Hamas Preparing to Pounce

Hamas Rally In Gaza

From Arutz Sheva:

(IsraelNN.com) IDF sources have warned Western Negev municipal leaders that Hamas is preparing to renew its rocket attacks - and that it has the wherewithal to do so with fury.

The current ceasefire has held, more or less, for three weeks, but it is not expected to last for a long time. Hamas and other Gaza terrorists have fired an average of two shells or rockets at Israel every three days.

Hamas overthrew Fatah control of Gaza in June of last year, and was able to amass at least 230 tons of explosives, 30,000 rifles, over six million rounds of ammunition, and scores of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles by the time they had been in power just six months. Many military experts have warned that Hamas is using the ceasefire period to amass a tremendous arsenal of weapons and explosives, for use against Israel when the time is ripe.

Read more ....

More News on Gaza/Hamas/Israel

Hamas arrests first rocket squads since truce -- Reuters
Hamas leader urges Israel to abide by Gaza truce commitments -- China View
Hamas pledges to hold to truce with Israel, stop violators -- International Herald Tribune
Qassams hit Negev after IDF kills Gazan -- Haaretz

My Comment: There is no talks. No discussions. No forward progress. Everyone is just arming themselves for the next fight. Some truce/peace agrement.

Quiet Reigns In Israel, Gaza As Truce Takes Hold

Beach Deir el-Balah, Central Gaza Strip

From Yahoo News:

SDEROT, Israel - Raz Elraz, for the first time, will be able to take his 14-month-old son to a playground in this rocket-scarred Israeli town. A few miles away in Gaza, Palestinian teenagers ride their bicycles, and Hamas guards play pingpong.

The six-month truce that took effect Thursday was welcomed by both sides, although the Palestinian economy is still being held in check by a closed border.

The cease-fire is meant to end Palestinian rocket barrages and Israeli reprisals in Gaza that have killed more than 400 Palestinians — many of them civilians — and seven Israelis in fighting since the Islamic Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip a year ago.

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News From Other Sources:
Calm For Now -- Al-Ahram
Truce between Israel and Hamas begins -- BBC Radio
Just make-believe -- Haaratz
Israel and Hamas remain on war footing despite ceasefire -- Times Online
Gaza militants and Israel begin fragile truce -- Guardian
News Analysis: Israel-Hamas truce, opportunity or stopgap? -- CCTV

My Comment: When I was looking for a picture to put at the top of this post, I noticed that 95% of all available pictures from the region today were made up of militants wearing ski-masks, Israeli tanks, or gun wielding militia men. Not an optimistic sign that peace will be around for a while.

The picture I choose was a from beach area in central Gaza filled with kids having a good time. Let us hope that this is the picture that both sides remember when they start shooting again.

Rockets, Airstrikes Come Hours Before Gaza Truce

Israeli soldiers rest at an army outpost near Kisufim crossing,
on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

From Yahoo News:

JERUSALEM - Palestinian militants fired 50 rockets and mortars toward Israel on Wednesday, and Israel responded with airstrikes in Gaza just hours before a truce was to take effect, illustrating how fragile the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas would be.

In another diplomatic initiative, Israel called on neighboring Lebanon to open peace negotiations — an overture that was quickly rejected by Lebanon's prime minister.

After a year of violence that has killed more than 400 Palestinians and seven Israelis, the leaders of both sides expressed hope a truce would succeed — but made clear they have little faith in their adversaries' commitment to the deal.

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News From Other Sources:
Israel, Hamas enter Gaza truce; duration in doubt -- Reuters Africa
Analysis: Small steps a way to broader Mideast peace? -- CNN
Israel, Hamas truce unlikely to hold -- AMC Radio Australia

My Comment: I am going to be very optimistic .... I give this truce one week max.

Egypt Confirms Israel-Hamas Truce Starts Thursday

Israeli Air Strike in Gaza

From Yahoo News:

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gaza's Hamas rulers on Tuesday said they have reached a long-awaited cease-fire with Israel meant to end months of Palestinian assaults on Israeli border towns and bruising Israeli retaliation.

The announcement came shortly after Egypt, which has been trying to broker the truce for months, said the cease-fire would go into effect on Thursday. Israel refused to confirm a deal, but said a "new reality" would take hold if Palestinian attacks end.

In a last-minute jolt, Israeli aircraft attacked three targets in the southern Gaza Strip. One of the airstrikes destroyed a car, killing six militants inside.

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News From Other Sources On The Hamas - Israel Truce Deal:
Hamas says it has reached truce with Israel -- MSNBC
Egypt confirms Israel-Hamas truce starts Thursday -- Reuters
Hamas sources say truce with Israel near -- CNN
Report: Hamas-Israel truce to begin Thursday -- AP
Is Hamas becoming a legitimate player? -- Foreign Policy
FACTBOX: Why Israel and Hamas wanted a truce in Gaza -- Reuters

My Comment: I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.