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Meshaal acts to torpedo Cairo ceasefire talks. Iranian-Hizballah rescue pledge for Hamas suspected DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis January 10, 2009, 12:03 AM (GMT+02:00) Hamas Damascus leader Khaled Meshaal In an edgy, emotional speech over Damascus TV, Hamas' Damascus leader Khaled Meshaal dropped a bomb on the Cairo ceasefire talks attended Saturday, Jan. 10, by the heads of Gaza's embattled Hamas faction, just when they were on the point of unconditionally accepting a ceasefire based on Egyptian and European proposals. He declared Hamas must fight on until Israel ended its 15-day military offensive and lifted its blockade against the Gaza Strip. International monitors would be deemed "an occupation force." DEBKAfile reports concern in Jerusalem that Meshaal may have received pledges from Iran and Hizballah to rescue Hamas from its straits in Gaza. But by shutting the door on a ceasefire, he has forced the Israeli cabinet to opt for escalation.The Hamas leader spoke amid spreading Hamas desertions in Gaza and a senior Israeli military source's disclosure that Hamas has lost 550 Hamas fighters. More about this see-saw development in DEBKAfile's Exclusive Analysis below.  Full article

Iran backs away from volunteer program for Gaza DEBKAfile Special Report January 10, 2009, 11:49 AM (GMT+02:00) Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei thanked groups of volunteers waiting at Iranian airports Friday, Jan. 9, to be dispatched to Gaza to fight Israel, but told them:...one must pay attention that in this regard our hands are tied." DEBKAfile's Iranian sources: Egypt would never grant them access to the embattled enclave - but most significantly, Iran has decided to stay clear of direct military engagement with Israel at this point.  More... US consigns 3,000 tonnes of "ammunition" to Israel January 10, 2009, 11:22 AM (GMT+02:00) The US Navy's Military Sealift Command is hiring a merchant ship to carry the arms on two separate journeys from the Greek port of Astakos to Israel in mid-to-late January, according to Reuters. A 'hazardous material" designation on the manifest mentions explosive substances and detonators, but no other details. One broker said that the size of a shipment of this kind has not been seen for years.DEBKAfile's military sources note that the Israel's air, ground, tank and sea offensive against Hamas in Gaza entered its 15th day Saturday, Jan. 10. Fourth day of Israel's ceasefire for humanitarian corridor Saturday DEBKAfile Special Report January 10, 2009, 12:13 PM (GMT+02:00) A Hizballah Fajr-5 rocket hits Afula in 2006 Israel announced Wednesday, Jan. 7 a three-hour daily halt in military operations from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. as a goodwill gesture for the passage of humanitarian aid. Israel suspended attacks in certain areas to allow people to get supplies. As the first pause took effect, Ashkelon took 4 rockets. Israel repeated the halt in military operations Thursday for two hours and again Saturday, Jan. 10. DEBKAfile's military sources report that Hamas appears to have stocked Iran-made Fajr rockets capable of hitting central Israeli towns, such as Rehovot and Rishon Lezion, 16 km short of Tel Aviv.  More...