If ordered into Gaza, IDF Ground Forces ready for anti-tank missiles, urban combat

The Jerusalem Post ^ | Wednesday, July 16, 2014 | Yaakov Lappin

[Star Traveler]

If ordered into the Gaza Strip, IDF Ground Forces expect to encounter Hamas cells with anti-tank missiles, heavy urban combat, subterranean warfare, and other challenges. "This is the combat that characterizes a terror organization," the source said. The IDF has maintained large numbers of Ground Forces on the Gaza border.

IDF Brigade commanders would have a high degree of independence if ordered to enter the Gaza Strip.

Hamas planned to employ bomb-filled tunnels to facilitate large-scale killing sprees and kidnapping attacks on the border, according to Israeli security officials.

Hamas will try to prove that an Israeli ground offensive will not have an impact on its ability to fire rockets, though its chances of achieving this remain decidedly low. Only a ground maneuver can truly deal with the growing threat of tunnels that straddle the border, officials believe.

Addressing Hamas's use of the Palestinian population as a human shield, the senior source said there are over a dozen Hamas brigade commanders who are hiding within the Gazan civilian population, preventing the IDF from striking them. Hamas commanders use messengers who pass along written notes, he added.

"From our perspective, we did not attack homes," a senior security source said Tuesday, looking back at recent IAF strikes. "[We attacked] only operational infrastructure. We understood what every Hamas commander has in his infrastructure. From the moment there is an operational infrastructure there, it ceases being a home," said the source. T he systematic targeting of such nerve centers has negatively affected the performance of Hamas brigades. Additionally, Israeli targeted assassinations, based on swift sensor to shooter cycles, in which IDF control centers coordinated air strikes after identifying terrorist operatives in the field, has resulted in some 100 casualties among Hamas and Islamic Jihad since the start of the operation.

[Star Traveler]

It works in the movies ... but it doesn’t work with Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the IDF to avoid collateral damage with Palestinian civilians.

[Mat_Helm]

Read the book of Samuel and when the Israelites conquered the promised land, given to them going back to God's promise to Abraham, God instructed them to kill not just the sinful people of the land but the goats, cattle, pigs, dogs, bugs, bacteria, everything to cleanse the land. Sounds like the nuclear option to me.

Now the Jews are just turning the other cheek because they are acting as converted Christians. That is a good thing, but their enemies will never quit, so God will have to handle it His way in the end. Only these Islamic Jew haters are bringing that end upon all things quickly.

[Star Traveler]

Israel is not a theocracy. When God returns to earth and sets up his worldwide government, then you can talk about a theocracy ... :-) ...

[Mat_Helm]

Israel by default is a theocracy because they are God’s chosen people. His promises to them are the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and until the end of days. God covenant’s are irrevocable. The people may sin and rebel and Israel was taken into captivity and trial for it’s sins, yet they are in the holy land again as God’s chosen people and for His purpose and all those that curse His people will be cursed and all those that bless His people will be blessed. Thanks be to God.