A Very Real Possibility that Hamas desperately wants to Avoid!
April 21, 2006
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
When the Israeli Forces (IDF) pulled out of the Gaza Strip there were constant articles by Hamas, and thousands of speeches by all the leaders of Hamas, all claiming that they had driven the IDF out of the Strip. The Iranian government, along with all the extreme Islamic movements and governments, picked up the same rhetoric, avowing that Hamas had won a great victory over Israel, which would be the first of many. So, if the IDF suddenly went back into the Gaza Strip in invasion mode, and generated a smashing defeat of Hamas and all the many terror groups located there, which the IDF is more than capable of doing, it would immensely embarrass Hamas, and pop their propaganda balloons.
I would imagine some behind the scenes maneuvering is going on to get Islamic Jihad, al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, and other internal terror groups to cool it for a while, until Hamas can immerge as a creditable government.
The following warning to the Hamas government is not just the rattling of a saber. If the rocket attacks continue too long, the IDF will made it a reality.
Begin Jerusalem Post Article
Galant: IDF Preparing to Reoccupy Gaza
JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST
April 21, 2006
OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant said Friday that the IDF was preparing to reoccupy the Gaza Strip if the Hamas-led Palestinian government did not halt rocket fire from the area.
“We’re talking about more aggressive military activity,” Galant said in an interview to Ma’ariv. “If the price we have to pay becomes unreasonable as a result of increased [Palestinian] attacks, then we shall have to take all steps, including occupying the Gaza Strip,” he continued.
He said that the move could be a full occupation or a partial occupation one and claimed that his plans had been approved by senior officials, including Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.
Israel has already made two brief incursions into the Strip to search for explosives.
But, defense officials said, the odds of a large-scale operation or full occupation were slim because of financial and political constraints.
“I wouldn’t want to reach that situation, but if it’s forced upon us, then we have a plan to occupy the Strip,” Galant warned. ” We are in advanced stages of preparing forces for readiness.
There is a practical plan and there are forces which are designated for specific operations and are training for them.”
The senior officer added that “intolerable” nonstop attacks, or the use of longer-range and more powerful weapons such as Katyusha rockets, could prompt a large-scale ground operation.
In the wake of recent Hamas comments justifying the Pessah suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, Galant said that although Israel held Hamas responsible for the violence, it was holding off direct military action against the group for the time being.
“In the new reality, the military acts against all terrorist organizations, except Hamas, which is restraining itself,” Galant said.
AP contributed to this report
End Jerusalem Post Article
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