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Last update - 09:34 30/10/2007
IDF's tactical upper hand over Hamas in Gaza is diminishing
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
tags: Gaza, military capacity 

The casualties Israel has suffered during offensive operations in the Gaza Strip- three dead in the past three months - hint at a troubling trend: The Israel Defense Forces' tactical advantage over Hamas in Gaza is shrinking.

In recent months, the IDF has conducted operations in Gaza on a nearly daily basis. The area of operations is limited: no more than three kilometers from the fence - an area the army likes to call the "security zone." However, this means that there are regular clashes with forward divisions of Hamas, which also often uses other Palestinian organizations as auxiliaries. The IDF operations are meant to push the militants further away from Israeli territory in an effort to prevent them from crossing into Israel, digging tunnels or carrying out other offensive operations, such as attempting to abduct soldiers, firing mortars and laying roadside bombs.

But Hamas has not taken these IDF efforts lying down. In order to reduce the freedom of operation of IDF units, Hamas sets up ambushes when they enter the Gaza Strip and also when they leave it.
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Until recently, it was obvious who was winning this confrontation. The IDF has an enormous advantage in terms of firepower, observation, control of the air, armored vehicles and troop training. Dozens of IDF operations in the strip following the abduction of Gilad Shalit in the summer of 2006resulted in hundreds of Palestinian dead. During that period, the IDF suffered one dead soldier, killed by friendly fire.

But in recent months, the efforts by Iran and Hezbollah to improve Hamas's military capabilities are beginning to be felt. It is not only better weaponry, but also careful study of the lessons of the Second Lebanon War. Dozens of militants trained in Iran and Lebanon have managed to enter the strip and have subsequently created a system of control and coordination. There is a chain of command for every area, which operates a coordinated network of observation posts, infantry and antitank forces.

Due to the fact that the entry points of IDF forces are relatively limited and predictable, the chance for clashes is relatively high. Israel still has an advantage, but it is harder to emerge from these clashes unscathed.

The IDF also suffers from another limitation: The size of the force allotted to offensive operations in the strip is relatively small, while the tasks are enormous. The soldiers are being drained.

On Monday, Major Ehud Efrati was killed and a Golani soldier was seriously injured. How do these increased casualties, which include two soldiers lightly injured on Friday and another soldier killed two weeks ago, affect the likelihood of a large-scale operation in the strip? On one hand, such losses encourage the IDF to take fewer risks, which means employing more indiscriminate fire, and this leads naturally toward escalation. On the other hand, losses have a deterrent effect on the political leadership, as they drive home the point that a massive operation will not be a walk in the park.

Related articles:

  • IDF reservist killed in gunbattles in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza
  • Dichter hints at broadening IDF action after soldier dies in Gaza
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      1.   ISRAEL SHOULD STOP THINKING THAT TERRORISTS ARE STUPID 02:57  |  C.Lever 30/10/07
      2.   HaAretz - Make up your mind 03:28  |  * BEN JABO 30/10/07
      3.   Ceasefire. 03:31  |  Paulo 30/10/07
      4.   Losing a War 03:41  |  Ron 30/10/07
      5.   Give Gaza Civilians 48 Hours To Leave For The West Bank 04:03  |  Bill Foonman 30/10/07
      6.   we have to get smarter.stop fighting with one arm tied behind 04:22  |  ralph 30/10/07
      7.   The only stupid one is you Lever. 04:23  |  Michael 30/10/07
      8.   Stop being afraid 04:25  |  R 30/10/07
      9.   Increased sophistication. 04:36  |  sandra chitayat 30/10/07
      10.   HAMAS SHOULD START THINKING THAT IDF ARE IDIOTS 04:37  |  M14 30/10/07
      11.   # 3 Think about it 04:44  |  James 30/10/07
      12.   Iran is the problem 04:54  |  Realist 30/10/07
      13.   RETAKE GAZA,DISMANTLE HAMAS, NO QASSAMS, BEAT IRAN)))) 05:14  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 30/10/07
      14.   Lack of important details 05:19  |  Stretching It 30/10/07
      15.   Not like Deir Yassin any more - Remember it 05:21  |  Neil 30/10/07
      16.   To Ron #4 - War Crimes 05:31  |  Neil 30/10/07
      17.   #3, Paulo...Hamas has openly called for a ceasefire? 05:40  |  Silvienne 30/10/07
      18.   Huge fire power is uselles in a guerrilla war! 05:56  |  Niva dos santos 30/10/07
      19.   More Nonsense from Paulo 06:22  |  Jason, Ph.D. 30/10/07
      20.   I don`t think palestinians really want peace.... 06:30  |  maria 30/10/07
      21.   To Paulo from Lisbon 06:38  |  ricardo levy 30/10/07
      22.   The JudeoNazis must be resisted 06:47  |  American 30/10/07
      23.   time to take on iran 06:53  |  goldman 30/10/07
      24.   For Ron # 4 06:59  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/10/07
      25.   IDF.Tactical Upper Hand Shrinking 07:18  |  Jordan 30/10/07
      26.   sensationalism 07:30  |  SEBASTIAN 30/10/07
      27.   Huge Firepower 07:39  |  Dan 30/10/07
      28.   re: Silvienne 07:47  |  Paulo 30/10/07
      29.   re: Jason - Ph.D ( I think not) 07:56  |  Paulo 30/10/07
      30.   re: Ricardo 08:02  |  Paulo 30/10/07
      31.   For Jason #11 08:18  |  Esther 30/10/07
      32.   Fortuna 08:27  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 30/10/07
      33.   Neil: one swallow doesn`t make a summer 08:39  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 30/10/07
      34.   IslamoNazi in `America` 08:41  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 30/10/07
      35.   Hamas` improved military capabilitis. 08:47  |  Maureen Ann 30/10/07
      36.   inevitable... 09:02  |  ravi 30/10/07
      37.   DOES THE IDF HAVE ANY WAR AIMS? 09:46  |  SM 30/10/07
      38.   Here is an idea 10:21  |  George Lechter 30/10/07
      39.   SPIDER WEB 10:23  |  Refugee 30/10/07
      40.   Jason, Ph.D. 10:31  |  Paulo, #29 30/10/07
      41.   HAmas and Military 10:36  |  Truths 30/10/07
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      44.   Lance-Corporal Jack Jones 10:47  |  Clickfool 30/10/07
      45.   Refugee, crawl back into your spider hole 10:48  |  Theodor 30/10/07
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      49.   MARGIE in T.A..No prizes for guessing who "American" is 11:23  |  PETER S .M. 30/10/07
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      52.   It is about time 11:39  |  Marcelo 30/10/07
      53.   BETTER FOR ISRAEL TO TALK AND MEAN PEACE THAN WAR 11:40  |  kokonot 30/10/07
      54.   DEIR YASSIN DAYS ARE LONG GONE... 11:43  |  Eric 30/10/07
      55.   For "American", the racist 11:44  |  J 30/10/07
      56.   You are COMPLETELY missing the piont 11:44  |  Kobi 30/10/07
      57.   CFOOL Israels advantage the one you cannot stand 11:45  |  PETER S .M. 30/10/07
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      63.   BS 12:31  |  Robert 30/10/07
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