Unless there will be a last minute surprise, the Gaza ceasefire will come to an end Thursday night, at midnight, bringing a close to the six-month agreement between Israel and Hamas. Of late, the rocket attacks have been increasing in frequency, and on Wednesday, southern residents were hit with over 20 rockets, resulting in injuries and significant property damage. At present, Thursday morning, all signs from Gaza indicate the agreement will not be renewed.

As far as Sderot resident Avraham Alfassi is concerned, it is really bad that “the terror is returning to our area and the IDF is not doing anything about it.” Avraham was one of many shoppers caught when a rocket slammed into a shopping center in Sderot. Three people were injured and a number of others were treated for hysteria.

“We were just getting out of our car when a rocket landed about 60 meters from us in the parking lot. It was really scary, the boom, it was very loud. Fortunately, we were far enough away that we were not injured”. He explained that their son was also saved in an attack. “I have mazel, as do my wife and son. I hope the mazel never leaves us,” he added.

A LOOK AT THE CEASEFIRE

The ceasefire began on June 6, 2008. Since that time, according to the military, 200 Kassam rockets were fired, 7 Grad Katyusha rockets, 175 mortar shells, 12 soldiers were injured, and 32 bombs were detected along the Gaza border fence.

BARAK: WE WILL ACT WHEN AND HOW WE DECIDE

Defense Minister Ehud Barak is almost a lone voice today; with most of the cabinet calling for a major IDF ground forces operation to cleanse Gaza of the rocket threat. IDF Brigadier-General (reserves) Tzviki Fogel, a former Gaza Division commander, stated “we made a mistake. The operation should have been launched six months ago.”

Fogel explains that the only way Gaza will realize quiet is when Hamas comes to the realization that the only option left is diplomatic negotiations. This requires the IDF to come down hard and restore its deterrence and teach Hamas the attacks will not be a means towards achieving their goals. Hamas must be brought to its knees explains Fogel, there he added, Israel will be in a position to make demands.

Strange perhaps, but in Israel, no one has yet declared the ceasefire over. In an address to a security forum in Tel Aviv this week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak stated, “the burden is on the shoulders of the residents and I really admire their fortitude”. The minister continues to express a hope that Hamas agrees to renew the agreement.

Barak refuses to detail and chances in IDF planned operations, but reiterates “we are not afraid to operate [in Gaza] but admittedly, we do not wish to if it is avoidable.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)