Hamas Is Preparing For War

Photo: A Kassam rocket crew in Gaza [file]:. Channel 2 [file]

Hamas Preparing Advanced Rockets And 'Offensive' Tunnels -- Jerusalem Post

Israel is likely to face advanced Iranian weaponry, long-range rockets, large missile silos and dozens of kilometers of underground tunnels connecting open fields with urban centers in the event of a future conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to the latest Israeli assessments.

Since Operation Cast Lead ended almost a year ago, Hamas has increased its weapons smuggling and today operates hundreds of tunnels along the Philadelphi Corridor. It has smuggled in dozens of long-range Iranian-made rockets that can reach Tel Aviv as well as advanced anti-aircraft missiles and anti-tank missiles.

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My Comment: In the Gaza war last year, Hamas and their allies quickly learned one important lesson .... the Israelis have better weapons. I predicted that once the Gaza war had stopped, the priority for Hamas would be to rebuild its military and to acquire better weapons.

If the Jerusalem Post story is to be believed .... it appears that they are making forward progress.

But what gets me boiling mad is that while this arms buildup by Hamas is continuing, we in the West are now being asked to feed and to take care of the families that these same Hamas officials have all but ignored to focus on their military objectives. My bet .... we the taxpayers are only providing the goods and resources that will make the next war all but inevitable.

Hamas: We're Prepared To End Cease-Fire And Confront Israel

Israeli military post on Gaza border (Photo from Imemc)

From Haaretz:

Hamas' military wing announced Tuesday it was "prepared for a confrontation with Israel" and for the end of the cease-fire with Israel. But political sources said the cease-fire was expected to go on.

Hamas' Iz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades threatened to "turn the cease-fire tables on the heads of the Zionists," they said in a statement. Abu Obeida, the alias of a spokesman for the military wing, threatened that Hamas would "retaliate fiercely" should Israel resume its targeted-killings policy, as some defense officials have said were advisable after the cease-fire.

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My Comment: Both sides want to go at each other .... what is holding them back is the fatigue of their civilian populations who do not want another conflict at the present time.

Hamas, Israel Trying To Rewrite Truce

From The Washington Times:

JERUSALEM (AP) - A June truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers comes up for renewal next month and it looks like both sides are trying to dictate more favorable terms.

That would explain why Israel and Hamas have been trading rocket fire and air strikes for two weeks, even as they keep saying they're interested in a continued cease-fire. But the attempt to establish new ground rules could easily spin out of control, especially if there are civilian casualties.

Domestic concerns further complicate the situation.

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Ex-Shin Bet Official: Most Hamas Leaders Want To Maintain Short-Term Truce

Photo from The Daily Mail

From Haaretz:

Most Hamas leaders are interested in maintaining a cease-fire with Israel in the short term, according to a former deputy chief of the Shin Bet security service.

In an article regarding the escalation of violence that erupted more than a week ago between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip, published on a U.S. Web site, the official wrote that continuing the truce would allow Hamas to achieve its other political goals.

"Although certain Hamas officials (particularly in the military wing) want to abandon the ceasefire altogether, most of its leaders will most likely continue to emphasize the truce's benefits and maintain the agreement for the near term, since it allows Hamas to make progress on other goals," wrote the official.

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My Comment: May be a lot of them want to maintain the truce .... but a lot of them also want to escalate the war.

Armed Clashes Continue Between Hamas And Israel

Photo from Times Online

Cease-Fire Unravels As Hamas Fires Rockets On Israel -- International Herald Tribune

JERUSALEM: Tensions between Hamas, the radical Palestinian rulers of Gaza, and Israel increased markedly on Friday after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets into southern Israel, sending 18 Israelis to the hospital with shock and mild injuries.

Hamas officials said the attack was revenge for the deaths over the past 11 days of 11 militants and the recent increased Israeli closure of Gaza crossings. They said that while they wanted to continue the five-month-old truce with Israel, it seemed to them that Israel did not and if that was the case, Israel would pay the consequences.

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My Comment: After a few months of "peace", everything is now back to normal .....

Israel And Hamas Preparing For War (Again)

Hamas force members take position after they evacuated Gaza streets.
Photo From The New york Times/ Mohammed Salem/Reuters

PM: Hamas Confrontation Inevitable
-- Jerusalem Post

In the shadow of renewed conflict with Hamas, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited the IDF's Southern Command headquarters on Tuesday.

They were accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, and briefed by Southern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant, who provided detailed explanations on the state of the cease-fire, IDF actions in the area and the preparations being made by a Hamas-led coalition of Gaza-based terror groups.

"It is merely a question of when and not a question of if," said Olmert, speaking after the briefing on the possibility of renewed conflict.

"We are not looking forward to this but neither are we afraid, and if there is a need to fight Hamas, we'll do that," he added.

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My Comment: They are both itching for a fight.

Escalation In War between Israel And Hamas -- News Updates For November 5, 2008

Palestinians shout slogans during the funeral of a Hamas gunmen in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip November 5, 2008. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Hamas Fires Over 35 Rockets Towards Israel -- Reuters

GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip fired more than 35 rockets toward Israel Wednesday, the army and the Islamist group said, hours after the Israeli army killed six militants in the coastal territory.

An Israeli police spokesman said the rockets landed in southern Israel, causing no damage or injuries.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attacks, the first such announcement by the Islamist group since an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel went into effect on June 19.

Palestinian officials said they had been informed by Israel that all commercial border crossings with the Gaza Strip would remain closed Wednesday in response to the rocket attacks.

Israeli airstrikes killed five militants and Israeli soldiers shot dead a gunman during an incursion into the Gaza Strip Tuesday.

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More News On The Hamas - Israel Conflict

Barrage of rockets after six killed in Gaza: military -- Yahoo News/AFP
Israeli army arrests 13 Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza -- China View
Palestinian militants fire dozens of rockets at southern Israel -- RIA Novosti
Hamas fires rockets into Israel to retaliate death of fighters -- Gulf News
Israel orders all Israel-Gaza goods crossings full closure -- China View
Gaza residents 'terribly trapped' -- BBC News