Israeli Commando Units Operating In Heart Of Gaza

Jerusalem – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) special units have been operating deep inside the Gaza Strip. After killing over 200 terrorists, the combatants of the Golani Brigade are now completing a particularly successful round of activity in the Gaza sector, which started in June. All of these units, which usually do not take part in routine security activity, are now being harnessed to an escalated incursion into hostile territory, according to the instructions of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.

A senior officer in one of these units was seriously injured by shots fired by a Palestinian sniper in the southern Gaza Strip. The soldier is a new immigrant from the former Soviet Union. After surgery, it was determined that his life was not in danger.

However, immediately after the combatant’s injury was reported, his mother was located in one of the republics of the former U.S.S.R. and put on a plane to Israel. She arrived shortly after midnight at his bedside in the intensive care unit of Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva.

Hamas In Attrition War With Egypt

The Middle East Newsline has confirmed that, according to Egyptian security sources, Hamas combatants have been attacking Egyptian security forces along the Sinai-Gaza -der. The sources said the Hamas regime has sought to block the rebuilding of the 12-kilometer border wall destroyed by Palestinians on Jan. 23.

“Sources in Gaza say that Hamas will fire at anyone attempting to build the wall unless the Rafah border crossing is reopened,” Hussein El Qayem, an Egyptian official and member of the North Sinai Tagammu party, said.

Over the last few weeks, Hamas gunmen have been firing toward Egyptian workers ordered to reconstruct the Sinai-Gaza border wall.

The wall was blown up in at least seven places by Hamas, which prompted the flight of 700,000 Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula.

In early February, Egypt was reported to have resealed the border. Since then, the Egyptians have fortified the border barrier and plan to install sensors to detect infiltration.

Under the Egyptian plan, the entire Sinai-Gaza border would consist of a high concrete wall. Mr. Qayem said the new wall would be able to withstand bombings.

Last Tuesday, Hamas combatants opened fire over the heads of Egyptian construction crews. Nobody was injured.

On Sunday, a suspected Palestinian missile landed in Sinai at an Egyptian border crossing with the Gaza Strip. The missile struck and damaged an Egyptian government building. Nobody was injured.

On Feb. 6, Hamas fired a Kassam-class short-range missile that landed in eastern Sinai. Egypt described the incident as a missile that went astray.

Meanwhile, Hamas members continue to attack the Western presence in the Gaza Strip. On Friday, Hamas operatives raided the YMCA in Gaza City and blew up the building.

At least 10 assailants stormed the YMCA library, abducted the guards and then blew up the facility, which also houses a kindergarten for Muslims. Nobody was injured.

David Bedein can be reached at Media@actcom.co.il. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

Jerusalem – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) special units have been operating deep inside the Gaza Strip. After killing over 200 terrorists, the combatants of the Golani Brigade are now completing a particularly successful round of activity in the Gaza sector, which started in June. All of these units, which usually do not take part in routine security activity, are now being harnessed to an escalated incursion into hostile territory, according to the instructions of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.

A senior officer in one of these units was seriously injured by shots fired by a Palestinian sniper in the southern Gaza Strip. The soldier is a new immigrant from the former Soviet Union. After surgery, it was determined that his life was not in danger.

However, immediately after the combatant’s injury was reported, his mother was located in one of the republics of the former U.S.S.R. and put on a plane to Israel. She arrived shortly after midnight at his bedside in the intensive care unit of Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva.

Hamas In Attrition War With Egypt

The Middle East Newsline has confirmed that, according to Egyptian security sources, Hamas combatants have been attacking Egyptian security forces along the Sinai-Gaza -der. The sources said the Hamas regime has sought to block the rebuilding of the 12-kilometer border wall destroyed by Palestinians on Jan. 23.

“Sources in Gaza say that Hamas will fire at anyone attempting to build the wall unless the Rafah border crossing is reopened,” Hussein El Qayem, an Egyptian official and member of the North Sinai Tagammu party, said.

Over the last few weeks, Hamas gunmen have been firing toward Egyptian workers ordered to reconstruct the Sinai-Gaza border wall.

The wall was blown up in at least seven places by Hamas, which prompted the flight of 700,000 Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula.

In early February, Egypt was reported to have resealed the border. Since then, the Egyptians have fortified the border barrier and plan to install sensors to detect infiltration.

Under the Egyptian plan, the entire Sinai-Gaza border would consist of a high concrete wall. Mr. Qayem said the new wall would be able to withstand bombings.

Last Tuesday, Hamas combatants opened fire over the heads of Egyptian construction crews. Nobody was injured.

On Sunday, a suspected Palestinian missile landed in Sinai at an Egyptian border crossing with the Gaza Strip. The missile struck and damaged an Egyptian government building. Nobody was injured.

On Feb. 6, Hamas fired a Kassam-class short-range missile that landed in eastern Sinai. Egypt described the incident as a missile that went astray.

Meanwhile, Hamas members continue to attack the Western presence in the Gaza Strip. On Friday, Hamas operatives raided the YMCA in Gaza City and blew up the building.

At least 10 assailants stormed the YMCA library, abducted the guards and then blew up the facility, which also houses a kindergarten for Muslims. Nobody was injured.

David Bedein can be reached at Media@actcom.co.il. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

©The Bulletin 2008