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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |
| Hamas Gunmen Disobey Orders Refuse to Fire as IDF Leaves Gaza | |
| 2009-01-20 | |
| Tuesday about 200 am local time Israel Defense Forces officers supervising the pullout of troops from Gaza on Monday were working to have the last Israeli soldier leave Gaza on Tuesday before the Washington, D.C., inauguration of United States President Barack Obama. The IDF is expected on Tuesday to begin discharging many of the reservists drafted two weeks ago under emergency orders. Troops began significantly reducing their presence in the Gaza Strip as early as Saturday night, immediately after Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire which put and end to Operation Cast Lead. The troops took key positions around the Strip, poised to reenter when ordered. Hamas militants took steps to avoid violating the cease-fire on Monday, not firing any rockets into Israel and not attacking the IDF troops still stationed in the Strip. IDF sources said that the peace was maintained despite alleged orders by Hamas leadership in Damascus for their operatives in Gaza to carry out attacks against IDF forces. Israeli officers said that the militants chose to ignore the order. of all the reports today, I find this the most significant
According to intelligence reports, Iran closely monitored the situation in Gaza, and was concerned that Israel could topple Hamas' regime there. Iran is now interested, according to the intelligence reports, in helping Hamas rebuild its arsenal as soon as possible. Israeli intelligence estimates indicate that Hamas employed a system of 250 tunnels running across the border which separates the Palestinian side of Rafah from the Egyptian side of town. Some 80 percent of these tunnels were collapsed or damaged in Israel Air Force raids, according to estimates. Approximately 500 Hamas militants were killed in the operation, according to Israeli estimates and hundreds more were wounded. Additionally, the IDF killed hundreds of militants belonging to various armed factions and militias. The Israeli army captured 130 Palestinians in the operation. Out of that number, some 30 captives are suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations, and they are slated to remain under arrest pending trial. In total, Hamas fired 600 rockets during the operation out of an estimated arsenal of 2,000 to 3,000 rockets with various ranges. Israeli army officials believe the IDF destroyed about 1,200 rockets in the operation. | |
| Posted by:mhw8 |
| #9 .....so The Anointment of The One wouldn't be sullied by their unseemly efforts to defend themselves. Posted by: kirk Again, I suspect Israel is under an Obama staff ultimatum....;<em>make it go away by the inauguration or risk future loss of military aid and assistance. Just my guess. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-01-20 20:37 |
| #8 I find it pathetic that Israel's leaders, probably at our request, have adjusted their military operations so The Anointment of The One wouldn't be sullied by their unseemly efforts to defend themselves. |
| Posted by: kirk 2009-01-20 14:48 |
| #7 Each time Israel has to go back into Gaza, they should be a little less careful in how they fight. Destroy more buildings, tear up the infrastructure more, bomb anywhere five rounds of AK-47 ammunition could be stored. About the third or fourth time, I THINK the Gaza Arabs would begin to get the message. If they don't, eventually there won't be any left. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-01-20 13:24 |
| #6 Perhaps it's the Kzinti method...after repeatedly going out and getting killed, only the peaceful and self-restrained were left. One can hope... |
| Posted by: BChoinski 2009-01-20 11:51 |
| #5 The calm before the next fight. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-01-20 10:06 |
| #4 The irony of this whole thing is that it is the Turkish method, used successfully for hundreds of years to control Arabs. Whenever the Arabs would cut up rough, the Turks would go there, slaughter a bunch (though far less precisely), then leave. The situation would then calm down for a while before the Arabs would cut up rough again. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-01-20 08:44 |
| #3 Meshaal might have to come back from Not.Gonna.Happen. Disobeying their Iranian masters' orders would indeed be significant |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-01-20 07:21 |
| #2 This shit will continue until Iran is dealt with! |
| Posted by: Paul2 2009-01-20 06:22 |
| #1 The problem they've very short memories. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-01-20 06:12 |