BICOM

• Amos Gilad has arrived in Cairo to discuss Egypt’s plan for preventing arms smuggling into Gaza. Upon his return later today, he is expected to present the Egyptian plan to PM Olmert, Defence Minister Barak and Foreign Minister Livni.
• Thirteen foreign journalists were allowed to enter Gaza at midday today, accompanying IDF forces. There are two UK journalists in the group, who are expected to stay with the forces for most of the day.
• The daily ‘humanitarian corridor’ has been extended from three hours per day to four hours per day.

Key statements

Prime Minister Gordon Brown on a sustainable ceasefire (1/15): “The reason why we supported the UN measure was that the Arab countries were also prepared to sign up to two things that are very important to any sustainable ceasefire. The first is an end to arms trafficking and particularly the destruction of the tunnels in Gaza. I talked to President Mubarak yesterday about what we can do and how we can help to achieve that. Secondly, of course-[Interruption.] I think this is important, as we will also need international support to execute the opening of the crossings. It is important that we have the support of the Arab League countries as well as the other countries that signed that motion. In other words, we are doing everything that we can to make possible an immediate ceasefire.”

Peter Herby, head of the Red Cross mines-arms unit, on the use of white phosphorus (1/13): “In some of the strikes in Gaza it’s pretty clear that phosphorus was used. But it’s not very unusual to use phosphorus to create smoke or illuminate a target. We have no evidence to suggest it’s being used in any other way.”

Situation on the ground

Thirteen foreign journalists were allowed to enter Gaza at midday today, accompanying IDF forces. The plan was authorised late on Wednesday night. There are two UK journalists in the group, who are expected to stay with the forces for most of the day. Their footage will not be pooled, but photographs taken by an AP stills photographer are expected to be available to print journalists today.

The daily ‘humanitarian corridor’ has been extended from three hours per day to four hours per day. Among the priorities of the humanitarian coordination are transferring goods into Gaza, repairing the electrical grid and sewage systems, coordinating medical assistance, and evacuating foreign and dual nationals and the wounded. Gaza’s electrical supply is being rehabilitated, with the grid having been repaired and electricity now at 74% capacity, up from 40% earlier in the operation. Additionally, Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog, in his new appointment to increase humanitarian aid, is set to meet today with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of the International Red Cross, to hear their requests on humanitarian issues.

The Foreign Ministry has created a special task force to prepare for the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead. The team will submit proposals for two of the army’s main concerns – Iran and Hamas taking control of Gaza’s postwar reconstruction, and the harm the operation may have caused to Israel’s image abroad. Another of the task force’s missions is to draft recommendations for Gaza’s rehabilitation. The goal is to allow the PA, along with Arab and international entities, to lead reconstruction efforts and funding, taking credit for Gaza’s rehabilitation in place of Hamas or Iran.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has said it has no evidence of Israel using white phosphorus illegally. Its use is not banned by international law when it’s used as a smoke screen, but it is outlawed for use on people. The Red Cross has urged Israel to use “extreme caution” when firing white phosphorus munitions. The IDF said it would not provide details about the munitions it is using in Gaza, but noted that “we emphasise that the IDF only employs weapons permitted by international law.”

Overnight, the IAF targeted approximately 70 terrorist sites. These included a mosque in Rafah used to stockpile rockets and which served as an assembly area for senior operatives involved in launching rockets, 14 sites used to launch rockets and mortars at Israeli cities and communities, five weapon storage facilities located in houses of Hamas operatives, one tunnel located under the house of a Hamas operative, and a number of cells of armed gunmen.

Diplomatic developments

Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, director of the Political-Security Staff in the Defence Ministry, has arrived in Cairo to discuss Egypt’s plan for preventing arms smuggling into Gaza. Upon his return later today, he is expected to present the Egyptian plan to PM Olmert, Defence Minister Barak and Foreign Minister Livni. If the plan meets Israel’s requirements, it will be taken for discussion in the security cabinet and the government.

Foreign Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovitch left for Washington on Wednesday to discuss the prevention of arms smuggling from Iran to Gaza before the arms reach the Sinai in Egypt. Israel would like the US to provide guarantees for smuggling prevention by means of activity by sea and via land from Africa to Egypt. Israel also wants additional sanctions imposed on Tehran. According to understandings that are being formulated, US activity will also take intelligence provided by Israel into account.

Tally of missiles, rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza

• Since 2001, total number of identified rocket and mortar shell hits: 8,841
• Since Israel’s unilateral disengagement from Gaza in August 2005: 6,149
• Since 4 November 2008: 1,047
• Since the ceasefire ended on 19 December 2008: 976
• Since Operation Cast Lead began on 27 December 2008: 827

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; daily tally for 2008 and 2009. Please note the new web link.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza

Israel is conducting 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 the operation in Gaza, 1,136 truckloads with over 26,000 tons of humanitarian aid have been delivered to Gaza, transferred at the request of international organisations, the Palestinian Authority and various governments. Israel does not wish to see the humanitarian situation in the strip deteriorate. Preparations are underway to facilitate further shipments expected to arrive in the coming days.

Since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead through 14 January 2009:

• 1,136 truckloads (over 26,000 tons) of humanitarian aid have been delivered to Gaza. Fuel trucks and medical personnel have entered as well.
• 449 dual nationals were evacuated from Gaza.
• 3,000 units of blood were donated by Jordan.
• 5 ambulances donated by Turkey and 5 from the West Bank on behalf of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
• 34 people evacuated to Israel for medical needs, including two injured children.

15 January

More than 195,000 litres of fuel and 170 humanitarian aid trucks are expected to be transferred into Gaza today. This will include medical equipment, medicine, food and other supplies.

14 January

105 trucks transferred 2,310 tons of flour, dairy products, canned goods, water and medical equipment to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. Three fuel tankers also transferred 104,000 litres of fuel for the Gaza power station.

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

• To visit the Operation Cast Lead section on our website, click here. It contains daily situation updates, analyses, useful facts and figures, and videos. You can also find the section by going to our homepage and clicking on the Operation Cast Lead button on the right-hand side.
• For a full news review for 15 January, click here.