Day 8 of Gaza campaign: Bush clears way for Israeli ground operation, updates ObamaDEBKAfile Exclusive Report January 3, 2009, 10:36 AM (GMT+02:00)  Final preparations by Israeli troops DEBKAfile's Washington source report that in a telephone conversation with prime minister Ehud Olmert, US president George W. Bush okayed Israeli air, sea and ground operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He promised the US would veto a resolution condemning Israel at the UN Security Council meeting next Monday. Early Saturday morning, Jan. 3, Day 8 of Israel's Gaza operation, US and British media described the Israeli invasion as hours away. In a radio address, Bush indicated that a monitoring mechanism in placeto control smuggling would provide the exit point for Israel's Gaza operation. DEBKAfile's military sources list 9 pointers to an imminent Israeli incursion: | ||
Day 7 of Israeli operation: Suspense in Israel and Gaza for ground operationDEBKAfile Special Analysis January 2, 2009, 11:05 PM (GMT+02:00)  Old Russian Phagot anti-tank weapon Although Israeli Defense Forces have the defense cabinet's green light for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the final go-ahead had not been given Friday, Jan. 2 – Day 7 of the Gaza campaign by the trio of decision-makers. DEBKAfile quotes the view among high-ranking military sources that this decision is a historic one: Without a decisive ground assault on Hamas, a million citizens of the South will be entitled to feel that for the first time in 60 years, the state has abdicated its responsibility for their safety. Hamas will take it that Israel has lost its nerve. | ||
Rice: Ceasefire must not restore status quo ante
DEBKAfile Special Report
January 2, 2009, 11:10 PM (GMT+02:00)
Friday night, Jan 2, Israel scattered leaflets over Gaza locations advising citizens to stay and home and not go out in the streets. By then, air strikes had hit the homes of 45 Hamas leaders and commanders, including Imad Aqal at the Nuseirat refugee camp, whose home contained a weapons cache and Ataf Adwan.
Israel allowed 400 hundred foreign nationals to leave Gaza.
Ashkelon, 17 km north of Gaza, took the brunt of Palestinian rocket fire – 7 during the day, one a direct hit to an apartment building.
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