Israel has 'iron fist' aimed at Hamas

Times:

Israel is preparing to wage war against Hamas in the very heart of Gaza's crowded population centres unless the Islamic militants accept ceasefire demands swiftly and stop firing rockets over the border.

As thousands of reservists pour into Gaza to bolster Israel's forces, the Cabinet is expected to approve imminently a devastating new “third phase” of its 18-day-old offensive unless there is a last-minute diplomatic breakthrough.

Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, pledged yesterday to hit Hamas with an “iron fist” if the rockets did not cease.

“We will continue for as much time as is necessary in order to remove this threat,” he declared in a speech in Ashkelon, a town regularly hit by rockets. “We cannot be soft. It is us or them ... We will continue striking with all our might, with all our power, until there is quiet.”

Mark Regev, the Israeli government spokesman, said that Hamas fighters were taking “serious punishment” and Israel was “advancing towards the endgame”. A senior defence official said that Israel was laying the groundwork for a big increase in its offensive, and that the military was ready to move the moment the political leadership approved.

Another military official closely involved in the operation said that Israeli troops in Gaza had been ordered to engage with maximum force over the past 24 hours. That, and the deployment of the reservists to free regular troops by taking over territory already secured, was designed to increase the pressure on a Hamas leadership increasingly divided over whether to continue fighting.

The Israeli Government believes Hamas has been stunned by the ferocity of Operation Cast Lead, and that there are splits emerging between the political and military wings in Gaza, and between top Hamas members in Gaza and those in Damascus where Khaled Mashal, the group's exiled leader, lives. The Israeli media, however, also reports splits in the Israeli leadership. Tzipi Livni, the Foreign Minister, and Ehud Barak, the Defence Minister, are reported to be more reluctant than Mr Olmert to approve an expansion that could result in many Israeli casualties. Ms Livni and Mr Barak face a general election next month while Mr Olmert is standing down.

...

Olmert may be engaging in the kind of hyperbole used by many in the region. I doubt Hamas will be moved by his words, but they will probably be moved by Israeli troops.

It is generally believed that the leaders of Hamas in Gaza are hold up under a major hospital. It would not surprise me if they were targeted for capture or destruction by a commando raid. It seems clear to me that the Israelis will have to remove the Hamas leadership to have a chance at stopping the rockets that set off this war.

technorati tags:
political news | news | world news
More at: News 2 Cromley