the Islamist group's television said Israeli soldiers had also been killed.

---

An Israeli military official was quoted by the Ynet news website as saying, "We are facing several hubs of resistance, yet we are not dealing with massive resistance.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i5FR0xGcOigFd9Vxn80Pfg0F8aWw

[Behind the Aegis]

17. If they find a tunnel, blow it up.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Have to wonder if they are using some sort of thermobaric weapons incudng FAE

They tend to ruin your day if you are in the tunnel