“Clean Gaza Out!” Israel Plans to Move

Ron Ross
Bridges for Peace News
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com


16th April 2008

A major Gaza military campaign is to be launched soon after President George W. Bush and other international dignitaries depart Israel after the Israel 60th anniversary.  Insiders say it could be up to six weeks after the major celebrations in May when the full thrust will come. The goal is to be simple - “clean Gaza out.”

One of the reasons this campaign will be high-scale is the mounting tension between the Hamas terrorist group and Egypt. Hamas has been posturing their plan to cause a second major breach of their border with Egypt. The English language website of the Suadi-owned newspaper Al Hayat said, “The quick and angry Egyptian reaction to the statements by some Hamas leaders about another breach of the Gaza-Sinai frontier reflects the degree of Egyptian anger about this ‘headache’.”

If Egypt is frustrated, Israel is even more so. Rockets continue to fall on Sderot and IDF soldiers are sent into what are merely skirmishes compared to the firepower they can really unleash.

Military analysts warn that this campaign will be difficult. Hamas has built up military strength with Iranian and Syrian support. Smuggling of weapons has been a major activity for some time.

In an interesting twist Israel is prepared to possess the region militarily and then hand over its control to Egypt.  There is little doubt Egypt may not be too excited about the plan but the aggression by Hamas regarding their border with Egypt may leave them without options.

Hamas was birthed by the Moslem Brotherhood, the gang which fiercely opposes the Egyptian Mubarak regime. Hosni Mubarak would like nothing more than defuse the mounting pressure he has received from the MB. He will want no added support from Hamas and any plan for them to join the challenge to his leadership.

Israel making a military move in the Middle East summer will serve the Egyptian regime and confront the Hamas activities into Israel.

The Al Hayat commentator Mohammad Salah wrote, “The Egyptians have always affirmed that Hamas has become a reality that must be dealt with, and that others must coexist with the movement even with the presence of different visions over the group’s ideas, principles or behavior. At the same time, Hamas intentions and its direct or indirect relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood remains suspicious.”

The only thing that might pre-empt the Israeli plan will be a major blow up between Egypt and Hamas. That could happen any day.

“Cairo has promised decisive steps in response to another breach of the border. ...it appears that the break out from Gaza will be repeated, but the reaction will be different this time, since the ‘frontiers’ of the crisis go beyond the mere borders of Gaza,” Salah said.

Hamas may try and explode violence in the region before the Israel strike comes. One way or another, the days ahead are filled with tension and an expectation that Hamas will soon have to fight for its Gaza existence.

When asked about Israel’s preparedness for this campaign one senior IDF officer told the Jerusalem Post, “We have already prepared for a long time many different scenarios, including a large-scale invasion of Gaza. It is up to the level above us to give the order.”

Meanwhile we all wonder how Iran will respond to such mighty Israel aggression. Israeli officials, I am sure in conjunction with the US Administration have considered the odds and sometime in June-July seems to be already penciled in.

For Christians, what the IDF officer said applies. Our response to all of this requires that we wait on ‘the level above us to give the order.’ I am sure He requires us to be active in our prayer life and not disinterested or passive.

The Al Hayat commentator Mohammad Salah wrote, “The Egyptians have always affirmed that Hamas has become a reality that must be dealt with, and that others must coexist with the movement even with the presence of different visions over the group’s ideas, principles or behavior. At the same time, Hamas intentions and its direct or indirect relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood remains suspicious.”

The only thing that might pre-empt the Israeli plan will be a major blow up between Egypt and Hamas. That could happen any day.

“Cairo has promised decisive steps in response to another breach of the border. ...it appears that the break out from Gaza will be repeated, but the reaction will be different this time, since the ‘frontiers’ of the crisis go beyond the mere borders of Gaza,” Salah said.

Hamas may try and explode violence in the region before the Israel strike comes. One way or another, the days ahead are filled with tension and an expectation that Hamas will soon have to fight for its Gaza existence.

When asked about Israel’s preparedness for this campaign one senior IDF officer told the Jerusalem Post, “We have already prepared for a long time many different scenarios, including a large-scale invasion of Gaza. It is up to the level above us to give the order.”

Meanwhile we all wonder how Iran will respond to such mighty Israel aggression. Israeli officials, I am sure in conjunction with the US Administration have considered the odds and sometime in June-July seems to be already penciled in.

For Christians, what the IDF officer said applies. Our response to all of this requires that we wait on ‘the level above us to give the order.’ I am sure He requires us to be active in our prayer life and not disinterested or passive.

Ron Ross resigned as Senior Pastor of Noosa Baptist Church to become National Director of Bridges for Peace Australia. Three years ago he joined Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem to establish international radio news and an audio service webcast at www.bridgesforpeace.com Ron was Sports Editor of WINTV for 20 years before joining the full-time missions. You can contact Ron at : ronrossbfp@hotmail.com