Israelis flee in droves from Hamas fire

DEBKA

Community leaders of 40,000 dwellers of the dozens of kibbutzim, moshavim and small towns adjoining the Gaza Strip spoke out Monday, Aug 25: “It is no longer possible to hide what is going on and the country must hear the truth,” they said: “The populated front line facing the Gaza Strip is no more.” Some bluntly blamed this fiasco on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and their management of the operation against Hamas.

The collapse of the Israeli line outside Gaza is analogous in strategic terms to the fall of the Bar Lev line 41 years ago which permitted the Egyptian artillery and tank assault across the Suez Canal, some veteran reservists said.

Others pointed out that, whereas the IDF should have carved out a sterile security zone inside the Gaza Strip, Hamas had managed to depopulate a strip of territory on the Israeli side of the border by relentless cross-border short-range rockets and mortar fire, and was now dictating events in southern Israel.

On the 50th day of Operation Defense Edge, people living in the south were outspokenly critical of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and his deputy, Maj. Gen. Gadi Eisenkott, in contrast to the early days of the operation. They are now blamed for failing to present the security cabinet with “creative military solutions” for combating Hamas tactics.

The prime minister and defense minister this week turned to covering their dilatory tactics against a full-scale war by disseminating predictions “from official sources” that this would be a “week of diplomacy” and truce negotiations would be resumed in Cairo.

This kite didn’t fly for long. Hamas was too full of triumph over the Zionist foe to bow to terms dictated by Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority and refused to be cowed in compromise – even by the heavy ordnance the Israeli air force is throwing at the Gaza Strip’s tallest buildings and high officers. Indeed, history shows that aerial blitzes rarely cause their objects to capitulate, unless augmented by ground action.

In an interview Sunday to Iranian TV, Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal acclaimed the “great Hamas victory” over the Israeli army and thanked Tehran for the assistance which made it possible.

Monday morning, Palestinian Hamas leaders Izzat Rishak and Osama Hamdan added their voices to Meshaal’s by rejecting “talk” of an imminent ceasefire in Gaza and flatly turning down the amended Egyptian truce proposal as a basis for negotiations.

The exclusion of a “diplomatic option,” say our military sources, puts the ball back in the Netanyahu-Ya’alon court.

Air strikes are again proving unequal to halting or deterring Hamas’ rocket offensive – exactly as they did before Operation Defensive Edge began. So Israel’s options boil down to a choice between a war of attrition – which Netanyahu has publicly vetoed – and overcoming his revulsion to ground operations in the Gaza Strip – preferably a series of short, sharp surgical strikes.

Three days ago, DEBKAfile reported: Both sides were preparing Saturday night, Aug. 23, for an impending battle on Gaza Strip soil. Heavy IDF ground forces were poised ready to enter the territory – initially to demolish Hamas’s short-range rocket and mortar launches, which have disrupted the lives of neighboring Israeli communities and forced their mass evacuation. Hamas has been firing those short-range weapons from 3-7 km inside the Gaza Strip.

Once they appreciated the effectiveness of their tactics, Hamas planners escalated the barrage Monday, launching 140 rockets and mortar shells, salvo after salvo, against a broad Israeli population, which has begun to register casualties and extensive damage.

This was meant as a goading challenge to the commanders of the Israel army ranged around the Gaza border, to come in and fight – if they dare.

Netanyahu government can hardly avoid calling a spade a spade, namely calling the conflict a “war” instead of an operation and treating Hamas as “the enemy,” which has to be beaten in a ruthless all-out national effort by every means available. The present situation, whereby Israeli air strikes reduce Gaza’s buildings to dust without stopping Hamas rocket attacks, juxtaposed opposite vanishing Israeli communities reduced to refugees is untenable.

August 26, 2014 | 20 Comments »

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20 Comments / 20 Comments

  4. honeybee Said:

    bernard ross Said:
    Flying Camel Squadron’

    You’re pulling my leg, camel can’t fly !!!!!!!!!! That scenario doesn’t ring true.

    You’ve heard of Pegasus?

  5. yamit82 Said:

    That was also a kick in the ass to Qatar who controls Mashall. After Qatar kicks Meshall out of Qatar he has no place to go?

    You know that I still have my unique viewpoint on qatars role in spite of all the rhetoric to the contrary. Qatar had past relations with Israel, qatar brokered the pillar of defense deal which lasted until Israel attacked them in the west bank for the 3 teens. Hamas says they did it but that the top echelon was unaware. qatar got hamas away from Iran and Turkey and I believe that was their role: to wean hamas of the non arab teats of Iran and turkey and restore sunni gulf arab control. Qatar’s current role as the terror sponsor, which was prior led by saudi, enables the monarchies to keep a link and a leash on hamas. Qatars current “resistance” credentials enable the monarchies to maintain their hegemony and control over hamas and to wean away MB members to their camp. There has been a lot of rhetoric and drama but Qatar is still in the GCC while building its credentials with the MB type of jihadis who believe in political Islam whereas the saudi monarchies promote the salafi brand which maintains their power over all. The monarchies have the same goal of maintaining monarchical power and presenting different faces and and disinformation facilitates those goals.

    I am surprised that Max never picked up on this as it would be up his “elite” alley. The saudi princes gambol, whore and drink alcohol when not in saudi. He recognizes that Islam is a mind control cult but does not speculate on how it is used so effectively on behalf of the “elite”. He recognizes disinformation and deception by western “elites” but does not see how it works in the ME.

  6. yamit82 Said:

    As of right now Hamas is virtually destroyed and whether they reconstitute themselves depends on Israel and Egypt in the near future. Forget about their posturing they are toast.

    I agree with this assessment, I have a feeling that the destruction is more than known. Personally, I think it may be wise to keep a cripple hamas in place to boondoggle Abbas, Obama and the euros(although I ‘ll bet that Abbas knows what to expect from them)

    For me the key is whether Israel wants gaza in the long term. If Israel does not want Gaza, as it now appears, then quiet is a sensible goal when coupled with an ability to prevent or mitigate rearming. If BB can attain those goals without a large loss of life it might make sense, or at least might be his reason for not going in. If the end result of going in is about the same as not going in then perhaps it is better. although I think Israel should have destroyed a lot more rocket sites and not worry so much about their civilians. However, if the truth is allowed to come out regarding the detail to which Israel restrained itself and if that resulted in a much lower antagonism to the nation then perhaps that is a plus. Israel appears to have pioneered civilian sensitive modern warfare and is able to inflict more damage now as a result. Its looking as if Israel has finding the way to inflict a lot of damage and comply with the BS. Also, recently they appeared to cause even more destruction and no one was complaining about it in foreign.

    I dont put much stock in the posturing criticisms. The arabs always need to posture and if I gave them a severe beating and killed a whole lot of them I would not care if the fools boast and pretend to win. Israel does not need face like the arabs, Israel needs facts. From my perspective it appears that Israel bloodied hamas bad and hamas is doing its swan song. also, the civilians are suffering and this is a good thing as it will likely bring some criticism for hamas. If hamas is kept on a financial lease they might not be in a position to control sentiment through killing opposition.I would let the fools have their posturing, but I would be adamant at control. If the euros and all put in money again and hamas rises again let them lose some more billions; perhaps that will lower BDS in Europe.

    It is true that people have been inconvenienced and left their homes but perhaps many more lives would be lost if they went in for no real gain. Trading inconvenience for lives is not so bad if it works out.

    Personally I think the west wanted BB to go in and depose hamas and BB may have decided to let them stew in their own soup and not do their dirty work. They will have to work with hamas in new controlled parameters and they will likely be disappointed. Perhaps this is what BB wants. when it comes to the arabs it looks like its a good idea to keep their pot boiling; the arab spring so far has been a great boon to Israel. bringing things to a conclusion is not necessarily the only goal, sometimes maintaining chaos is better, if its for the other guy.

  8. Israel’s ‘Flying Camel Squadron’ confirmed, tracked bomb targets
    The squadron is said to have played a major role in confirming the presence of civilians and the value of Hamas and other targets.
    “Our job is to make sure that the bombs hit the right targets and only the right targets,” the squadron commander, identified only as Lt. Col. Y., said.
    http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/08/26/israels-flying-camel-squadron-makes-sure-bombs-hit-right-targets/

  18. CuriousAmerican Said:

    Netanyahu has to go in with boots, even if it means large casualities or the Arabs will win.

    Guess you haven’t heard yet:
    Israel, Hamas agree to open-ended Gaza ceasefire

    As of right now Hamas is virtually destroyed and whether they reconstitute themselves depends on Israel and Egypt in the near future. Forget about their posturing they are toast. I look to see some internal civil war between the factions and for us it hardly matters who comes out on top. they got-pounded for 50 days days and nights and the destruction in Gaza is estimated to be 6-7 billion dollars. It will take years before they replace the damage if they get the materials to rebuild. Israel and Egypt control what gets in. That’s leverage in anyone’s playbook. Even the money to be supplied by donors will go through Abbas. Hamas is not a member of the PLO and whether they attempt to overthrow Abbas is still open. Abbas owes us for foiling Hamas plot to overthrow Abbas only last week. So far Israe has only agreed to allow humanitarian stuff into Gaza and extend the fishing limits to I think 12 miles. We can live with that if it doesn’t change. Hamas Gaza seems to have thrown Mashall under the bus and there is now a different Hamas we are facing. That was also a kick in the ass to Qatar who controls Mashall. After Qatar kicks Meshall out of Qatar he has no place to go? Maybe Chile will take him? 😛

    Stupid American christians:

    Arab Nations Strike in Libya, Surprising U.S.

    You and America will reap what you have sown!!! 🙂

  19. @ CuriousAmerican:

    We wouldn’t even have been fighting this war if it wasn’t for the past 2000 years of being set up by the church. If you think you can do a better job – by all means – pack your amunition and go. Your not doing much to help the christians who are being slaughtered by the Muslims so you might as well put your dollar and your might with saving the Jewish State of Israel.

    Follow this guys example http://bcove.me/5f73e2m9

  20. Others pointed out that, whereas the IDF should have carved out a sterile security zone inside the Gaza Strip, Hamas had managed to depopulate a strip of territory on the Israeli side of the border by relentless cross-border short-range rockets and mortar fire, and was now dictating events in southern Israel.

    Again, exaggeration. Israel did have a sterile security perimeter. Israeli shot at anyone who came within 100 to 500 meters of the fence. The Gazans complained about it all the time, and said it cut into their farmland.

    The author is trying to play the “We’ve done nothing,” card.

    In this case, it does not apply.

    Israel did do something. Maybe not enough, but it did do something.

    That being said, Israel has lost the South. Unless she goes in with boots to root out Gaza, she will have lost the war.

    Zeph 2:4 Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon left in ruins. At midday Ashdod will be emptied and Ekron uprooted.

    The Arabs – give them credit – are playing their weak hand masterfully, while the Jews are playing their strong hand pitifully.

    Netanyahu has to go in with boots, even if it means large casualities or the Arabs will win.

    A good start would be to ANNEX the Northern areas of Gaza. For every missle, the Jews go one kilometer and annex.