CFI Gaza Briefing Update 12 January 2009
Summary:
IDF operations hits Hamas hard – organisation is beset by shortages of equipment and difficulty maintaining communications Twenty two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel Sunday (11/01/09). The IDF announced yesterday that launches have dropped by 50% compared to the number fired during the first days of the operation. Israel/Egypt ceasefire talks continue 100 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Sunday.
Israeli Action – Operation Cast Lead update:
As Operation Cast Lead enters its third week, Israel has begun to deploy some of the reserve troops recently mobilised in operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel is conducting operations in order to maintain pressure on Hamas, rather than begin a large-scale move to entirely conquer the Gaza Strip. The IDF is deployed outside Gaza City, the main population centre of the strip and the seat of the Hamas government. Some operations are being conducted in Gaza City, but no thoroughgoing attempt to conquer the city has yet begun. Hamas has been badly hit by the operation - the organisation is now said to be beset by shortages of equipment and difficulty in maintaining communications. At the same time, IDF officials who briefed the cabinet yesterday, confirm that the organisation is not close to raising a "white flag." Israeli officials consider that were Hamas to agree to a de facto renewed ceasefire, which would not include the opening of the crossings between Israel and Gaza, this would clearly be an admission of defeat, and would be perceived by the world and the region as such. IDF operations in northern Gaza have essentially been completed. Forces in this area are currently concentrating on remaining mobile, to avoid becoming targets for Hamas gunmen. The casualty figures so far suggest they are succeeding. Yesterday, no IDF soldiers were killed, while 45 Hamas men died.
To view footage of Hamas firing rockets from a UN school from last year, please click here
Casualties:
According to the UN over 1000 Palestinians have been killed in 16 days of fighting – one quarter of them are civilians. In 16 days of fighting 14 Israelis have been killed – 9 of them soldiers. Every loss of innocent life is a tragedy but civilian casualties are the result of Hamas's intentional use of densely populated areas for its operations and the use of houses and public buildings, like mosques, schools and hospitals, for weapons' storage and bases of operation. Hamas also continue to use civilians as shields for their activities
Click here to watch a video of Hamas fighters using civilian children as human shields.
Rocket attacks:
7 rockets & 2 mortars hit Israel so far today (12/01/09). A significant decline in rocket launches on Israel has been observed over the last two days, as a result of Israeli strikes on rocket launchers. The IDF announced yesterday that launches have dropped by 50% compared to the number fired during the first days of the operation. Twenty two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel yesterday (11/01/09). Since Operation Cast Lead began on 27 December 2008: 633 rockets and mortars. Since the ceasefire ended on 19 December 2008: 788 rockets and mortars. Since 4 November 2008: 853 rockets and mortars. In 2008, 3278 rockets & mortars hit Israel. Since Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza in August 2005: 5,957 rockets and mortars. Since 2001: 8,648 rockets and mortars.
Click here for footage of Hamas 120mm mortar crew operating within Jebaliya on 6 Jan 2006
Diplomatic Action – UNSCR 1860 passed:
Efforts to reach a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are intensifying, under Egyptian mediation. The French-Egyptian ceasefire initiative is the basis for these efforts. Israel is represented in the process by the Head of the Defence Ministry Diplomatic-Security Bureau, Amos Gilad. A major issue in the talks is the importance of preventing Hamas from rearming in the period following a ceasefire. Israel has defined strengthening provisions to prevent smuggling on the Gaza-Egypt border as a central objective. Egypt remains staunchly opposed to proposals for an international force at the Rafah Crossing, but is said to be more open to the possibility of an increased Egyptian force, perhaps assisted by American or European technical assistance.
Israel and Egypt are also said to be in agreement regarding the crossings, which will remain closed except for bringing in humanitarian aid, as was the case prior to Operation Cast Lead. Amos Gilad told Ynetnews this morning that Hamas knows it is does not have the upper hand in the negotiations. "This isn't a lull. The tahadiya was the right move at the time, but our operation has changed the situation. Hamas has suffered a blow and the entity it has formed in Gaza is under existential threat.” Underlying the growing Israeli-Egyptian agreement on key issues is the sense of Iranian-supported, Islamist Hamas as a common enemy. At the same time, since both Israel and Egypt appear to agree that the Hamas regime will not be toppled in the current action, the efforts being made are in order to ensure the continued isolation, weakening and containment of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Hamas rejected calls to implement a ceasefire under UNSCR 1860. Shortly after Israel rejected the call for a ceasefire as well. The UN resolution fails to mention any of the following: 1. The fact that Hamas is not a member of the UN, therefore are not bound by any decision 2. The rocket fire from Gaza over the last 8 years has not been mentioned 3. The issue of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit 4. The status of the smuggling tunnels 5. The role of Egypt and the Rafah border crossing The major question remaining, however, is the issue of when to end the operation. Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni are understood to favour beginning to wrap up the ground action at the present time. Prime Minister Olmert, however, favours continuing it. The Security Cabinet is due to discuss this matter today. Head of the Defence Ministry's Security-Diplomatic Bureau Amos Gilad, who has been conducting the negotiations with Egypt over a ceasefire in Gaza, told Ynetnews that the Egyptian initiative has allowed a ceasefire to be within reach: "Egypt is a very important Middle East power. I don't call this an agreement. I call it alliance of circumstance."
Humanitarian Aid:
Around 100 trucks of aid entered enter Gaza yesterday (11/01/09). There are efforts to repair the electricity system in Gaza. Of the ten Israeli lines (which supplies around 70% of electricity), six are operative and four are being repaired. The Palestinian power station (20%) is running intermittently. Both Egyptian lines (10%) are functional. There is no transfer of fuel into Gaza from Nahal Oz because the tanks on the Gaza side are full and Hamas is refusing to allow the tankers to distribute the fuel. This is a tactic Hamas have used in the past. There is a good deal of coordination on humanitarian affairs between Israel and international organisations. COGAT representatives met with the ICRC yesterday to coordinate the movement of ambulances in Gaza. In recent days, Amos Gilad - in his position at COGAT - has met with UNWRA director Karen AbuZayd, UNSCO head Robert Serry and the ICRC's representative.
Since the beginning of operation in Gaza, over 700 truckloads of humanitarian aid have been transferred at the request of international organisations, the Palestinian Authority and various governments. Israel does not wish to see the humanitarian situation in the strip deteriorate. Preparations are underway to facilitate further shipments expected to arrive in the coming days.
“This is not a humanitarian crisis... It's an economic crisis, a political crisis, but it's not a humanitarian crisis. People aren't starving.” Khaled Abdel Shaafi, Director the United Nations Development Programme in Gaza, Canada’s Globe and Mail
Conservative Comment:
Commenting on the UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague MP said:
“We welcome the fact that the UN has adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. “A ceasefire, implemented by both sides, is the only solution which will preserve the Peace Process, protect Israel’s security and allow action to be taken to address suffering in Gaza. “It requires an end to Hamas rocket attacks against Israeli citizens, which are acts of terrorism, as well as an end to Israeli military operations. Work must now be done to bring this conflict to an urgent end.” Shadow Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague MP, 6 January 2009 BBC news website reported that Conservatives have said they would not "condemn" Israel's actions as "disproportionate" since it had been provoked by Hamas attacks. "I don't use that language," said shadow foreign secretary William Hague. "You have to remember how this started. It started with the launching of about 300 rockets by Hamas into Israel."
“It is fair to say that Israel will not achieve all its objectives just by military action. They have been defending themselves against attacks from hundreds of rockets with increasingly long range, but they have to balance that with the need to pursue a wider peace in the Middle East. And if this goes on for a long time I think it will damage those prospects. “The only long-term solution is a negotiated two-state agreement that achieves a viable and secure Palestinian state living alongside a secure Israel with her right to live in peace and security recognised by all her neighbours. This requires Britain to work with those, including President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, who are dedicated to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Quartet laid down three very clear conditions for
Hamas in 2006. These principles remain the standard against which to judge Hamas’s behaviour. While violence is continuing against Israel and these principles remain unfulfilled, talks with Hamas are out of the question.” Shadow Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague MP, 6 January 2009 Please click here to view the comment on the Conservative Party website Member of the International Development Select Committee, Stephen Crabb MP has written an article for the Conservative Party website. Please click here to view the article.
For further briefing please contact the Editor: Editor: Nathalie Tamam T: 020 7262 2493 E: nathalie@cfoi.co.uk