After 48 hours of aerial bombing attacks at Hamas terrorists and the organization’s infrastructure, the IDF is openly preparing for the next phase of Operation Cast Lead, entering into Hamas-controlled Gaza.

A seemingly endless stream of tanks, armored vehicles and assorted military vehicles are making their way to Gaza along with buses packed with soldiers who are taking up position along the border. Artillery batteries are also seen along the border in preparation for what appears will be a massive offensive to crush Hamas’ rocket-firing abilities.

Towards achieving this goal, the cabinet on Sunday approved a request from Defense Minister Ehud Barak to activate 6,700 IDF reservists, who are being served with emergency call-up orders known as ‘tzav-8’, which gives a reservist 48 hours to report to duty.

A senior security official stated, “Every target is legitimate as far as we are concerned. This will be a long battle that will demand endurance. We will not cease however until our objective has been achieved.”

Echoing his words was Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who on Sunday made a visit to IDF Southern Command Headquarters, stating the operation will be expanded as the situation demands.

While infantry and armored corps personnel prepare themselves along the border, the air force was busy for a second consecutive day, striking targets throughout Gaza. Some 40 weapons smuggling tunnels were bombarded along the Philadelphi Route to Egypt – with the tunnels serving as a terrorist lifeline as well as a profitable underground economy which has permitted many Gazans to survive while making dealers quite wealthy in the process. The tunnel system has become a sophisticated underground pipeline for the import of anything, from basic daily supplies to advanced weapons.

Nevertheless, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit in his Cairo meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni this past Thursday stated his country is unaware how the weapons have been smuggled into Gaza. Israeli intelligence has documented Egypt’s turning-a-blind-eye policy since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, which following the 2005 Disengagement Plan.

In addition to targeting the underground tunnel network, some 50 targets were eliminated on Sunday military officials report. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi reported during a briefing that the IAF eliminated about half of the pits used to launch Kassam rockets as well as severely impacting other Hamas infrastructure including weapons storage facilities. ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) Director Yuval Diskin stated the Hamas leadership is in shock, admitting the intelligence community is perplexed as to why Hamas during the past 48 hours has only fired about 30 rockets daily when the terrorist are capable of launching about 200 daily.

Diskin states “they were hit hard and took a big blow but Hamas remains highly motivated and still maintains the ability to strike out hard and there are many rockets remaining.

One senior Southern Command officer explained that an aerial strike alone cannot deliver a lethal blow to Hamas and infantry has to be sent in. Another officer added, “Just because Hamas did not respond today does not mean it will not attack tomorrow.” Diskin confirmed the terror organization will attempt to use the element of surprise against Israel.

Barak on Sunday also declared a state of emergency in the area 20km (12 miles) from the Gaza border to enable military officials to give orders to civilian agencies regarding directives to citizens during this wartime period. Barak’s order also permitted Industry & Trade Minister Eli Yishai to order employees of essential businesses to report to work to ensure a steady supply of items such as dairy products, bread and so forth.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)