The IDF goes after the rocketeers

Hamas wants Israel to evacuate Sderot in order to stop the rocket barrage.

The only way to stop the regular rocket fire on Sderot, an Israeli city of about 20,000 nearly three miles from the Gaza Strip border, is for the Jewish state to evacuate the entire city, Hamas announced in a statement Wednesday.

“Only the departure of residents from Sderot will stop the rocket fire,” Abu Abaida, spokesman for Hamas’ so-called military wing, said in a statement to reporters.

“There are no limits on our rocket attacks and we will prove that in coming days. We advise residents of Sderot to evacuate,” the Hamas spokesman said.

Israel has a better idea.

Israeli ground troops, tanks and armored vehicles advanced on two northern Gaza towns Wednesday in pursuit of Palestinian rocket squads, besieging a well-known Hamas lawmaker’s house and engaging militants in ferocious clashes, Palestinian officials said.

And gee, the IDF proves it’s not full of dummies: The palestinians’ traps were laid in vain.

Bulldozers, skirting regular roads where mines could be planted, created new routes of access by knocking down greenhouses in Jebaliya, Beit Hanoun and neighboring Beit Lahiya, and two small farmers’ houses.

Countdown to the international outcry begins now. And say, those greenhouses? They were the Israeli-built ones. The ones that remained after being looted by the palestinians the moment Gaza was evacuated, and frankly, I’d like to find out if they were simply the shells of greenhouses, or greenhouses that were in working order. Not that the AP would tell us if they weren’t.

The Israeli press has quite a different take on the Gaza activity, though. They don’t seem to think it’s a large as the AP makes it out to be.

The IDF is waiting for the decision of the security-political cabinet regarding the nature of the operation in the Gaza Strip. Military sources noted that the army has broader plans which may reduce the Qassam fire in the long run.

[…] Several incidents took place throughout the morning in which terrorists fired antitank missiles at building where soldiers were staying. Shots were also fired at the forces from small-arms.

The Israel Defense Forces hit a group of Palestinians attempting to place an explosive device. The Palestinians reported of three injuries among their people.

The soldiers operating in the northern Strip are carrying out activities aimed at thwarting and reducing the firing of Qassam rockets at Israel. Meanwhile, the raids are mainly carried out near areas where launching cells are operating from, in Beit Hanoun and Jabalya.

No word on whether civilians are stupid enough to try to stop a running battle. However, there are Americans who are committing war crimes by offering themselves up as human shields for terrorists in Gaza. More on that later.