BICOM

• Katyusha rockets were fired this morning at the northern Israeli town of Nahariya. While unclear whether the situation on the northern border would escalate, this does indicate how Israel remains vulnerable on two fronts.
• The IDF has opened a humanitarian corridor in Gaza for the second day running. About 100 trucks are to be transferred to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings. Some 500,000 litres of heavy duty diesel for the Gaza power station are also scheduled to be transferred to Gaza through the Nahal Oz fuel depot.
• To visit our new Operation Cast Lead section on our website, please go to https://www.bicom.org.uk/news/operation-cast-lead. 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.

Key statements

High-ranking security official (1/6): “Even as the ground operation is taking place, the defence minister is keeping two channels open. In one, he is instructing the army to prepare practically for the operation’s third stage. In the other, he is discussing the possibility of an agreement with Hamas. We have trained and prepared reserve troops available.”

High-ranking security official (1/6): “The Americans are putting pressure on the Egyptians to get the tunnels closed. The problem is that this is being done harshly. The Egyptians don’t want to look like their sovereignty has been violated, so if they want to increase the number of police officers along the road, Israel will consider that in a positive light.”

Henry Carmeli, manager of the Nahariya nursing home hit by rocket fire from Lebanon (1/7): “The fact that all of the seniors were there [in the dining room waiting for breakfast at the time of the attack] saved many lives, because we saw that the strike caused heavy damage to the rooms on the second floor [where the residents sleep].”

Situation on the ground

Twelve rockets and mortar shells have already been fired by Palestinian militants into Israel today, wounding four people. Two sustained moderate wounds when a mortar shell exploded in the western Negev. A rocket scored a direct hit on a sports facility next to a school in Ashkelon.

At least two Katyusha rockets were fired this morning at the northern Israeli town of Nahariya, leaving one resident of a nursing home with a broken leg and many other residents suffering from shock. It is believed that the rockets were fired by a Palestinian organisation – not by Hezbollah – but a Hamas spokesperson in Lebanon said Hamas was not involved. While unclear whether the situation on the northern border would escalate, this does indicate how Israel remains vulnerable on two fronts. Additionally, UNIFIL patrols in Lebanon have been increased after eight Katyusha rockets were discovered aimed at Israel and connected to timers.

Operation Cast Lead continues, with 60 specific targets hit in Gaza overnight. These included a mosque used as a weapons storage facility, 15 tunnels used by Hamas terror operatives – some of which were located under houses, 10 additional weapons storage facilities, and 15 launching areas and underground launching pads used to fire mortar shells at IDF forces.

The IDF permitted the entry of a limited number of journalists into Gaza yesterday. This embedded press pool was allowed to later distribute footage from the area.

Diplomatic developments

Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, director of the Political-Security Staff in the Israeli Defence Ministry, left for Cairo this morning to discuss prospects for a long-term Israel-Hamas ceasefire with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman. However, officials in the Defence Minister’s Bureau are not optimistic that Gilad will come back with positive news of progress in negotiations.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Minister David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner remain at UN Headquarters in New York to continue UN Security Council talks on the situation in Gaza. The US, the UK and France would like to issue a statement on a ceasefire, rather than a resolution; the statement they have offered emphasises the need for a sustainable ceasefire which includes guarantees that arms smuggling into Gaza will be prevented.

Tally of missiles, rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza

• Since 2001: 8,648
• Since Israel’s unilateral disengagement from Gaza in August 2005: 5,957
• Since 4 November 2008: 853
• Since the ceasefire ended on 19 December 2008: 788
• Since Operation Cast Lead began on 27 December 2008: 633

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 operation in Gaza, 534 truckloads of humanitarian aid (12,229 tons) have been 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.

7 January 2009

Throughout the day, the crossings facilitated the movement of 76 trucks loaded with 2,068 tons of humanitarian goods, comprised of donations from Jordan and Egypt and aid on behalf of UNRWA, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Also, 482,000 litres of heavy duty diesel for the power plant, 92,000 litres of diesel for UN humanitarian operations and 43 tons of gas for domestic use were transferred to the Gaza Strip.

Ongoing activities are taking place to repair additional electrical lines. Nevertheless, most of the population in the Gaza Strip has electricity.

6 January 2009

57 trucks loaded with 1,312 tons of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing. The trucks contained medical supplies, flour, powdered milk, potatoes, barley and more, shipped to Gaza at the request of international organisations including UNRWA, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organisation, as well as international donations on behalf of the governments of Jordan, Egypt and Greece. Israel’s humanitarian efforts, in conjunction with international organisations operating in the Gaza Strip, also include medical treatment in Israeli hospitals and infrastructure repairs in the Gaza Strip.

5 January 2009

49 trucks carrying 1,119 tons of food and medicines were transferred to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, including four with medical equipment and medicines. The aid was donated by international organisations – UNRWA, WFP and the ICRC – and by several countries, including Egypt and Jordan. In addition, 215,000 litres of diesel fuel for the power plant, 93,000 litres of diesel for the use of various UN organisations and 50 tons of cooking gas for domestic uses were transferred via the Nahal Oz terminal.

The evacuation of dual nationals is continuing.

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 remained 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 a full news review for 8 January, click here.