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Last update - 15:28 08/06/2008
Defense sources: Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza premature
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters
Tags: Gaza, Hamas, Israel, IDF

Despite stern warning from Israeli officials about an impending massive operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the big invasion is less certain and imminent than how it is painted in the media, according to defense and military sources.

The sources told Haaretz on Saturday that negotiations on a cease-fire will continue for the next two weeks with Hamas, barring Israeli casualties from Qassam rockets. Only after that period, the sources said, will the government formulate and decide on its next moves vis-a-vis the Islamist organization.

The death of a 51-year-old kibbutz member last week from a mortar shell has served to heighten the decision makers' sense of urgency in approving a land operation in the Strip, the sources added. Yet, they said, this sense of urgency has not yet been translated to operational or preparatory orders.
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The Israel Defense Forces, they said, has not reinforced its regular troops around the Gaza Strip, and no reserves troops have been called up. According to the sources, it is possible that the Israel Air Force, along with ground forces, will escalate their activity around the Strip with time. If that occurs, the sources expected the strikes to focus on the Strip's "buffer zone" - an area of two to three kilometers west of the fence that surrounds the Strip and separates it from Israel.

Meanwhile, according to various reports, Israel is going ahead with indirect dialogue with Hamas, through Egyptian mediation. These contacts are focused on a deal for the release of Gilad Shalit, an IDF soldier whom Hamas abducted two years ago from the Kerem Shalom military outpost outside the Gaza Strip.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has been in favor, according to his associates, of achieving a cease-fire (tahadiyeh in Arabic) with Hamas. However, the defense establishment sources said that if talks fail to achieve this within the next 14 days, Barak may go for the military option. Over the weekend, both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Barak were quoted as saying that the Gaza invasion was "very close," and "imminent."

Hamas: Israeli tank fire kills Gaza gunman, wounds another

Shells fired from an Israel Defense Forces tank killed a Palestinian gunman and wounded another east of Gaza City on Saturday, Hamas Islamists and local medical workers said.

Residents of the neighborhood of Shijaia, a Hamas stronghold, said a shell hit a house where the gunman was killed and another shell was aimed directly at a gunman who was critically wounded.

Hamas said the two men belonged to their organization.

An IDF spokesman said a ground force operating on the Israeli side of the border in the northern part of the Gaza Strip spotted an armed man trying to lay an explosive device near the fence and shot him.

Israel has tightened a blockade on the Gaza Strip and often conducts raids and air strikes into the territory which it says are aimed at ending frequent rocket and mortar fire at towns and agricultural communities close to the border.

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said a major military operation into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to counter the cross-border rocket fire was looking more likely.

"At this moment the pendulum is swinging closer to military action in Gaza than anything else," Olmert said after returning from a three-day trip to the United States where he met President George W. Bush.

Related articles:
  • Olmert hints major Gaza operation is imminent
  • Israeli killed in Negev mortar strike; Gazan girl, 4, dies in IAF attack
  • Defense Minister Barak: Hamas is exhibiting signs of distress
  • Olmert, Barak delay cabinet vote on Gaza Strip ceasefire
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      1.   What a suprise 02:58  |  Trent L 08/06/08
      2.   It`s just talk 03:30  |  dwolf 08/06/08
      3.   So it`s just the usual? 04:28  |  Colin Wright 08/06/08
      4.   strange 07:28  |  rm 08/06/08
      5.   no eminent operation 08:10  |  observer 08/06/08
      6.   It will not happen 08:34  |  MiddleStanian 08/06/08
      7.   IDF - Not Capable or Willing to Defend Israeli Civilians ? 08:35  |  Tod Zuckerman 08/06/08
      8.   Truce for whom 08:51  |  Allan Leibler 08/06/08
      9.   The time for military action against Gaza is long overdue. 08:55  |  Jean Van Daem 08/06/08
      10.   Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza is premature 08:58  |  Esther 08/06/08
      11.   Colin Wright... 09:22  |  Silvienne 08/06/08
      12.   It will be death to Israel if the IDF put its hands on Gaza 10:07  |  Dutch 08/06/08
      13.   IDF won`t re-eneter Gaza? 10:26  |  Jim 08/06/08
      14.   IDF won`t re-eneter Gaza? 10:26  |  Jim 08/06/08
      15.   "Immature" alright! 10:50  |  Maureen Ann 08/06/08
      16.   Israel faces the facts: too scared to enter Gaza. 10:53  |  Dutch Dirk 08/06/08
      17.   IDF operation in Gaza 10:55  |  Ralph 08/06/08
      18.   Darn, I was so looking forward to a televised 10:57  |  spyguy 08/06/08
      19.   Esther #10 11:08  |  Miriam Ashkelon 08/06/08
      20.   Premature even talk about. 11:22  |  Vital 08/06/08
      21.   premature 11:48  |  rm 08/06/08
      22.   Hamas has been begging for an IDF ground incursion 12:08  |  Natallie Durson 08/06/08
      23.   Talk does not matter 12:56  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      24.   #7 13:07  |  Jack Blackwater 08/06/08
      25.   I`ve never seen anything like this 14:14  |  Jeffrey 08/06/08
      26.   No major operation in Gaza as long as Olmert is chief 14:44  |  Tosefta 08/06/08
      27.   The dead was a terrorist, 14:49  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      28.   I wish the wounded 14:51  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      29.   pro-hamas talkbackers 14:59  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      30.   11. Silvienne: Congratulations then 15:01  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      31.   Hamas will kick IDF butt even worse than Hizbullah in 2nd Leb War 15:03  |  Yossi Cronenberg 08/06/08
      32.   Hair on the Rogue states back rising but so what 15:07  |  Labhras 08/06/08
      33.   all muslims see this clip 15:10  |  clinton gates 08/06/08
      34.   Abbas informed hamas of the plan 15:10  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      35.   #22field marshall durson plans the campaign 15:13  |  victor hardman 08/06/08
      36.   message to hamas members 15:42  |  Alex 08/06/08
      37.   Sister Doris 16:16  |  Hakim 08/06/08
      38.   Keep on targeting their leaders from the air. 16:26  |  The Equalizer 08/06/08
      39.   Labharse: raggle taggle army no longer capable of winning any war 16:48  |  Freethinker 08/06/08
      40.   No its delayed 16:49  |  Dr David Gross 08/06/08
      41.   If I still had any doubts about Dutch Jerk being an Arab, 16:51  |  Freethinker 08/06/08
      42.   #22 Natallie, Re The IDF and Gaza 17:21  |  Dutch 08/06/08
      43.   Natalie Durson 17:24  |  rich 08/06/08
      44.   spyguy 17:32  |  rich 08/06/08
      45.   To #12 Americans against Israel? 17:57  |  CM 08/06/08
      46.   to # 16 Different scenario 18:05  |  CM 08/06/08
      47.   Dutch Dork, Dutch, Labarse etc. 18:15  |  ChanahS 08/06/08
      48.   #38 Freethinker 18:20  |  Labhras 08/06/08
      49.   IDF will not invade Gaza 18:29  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/06/08
      50.   If not a gaza operation than a more serious seige 18:34  |  Dror 08/06/08
      51.   Natallie Durson and Rich, also toppling Abbas is Hamas goal 18:42  |  Mark B. 08/06/08
      52.   As Olmert`s departure from PMO? 18:45  |  Moshe 08/06/08
      53.   Gaza 18:52  |  Steve 08/06/08
      54.   required &pre-mature 19:11  |  khairi janbek 08/06/08
      55.   As much advanced as talks on building a ski resort in the Neguev? 19:28  |  Moshe 08/06/08
      56.   #50 Dror, The problem is Israelis.... 21:18  |  Dutch 08/06/08
      57.   CM # 45 Israel is a political and moral liability to America 22:14  |  American in NY 08/06/08
      58.   Pres. of Senegal in talks with hamas and Fatah 22:22  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      59.   Steve 00:03  |  RW 09/06/08
      60.   to Dutch --Doris 00:07  |  Hilda 09/06/08
      61.   NORMAL RESPONSE? 00:54  |  Dr David I. Gross 09/06/08
      62.   Pacification of Gaza 01:19  |  Clicksage 09/06/08
      63.   Steve re: Gaza 02:02  |  Mona 09/06/08
      64.   Mofaz talking to the press - to help push up the price of oil! 02:17  |  Maureen Ann 09/06/08
      65.   The operation will, of course, be a day at the beach 09:21  |  Clickfool 09/06/08
      66.   IDF operation in Gaza. 10:28  |  David Nigel Braham 09/06/08
      67.   # 57 is THE ONLY LOYAL friend US has in the world 12:17  |  CM 09/06/08
      68.   #64 Maureen 13:11  |  Rab Burns 09/06/08
      69.   Re Miriam #19 14:12  |  Esther 09/06/08
      70.   Maureen Ann #64 15:19  |  David Nigel Braham 09/06/08
      71.   Rising rice of oil will stop Gaza invasion. 16:18  |  Michael