Sunday December 28, 2008

I've Been Thinking:

This was not a strike to oust Hamas, this was a nudge towards a ceasefire.

Israel is striking at Gaza. In the first 90 seconds of the strike Israel hit over 40 targets in Gaza. On Sunday in a matter of seconds Israel destroyed 40 tunnels used to smuggle weapons.
On Saturday, in total, Israel struck over 270 targets.

Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the PA begged Hamas to extend the "lull." He begged Hamas not to force Israel to attack and destroy Gaza.

Hosni Mubarak says Egypt has been warning Hamas that an Israeli invasion will be the end result of the rockets they are launching into Israel.

Hamas wanted Israel to attack.
Hamas upped the ante by not extending the "lull." They taunted Israel by launching up to 70 rockets in a single day into Israel. They were hoping for international condemnation and maximum casualties. Hamas wants a 3rd Intifada, they have called for a 3rd Intifada. They are sending rockets as far as Ashdod (200,000 citizens) and into Ashkelon (100,000 citizens), cities with nearly 100,000 Israeli residents.

Israel wanted to stir up Gazans against Hamas. Israel wants to take the momentum away from Hamas and dictate the next stages of the ceasefire. They want Hamas to know that hitting Israel has a high price. Israel will stop the raids after it has setback but not destroyed the terrorist infrastructure.

Hamas will try to launch as many rockets as possible during the Israeli operation to prove that they are still viable. That plan is working, this AM Hamas launched 4 rockets hitting deep into Israel. Hamas will also try to inflict damage on Israel through terror attacks originating from the West Bank. Hamas may also try strike against soft Jewish and Israeli targets across the world.

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