BICOM

• Shortly after 6 pm (GMT) on Saturday, 3 January, Israeli ground forces entered the Gaza Strip in order to operate against the ongoing rocket attacks perpetuated by Hamas and other terror groups.
• The measures taken are intended solely for the reduction of terror and not to regain Israeli control over Gaza.
• International bodies are working to formulate a ceasefire that will address the need to halt the Hamas terror threat to Israel.

 

Key statements: Responses to Gaza events

Czech EU presidency spokesman Jiri Potuznik (3/1): “At the moment, from the perspective of the last days, we understand this step as a defensive, not offensive, action.”

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack (4/1): “We are working toward a ceasefire that would not allow a re-establishment of the status quo ante, where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza and to condemn the people of Gaza to a life of misery.”

Foreign Secretary David Miliband on the escalation of the conflict in Gaza (3/1): “We are determined to work as quickly as possible for a durable ceasefire which must include an end to the smuggling of arms into Gaza and the opening of the Gaza crossings. The UK believes that the crisis in the Middle East matters to the whole world. The only sustainable basis for delivering security and justice for Israelis and Palestinians, is the vision of two states living in peace side by side, supported by the rest of the region.

US President George W. Bush on the terms of a future ceasefire (3/1): “The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected. Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable. And promises from Hamas will not suffice – there must be monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure that smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end. I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror, and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace.”

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the decision to launch a ground operation (4/1): “On this morning I can look each and every one of you in the eye and say that the government did everything possible before it decided on the ground operation. It was unavoidable.”

Defence Minister Ehud Barak (4/1): “We have carefully weighed all our options. We are not war hungry but we shall not, I repeat – we shall not allow a situation where our towns, villages and civilians are constantly targeted by Hamas. It will not be easy or short, but we are determined. […] We are peace seekers. We have restrained ourselves for a long time but now is the time to do what needs to be done. We are determined to afford our citizens what any citizen anywhere in the world is entitled to – peace, tranquility and freedom from threats.”

 

Situation on the ground

• On Saturday, 3 January, shortly after 6 pm (GMT), Israel military forces launched the second phase of the operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. An IDF statement explained that “the objective of this stage is to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Hamas in the area of operation, while taking control of some of rocket launching area used by the Hamas, in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians.”
• Large forces are taking part in this stage of the operation including infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence with the support of the Israel Air Force, Israel Navy, Israel Security Agency and other security agencies. The Israeli cabinet has also approved the recruitment of thousands of reservists that will ensure the stability along Israel’s northern borders and in the West Bank.
• Palestinians reported that the strip was divided into three, as Israel used to do in its wide-scale operations on the eve of the pullout. The goal is to separate between the different parts of the Strip and prevent the transfer of weapons between them.
• Approximately 30 Israeli soldiers have been wounded so far, including two severely injured from a mortar round.
• Defence Minister Ehud Barak reiterated that Israel is “well aware of the humanitarian aspect and [we] are doing and will continue to do everything possible to provide all humanitarian needs to Gaza.”
• Since midnight, dozens of rockets have been fired into Israel. Five rockets struck Sderot, leaving one woman injured; a separate rocket hit a house in the town, leaving four suffering from shock. Additionally, a grad missile fired from Gaza struck Ashdod this morning.
• Several diplomatic initiatives to reach a ceasefire are currently underway:
  • The US is working with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to formulate a framework for an agreement to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip and to reach a stable and long-term ceasefire. US officials have stressed that Washington objects to an agreement that will reinstate the status quo that allowed Hamas to carry out attacks against Israel.
  • On Monday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to visit Israel. Paris is seeking to persuade Israel to agree to a 48-hour ceasefire, although Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni rejected such an initiative on the grounds that it will only enable Hamas an opportunity to reorganise.
  • The UN Security Council met last night but no resolution was reached on the situation in Gaza.
  • Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, visited Damascus on Saturday for talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Jalili also met with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal. Iranian officials have threatened Israel, saying Gaza will become the “graveyard” of Israeli soldiers.

Daily tally of rockets and mortars fired from Gaza since Hamas unilaterally renounced ceasefire.

• January 4 – 30 rockets (by 12:00 pm GMT)
• January 3 – 40 rockets
• January 2 – 38 rockets
• January 1 – 53 rockets, mortars and longer range Grads
• December 31 – 43 rockets and 25 mortar shells
• December 30- 70 rockets
• December 29 – 80 rockets (approximate figure)
• December 28 – 40 rockets and mortar rounds, including two long-range Grad missiles.
• December 27 – 110 rockets and mortar rounds, including one Grad-Katyusha missile.
• December 26 – 25 mortar rounds
• December 25 -7 Qassam rockets, one Grad missile and 9 mortar rounds.
• December 23 & 24 – 33 rockets (Grad-Katyushas and Qassams), 37 mortar shells
• December 22 – 2 Qassams, 1 mortar
• December 21 – 19 Qassams, 3 mortars
• December 19 & December 20 – 10 Qassams, 24 mortars

For a daily tally of rockets and mortars fired into Israel, see: BICOM Statistics: Total number of identified rocket and mortar shell hits since 2001 and daily tally for 2008.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza

Israel conducts the latest operation while making sure that food, basic supplies and medical needs are constantly transferred into the Gaza Strip. Israel maintains ongoing contact with humanitarian agencies and enables the constant flow of goods and supplies into the strip.

Since the beginning of operation in Gaza, 335 truckloads of humanitarian aid (7,800 tons) have been transferred at the request of the international organisations, the Palestinian Authority and various governments. Israel does not wish to see the humanitarian situation in the strip further deteriorating. Preparations are underway to facilitate further shipments expected to arrive in the coming days.

2 January 2009
Israel transferred 64 trucks carrying 1,530 tons of humanitarian aid (including basic foodstuffs, medicines and medical supplies, tents and generators) via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

1 January 2009
60 trucks, with approximately 1,360 tons of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and medication were conveyed through Kerem Shalom cargo terminal.

31 December 2008
93 truckloads carrying some 2,500 tons of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and medications were transferred through the Kerem Shalom crossing. The World Food Programme notified the Israeli authorities that their food warehouses in the Gaza Strip are full, with a two-week supply, and they do not require further shipments.
The Nahal Oz fuel crossing remains closed due to continuing fire in the area.
Twelve Palestinians, including two children, were transferred to Israeli hospitals.

30 December 2008
93 truckloads carrying 2,366 tons of humanitarian supplies as well as five ambulances donated by Turkey were transferred to the Gaza Strip. A Red Cross plane arrived with medical supplies for the hospital operating room. The aid included food and medicine provided by the World Food Programme, UNRWA, UNICEF, the ICRC, the World Health Organisation, Doctors without Borders, and Care International, as well as donations from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey.

29 December 2008
63 trucks with 1,545 tons of humanitarian goods (food, medicines and medical supplies) were delivered via the Kerem Shalom crossing. Most of the aid was provided by the International Red Cross, UNRWA, Doctors without Borders, and Care International. Five ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Ramallah passed through, at the request of the International Red Cross (ICRC). 1,000 units of blood donated by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan were also delivered.

Erez crossing: Four people (patients and their escorts), and ten international staff, including a pregnant employee of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and her Palestinian husband, left the Gaza Strip and crossed into Israel.

28 December 2008
At the request of international organisations (the International Red Cross, UNRWA, WFP) and of the Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah, 23 truckloads of humanitarian goods such as flour, medicines and medical supplies, were transferred via Kerem Shalom crossing.

However, the transfer of additional aid through the crossings is being delayed by the high risk of terrorist attacks on the crossings themselves. There is a long history of such attacks, including:

• 22 May 2008: a Palestinian bomber blew up an explosives-laden truck on the Palestinian side of the Erez crossing, causing substantial damage.
• 20 April 2008: Hamas gunmen wounded 13 Israeli soldiers in an assault with mortar shells, explosives-laden vehicles and gunfire against the Kerem Shalom crossing.
• 9 April 2008: Two Israeli civilian fuel truck drivers working at the Nahal Oz fuel depot – which supplies fuel to Gaza – were killed in an attack by Gaza militants.

 

Further Information

• For links to the latest BICOM’s Analysis on the purposes of the Gaza operation, click here.
• For the latest analyses on the situation in Gaza click here.
• For a fuller background briefing on issues of humanitarian access and terrorism in Gaza, click here.