Update: Bombing by Israel resumes. 200+ dead in Gaza.
15.07.14 The militant group controlling Gaza, Hamas, showed the media its latest weapon, a modified Iranian drone called the Ababil-1 [photo]. Potentially more accurate than the unguided rockets it is using against Israel, a armed drone is also more susceptible to conventional air interception. Israel claimed it has shot down an unidentified drone over the Negev. Hamas claims it has flown a sortie over the headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces in Tel Aviv. Israel is deeply concerned over Hamas' increasing offensive capability. They already possess intermediate range rockets capable of reaching Israel's main population triangle, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa [map]. Allegedly Fadjr-5s were supplied by Hamas' sponsor, Iran. When Hamas first began rocket attacks on Israel in 2001, the Qassam rocket could barely reach targets just on the other side of the border.
Up until now, Israel has felt relatively immune from damaging rocket attacks;Israelis are said to be enjoying their nation's air strikes on Gaza as a form of spectator sport. But their sense of safety is rapidly eroding. Israel faces a tactical problem attempting to neutralize the threat posed by rocketry. Gaza is honeycombed with deep tunnels were rockets and rocket parts can be stored safely. Aerial bombardment is of limited usefulness and risks a humanitarian backlash from civilian casualties. Israel's vaunted intelligence capability has not been able to pinpoint the location of rocket stockpiles, either. Reasons Israel was forced to send commandos into Gaza on a search and destroy mission. The trump card is, however, a mass rocket barrage launched by Hamas that could overwhelm Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense and cause high civilian casualties deep in Israel's heartland. Such a barrage could be launched in response to a ground invasion by Israel's army in a "use or loose" situation. Hamas has fired about 1000 rockets at Israel in the current conflict and is willing to fire more.
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| AP: fans watch at Sderot |
The mass barrage scenario is apparently causing Israeli officials to think twice about a military invasion of the veritable ant hill that is the Gaza Strip. Israel is said to be seriously considering Egypt's ceasefire proposal. A ceasefire would begin at 9am Tuesday, with border crossings opened. Within forty-eight hours of the ceasefire becoming effective, talks are to be held in Cairo. Hamas' response has been non-committal, but is not an outright rejection. Some Gaza officials want better terms such as the opening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza because the ants now have tiny pincers with which to prick the Israeli lion.