IDF completes deployment near Gaza

Army ready for ground invasion of Strip in necessary Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas cynical about IDF response to Qassam barrage, says Prime Minister Sharon waited for 'smallest provocation' to attack Gaza Strip

Ali Waked |Published: 09.25.05 , 22:34

The IDF completed preparations Sunday for a ground invasion of Gaza, code-named "Operation First Rain," and was waiting for an order from the defense minister to launch the operation.

Commanders said the green light would be given if another round of Qassams began from Gaza towards Sderot and other Israeli communities.

Meanwhile, the IDF said it has reintroducing a strategy of assassinating terrorists and their leaders. Until the army actually enters Gaza – if and when the order is given – .officials said assassinations would continue from the air.

At this stage, the Air Force is expected to dispatch gunships to patrol the Gaza sky, but the army said it would be careful to avoid anti-aircraft fire.

Unconfirmed intelligence suggests the Palestinians may have shoulder-held Strella anti-aircraft missiles that could be effective against helicopters but not against combat planes.

IDF sources said that since the start of the bombing of Hamas headquarters early Sunday, Qassam attacks at Sderot and other Negev communities have stopped completely.

The headquarters was established in 1988 by former leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin with money raised by Hamas activists abroad and in the Persian Gulf.

Yassin was assassinated by Israel in 2004 after serving as the group's spiritual leader and administrative head. Since his death, the center has continued to raise money for families of dead and imprisoned organization activists.

This was a strong blow to the Hamas nerve center in Gaza, said one IDF source. "Our message to the terrorists is clear and unambiguous."

Abbas blasts PM Sharon

After a tempestuous weekend of Qassam Rockets at Israeli communities in the western Negev and a series of Israeli responses, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas attacked Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, saying the Israeli leader was 'pleased' with the weekend's events.

"Sharon was just waiting for the smallest provocation, so now he's happy. From now on he won't make due with firing on a school or arresting 300 people. If we continue like this we could easily get dragged back to the starting point," said Abbas.

Abbas also said an explosion at a Hamas rally on Friday was "without question" due to a car filled with explosive material that took part in the rally. 19 people were killed in the blast.

"Hamas believes Israel was responsible," said Abbas, saying the firing of rockets was Hamas' revenge for the blast. He also said it was not the first example of such a maneuver by Hamas, and called on the group to admit it had made a mistake.

"We have no interest to return to the point to where one side employs violence and the other side responds," said Abbas. "We are taking steps with several international bodies to pressure Israel into stopping the attack."