Hamas gunman
Photo: Reuters
Damage caused by rocket
Photo: Roy Idan
Estimate: Hamas to step up activities before truce
Military officials believe declaration of ceasefire will prompt Palestinian gunmen to take advantage of last hours of fighting in order to fire more rockets, carry out terror attack or attempt to kidnap soldier
As the Israel Defense Forces continues to operate deep inside the Gaza Strip, the preparations for a possible ceasefire
continue. According to estimates, after learning that the fighting is about to end Hamas
will step up its attempts to carry out a terror attack and will increase the firing of rockets into Israel.
Meanwhile, the military operation continues undisturbed, with IDF forces operating on the outskirts of Gaza City on Friday night. The Israel Air Force struck more than 50 different targets, including 15 tunnels ion the Philadelphi route, eight launching pads, bunkers and weapon storage warehouses.
Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said Saturday morning that his organization would not hold fire until its demands are met. "Don't suggest that we surrender because we haven't been defeated and won't be defeated," he said.
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During the operation, the forces fired with small arms on a mosque where gunmen opened fire at them. The mosque, which was apparently booby-trapped, exploded.
As the fighting continues, IDF officials realize that Hamas' main goal is to kidnap soldiers. Inquiries conducted so far have revealed that underground tunnels have been dug in dozens of cases, with gunmen hiding inside and trying to attract the soldiers.
Military officials estimated that ahead of the ceasefire, Hamas will act more intensely to capture one of the troops on the ground.
According to the estimates, the Hamas fighters will act on different levels if it turns out that the ceasefire is indeed around the corner: Firing long-range rockets at distant communities, attempting to hit vessels or aircraft and attempting to hurt the ground forces.
'Troops well aware of threat'
The forces on the ground, air and land have been informed of the issue and asked to act in accordance with instructions and stress the precautions. IDF officials have stressed that Hamas' attempts to carry out considerable attacks have been thwarted due to proper actions by the forces on the ground.
"The working premise is strict on all aspects and there's no room for serenity," said a military source. "The forces are well aware of the threats that are facing, some concrete and some less on, and are instructed to act accordingly."
Shell fired at Gaza (Photo: Reuters)
The IDF's working premise is that Hamas still possesses short and long-range rockets. In addition, its ability to launch the weapons it has still exists, even if it has suffered a blow.
The significant damage caused to Hamas during the operation includes all of the organization's infrastructures, including the smuggling of weapons, the transfer system, the manufacturing and the launching cells.
"The entire process suffered a heavy blow," said military sources, "but did not crash completely. Our activity is not aimed at erasing abilities, but at making it clear to Hamas that using these abilities is not worthwhile, and this message seems to have been internalized.
"Nonetheless, in order to obtain a morale-related achievement, Hamas will try and exert every effort during the last hours before the ceasefire, and we are prepared for that."
