BICOM

• An IDF soldier was killed and three others wounded this morning when a bomb exploded near an IDF patrol along the Gaza border, in the first such incident following the withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza.
• International focus in recent days has been placed on ensuring the robust prevention of arms smuggling into Gaza.
• Egypt has continued talks with Israeli diplomats and Hamas representatives to secure a long-lasting truce.
• Humanitarian aid continues to flow into the Gaza Strip and specific emphasis has been placed on medical assistance to Gaza residents.

Key statements

European Union humanitarian aid chief Louis Michel blames Hamas for the situation in Gaza (26/1): “At this time we have to also recall the overwhelming responsibility of Hamas. I intentionally say this here – Hamas is a terrorist movement and it has to be denounced as such.”

Daniel Yates provides a British soldier’s perspective on the Gaza conflict (23/1): “The casual bandying around of terms like ‘war crimes’ so enraged me when I heard it directed at British soldiers during protest in London. I feel no different when it is levelled at Israeli soldiers. I accept that soldiers enjoy no immunity from the law and that our actions must be scrutinised but that judgement must be a measured weighing of factors, not a knee jerk emotive statement such as that made by Ban Ki-Moon nor a trial by media. I believe that I and other soldiers understand the stress, friction and confusion that combat brings in a way that media commentators and UN bureaucrats never can.”

Daniel Yates provides a British soldier’s perspective on the Gaza conflict (23/1): “Urban warfare is complicated, disorientating and utterly confusing even in conventional operations. When an enemy, such as Hamas, is willing to dress in civilian clothing, attack from legally protected sites and use civilians as human shields it becomes fiendishly difficult.”

Securing the ceasefire

Egypt has been conducting intense negotiations with Hamas representatives in recent days to reach understandings that will stabilise the truce with Israel. Egypt is demanding that a future truce be maintained for a number of years, but it appears that Hamas so far would only agree to a ceasefire of one year to 18 months. Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said that a long-term ceasefire “kills” the right to resistance by the Palestinians. Radwan’s statement appears to illustrate Hamas’s ongoing intention to renew terror actions once the temporary lull comes to an end.

As part of the Egyptian mediation efforts, Hamas and Fatah officials met yesterday in Cairo for talks on a possible reconciliation agreement, the first such talks between Fatah and Hamas officials in ten months. Talks focused on the possibility that Fatah members will be posted at the Rafah crossing to enable its opening. Additionally, initial discussions were held on a power sharing agreement, though it is unlikely that a PA unity government will be established in the near future, mostly because Hamas would not be willing to cede its control over Gaza.

In breaking news on Tuesday morning, a bomb exploded near an IDF patrol along the Gaza border. The incident occurred near the Kissufim border crossing, and is the first such incident following the withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza. An IDF soldier was killed and three others were wounded.

Prevention of smuggling

International efforts have intensified in recent days in an attempt to prevent weapons smuggling into Gaza and the rearming of Hamas. During his weekly security briefing on Sunday, Defence Minister Ehud Barak told the Israeli cabinet that there are already signs that prevention efforts are bearing fruit: “There is an accumulation of weapons and equipment meant for Hamas in Sinai, but Egypt is preventing it from getting into the Strip.”

The focus now turns to concrete steps that will be taken to ensure that no shipments of weapons are allowed to reach the Hamas regime in Gaza. This obviously demands broad international coordination:

• A French frigate carrying a helicopter was on its way Friday to international waters off the coast of Gaza to participate in a mission against arms trafficking in the Palestinian territory, officials said. The deployment was ordered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in cooperation with Israel and Egypt as part of “immediate actions to fight against the smuggling of weapons towards Gaza,” his office said in a statement.
• An American naval taskforce in the Gulf of Aden has been ordered to seek out suspicious Iranian arms ships heading for the Red Sea, as Tehran seeks to reequip Hamas in Gaza. According to US diplomatic sources quoted in the Times, Combined Task Force 151, which is countering pirates in the Gulf of Aden, has been instructed to track Iranian arms shipments.
• The US Army Corps of Engineers, which in recent years has invested much effort in developing technology to locate tunnels, primarily along the borders with Mexico and Canada, is now expected to implement its knowledge in Rafah by training and providing technological assistance to Egyptian forces operating along the Gaza-Egypt border.

Debate over the use of white phosphorous shells

• Daniel Yates, a former British soldier in Afghanistan, published an article in the Spectator on Friday in which he addresses the use of white phosphorous shells during Operation Cast Lead:

“Most commentators either do not know, or have refused to acknowledge, that the use of white phosphorous is not illegal.  The Geneva conventions do restrict the use of white phosphorous in certain circumstances, but it is used almost daily by British forces in Afghanistan.

“The IDF have stated that, during this operation, they fired a total of 200 shells containing phosphorous.  20 of these shells were fired in urban areas and the use of those 20 is being investigated in line with these restrictions.

“White phosphorous is used because it provides an instant smokescreen, other munitions can provide a smokescreen but the effect is not instant.  Faced with overwhelming enemy fire and wounded comrades, every commander would choose to screen his men instantly, to do otherwise would be negligent.”

• Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, discussed on Sky News on Saturday the procedures now taken by the Israeli military to investigate the use of white phosphorous munitions during the Gaza conflict:

“The Israeli Defence Forces have launched an investigation into the alleged use of white phosphorous in a way that would injure civilians… That would also happen in the British Army, if such an allegation was made. I have little doubt – I have worked quite extensively with the IDF – I have little doubt they will do a thorough investigation. They will undoubtedly get to the truth of what happened, and when they find out what happened, if necessary, they will punish the people concerned. The Israelis have got a track record of punishing and in some cases imprisoning their soldiers, because, of course, the Israeli soldiers are accountable to the democratically elected Government of Israel.”

Humanitarian aid

Since 27 December 2008, 70,035 tons of humanitarian supplies have been transferred to Gaza. 6,565,451 litres of fuel have also been conveyed through the Nahal Oz and Kerem Shalom crossings.

On Monday, 225 trucks with 6,192 tons of supplies entered Gaza, at the request of UNRWA, the World Food Programme, UNICEF, ANERA, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organisation, Handicap International and a donation from Jordan. Also, 366,000 litres of heavy duty diesel for the Gaza power station, 122 tons of gas for domestic use and 188,000 litres of commercial diesel were transferred via the Nahal Oz fuel depot. Following extensive maintenance activities, the Karni conveyor belt resumed operation and conveyed 3,800 tons of different types of grain.

Last week, 1,937,900 litres of heavy duty diesel for the Gaza power station and 769 tons of gas for domestic use were transferred to Gaza. Over the weekend, 212 trucks entered Gaza, with 4,740 tons of food, medical supplies and raw materials. On Sunday, an additional 448,000 litres of heavy duty diesel for the Gaza power station and 137 tons of gas for domestic use were transferred via the Nahal Oz fuel depot. The Karni crossing remained closed due to maintenance work.

Jordan’s Royal Medical Services Director Maj.-Gen. Abdul Latif Wreikat announced on Monday that his forces will install a field hospital in Gaza, which will begin operation within 24 hours. According to Wreikat, the makeshift hospital, staffed by 180 medics, is fully equipped with the latest equipment and will enable major surgeries to take place. Two fully-equipped ambulances will accompany the military hospital.