Israel Matzav: Deja vu all over again in Gaza

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Deja vu all over again in Gaza - Shalit kidnapper killed

It looks like the IDF has started or is about to start another mass invasion of the Gaza Strip. The Jerusalem Post is claiming that one of the terrorists the IDF killed near Rafah on its way in to Gaza is Ashraf el-Muashar, who was a senior 'operative' in Hamas' 'military wing' and who was active in preparing the kidnapping of IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit on June 25. The Post describes the story as 'unconfirmed' and the source as a 'Hamas source' of a 'Palestinian news agency.' YNet names the source as the Ramatan news agency, which apparently does not have a web site. The 'Palestinian' news agency Maan names Muashar and describes him as "a leading member of the interior ministry's Executive Force in the Rafah area." Ma'an is also reporting that Israeli Minister of Transportation Shaul Mofaz has stated that the Palestinian minister of interior, Said Siyam, should be prevented from returning to the Gaza Strip when he returns from Iran. Siyam will have to enter the Palestinian territories through the Rafah crossing, which is where the IDF is currently operating.

'Moderate Palestinian President' ~~Mahmoud Abbas~~ Abu Mazen's mouthpiece Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that "Such an attack will have grave consequences on security and stability in the entire region," He said that the 'Palestinian Authority' has appealed to the United States to intervene with Israel to prevent a large-scale attack in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Hamas has said "let's bring it on." Abu Obaida, the spokesman for Izaddin al-Kassam, said "We are ready willing and able. We have completed our preparations to teach the Zionist enemy a lesson that it will never forget. This attack will become a nightmare that will haunt the Zionists everywhere."

The reason for the IDF's invading Gaza again now is intelligence information that the 'Palestinians' have been stockpiling weapons including anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. Hamas denies the charge and says that it is an 'excuse' for the IDF re-entering the Gaza Strip.

Yesterday, the IDF discovered an destroyed two more weapons tunnels in the area. It also sent units into the Philadelphi corridor for the first time since it surrendered the area to the 'Palestinians' in 2005. HaAretz reports that the IDF will likely expand the operation in the Philadelphi area:

The operation along the Philadelphi Route took place approximately 1.5 kilometers inside Palestinian territory. Infantry forces from the Givati Brigade entered the area near the Rafah border crossing and began searches for tunnels with the help of specialists from the Bedouin Scout Battalion. The raid was initiated on the basis of Shin Bet intelligence on the presence of tunnels in the area.

Two tunnels were discovered and one of them was destroyed in an explosion carried out by military engineers.

In recent months, 15 tunnels were discovered and destroyed in the Gaza Strip. A number of these tunnels were used for smuggling from Egypt, but others were meant to serve Palestinian militants in carrying out raids inside Israel.

IDF sources said there are plans to broaden the operation in Philadelphi in order to locate more tunnels. The commander of the operation is Colonel Shlomi Dahan, head of the southern regional brigade along the border with the Gaza Strip.

So far the IDF operation near Rafah has met with no Palestinian resistance.

At The Astute Blogger, Reliapundit thinks that the invasion will happen by Monday, the last day of Ramadamadan.

I think this Gaza incursion - which, like the Lebanese incursion, has the tacit approval of Israel's Arab neighbors (who fear Iran, and its proxies Hizballah and Hamas, more than they fear Israel) - will occur on or around the end of Ramadan - 10/23, exactly as Egypt warmed. And once again, my analysis (and I was the one of only 3 bloggers in the blogsphere to post on it - and one of those linked to me!) was right: IT WAS A DEADLINE FROM ISRAEL. Stay tuned...

Stay tuned indeed. Here come the sleepless nights again....