Egypt Hints Israel Planning New Gaza Offensive
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - In a letter to the Hamas leadership this week, the head of Egyptian intelligence hinted that Israel was preparing a fresh military offensive against the terror group's infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Egypt's Omar Suleiman wrote to Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashal that the group must transfer an abducted Israeli soldier to Egyptian custody and begin cooperating with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, or face increased Israeli military action, reported Israel's Channel 10 News on Tuesday. If it were up to some Israeli cabinet ministers, the suspected offensive would have already begun. During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter blasted the government for failing to adequately respond to daily rocket attacks from Gaza on towns in southern Israel. "We don't need to conquer Gaza, but operations that will create deterrence against the Palestinian Authority and Hamas are required," Ynet quoted Dichter as saying. "We must hit where is needed and to charge a price." In his briefing to the cabinet, Israel Security Services chief Yuval Diskin also suggested that a significant military operation in Gaza may be necessary in the very near future. Since Israel withdrew from the coastal strip last year, the Palestinians have imported some 19 tons of explosives, as well large quanti |
