Exclusives in Week

IDF commanders hoped their lust for battle would be cooled by the sight of Gaza in ruins enough to give up and stop fighting.

Hamas leaders are locked in a fierce controversy in both Damascus and Gaza over Egypt’s ceasefire proposals. Politburo chief Khaled Meshaal flatly rejects them; Mussa Abu Marzouk would accept them, backed by Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, who maintains that Egypt is Hamas’ only remaining lifeline which it dare not jeopardize.

However, the military arm in Gaza and its heads, Khalil al Haya, Said Sayam and Muhammad Jabry, are strongly in favor of severing ties with Egypt and fighting on.

Our sources disclose that the Hamas extremists are finding time for the brutal persecution of their rivals, the Palestinian Fatah. Under cover of the general mayhem, Hamas gangs are kidnapping Fatah operatives and executing them. Their bodies are tossed onto the mountains of uncollected garbage and their kinsmen informed where to find them. Hamas leaders are convinced their rivals are plotting to exploit the fighting to overthrow their regime.

Al Qaeda’s operations chief in Pakistan and top aide said killed by US Predator in Waziristan10 Jan.: Al-Qaeda’s operations chief in Pakistan Usama al-Kini and his lieutenant, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan were recently killed by a missile fired by a US drone near the Afghan border. 

Kini was believed to be behind last year’s deadly attack on the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, in which 55
people were killed when a truck packed with explosives rammed the hotel.

Both al-Qaeda suspects died in South Waziristan, on Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.

First signs of Hamas cracking, Israel allows Gaza delegation through to Cairo
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report 10 Jan.: As Hamas showed first signs of cracking under Israel’s massive 14-day assault, three Gaza leaders were allowed by Israel and Egypt to make their way secretly to Cairo for a second round of ceasefire talks – this time without conditions. 

DEBKAfile’s military sources identify them as: Jemal Abu Hashem, who rarely appears on public, Salah Bardaweel, leader of Hamas parliament faction, and Heiman Ta’a, member of the military wing’s command.
They were allowed to go after consenting to an unconditional ceasefire, dropping their demand for open Gaza crossings and accepting that Israeli forces would hold their present lines.

In overnight fighting Friday, five Israel soldiers were injured and 15 Hamas operatives killed. Forty Israeli operations destroyed five tunnels, 14 missile stores and production sites.

Israel held its fire for three hours Saturday for fresh aid supplies to reach the Gaza population.

US consigns 3,000 tonnes of US “ammunition” to Israel10 Jan.: 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. 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.

US Congress’ overwhelming support for Israel 10 Jan.: The US Senate on Thursday backed Israel’s battle against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and the House of Representatives followed on Friday in landslide votes. 

The House passed a resolution “recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza” by 390-5. The measure noted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza “is becoming more acute” but did not rebuke Israel.

The Senate measure offered “unwavering commitment” to Israel. It recognized “its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism” and urged a ceasefire that would keep Hamas from firing rockets at Israel.

First pro-Israeli demos in London, Frankfurt, Marseille, Lyon 11 Jan.: 40,000 Jews and Christians rallied in support of Israel against Hamas terror in London’s Trafalgar Sq. Monday. Sunday night, pro-Hamas protesters clashed with London police outside the Israel embassy.  

No new decisions by the Israeli cabinet11 Jan.: IDF Military Intelligence Head Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin on Sunday briefed cabinet ministers on the Gaza operation, stressing the cracks in Hamas resilience, its disconnected leadership in Syria, and its waning public support following the extensive Israeli attacks on the organization. But he predicted that Hamas was still capable of striking Israel. 

He pointed out that Hamas fighters were evading encounters with Israeli forces, hiding in built-up urban areas and hoping to gain the advantage by “remote control” tactics.

In his view, Hamas is scared of more fighting and looking for an honorable escape that offers an end to the hostilities without requiring its forces to show a white flag.

Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Yuval Diskin noted that alongside the anger over Israeli bombardments, Gazans were angry at Hamas for bringing down such devastation on the Strip. He also noted that Hamas was using the ongoing clashes in the Strip as an excuse to execute Fatah supporters.
Housing Minister Ze’ev Boim said bluntly: “If we don’t expose the infrastructure, including the missile-production lines, and take control of the Philadelphi Corridor, I think that in the next round [of violent confrontations] we will be hit by longer-range missiles and as yet unused weaponry, such as anti-aircraft cannons.”

Hamas fired rockets during one of Israel’s daily three-hour military pauses for the ingress of essential supplies to the Palestinian population. They hit Sderot, Kiryat Malachi, Eshkol, and an Ashkelon school and kindergarten.

Since Dec. 27, Hamas missiles have demolished 900 buildings in Israel, hundreds of vehicles, damaged many farms.

Two Israeli-Arab lists barred from February poll – for “supporting the enemy”12 Jan.: Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted Monday, Jan. 12, to exclude the United Arab List and Balad from participating in the Feb. 10 general election. The High Court must rule on their appeal by Friday, the final date for registering Knesset lists.
The ruling Kadima and Labor factions supported the ban’s petition by the opposition Israel Beitenu and the National Union, which argued that Balad rejects Israeli statehood on principle. They also invoked a Basic Law section banning the participation in elections of a party that supports armed struggle against Israel by an enemy state or terrorist organization. 

The last party to be banned in Israel was Rabbi Meir Cahane’s Kach in the 1980s for advocating the transfer of Arab citizens out of the country.

Hamas-Gaza bows to Damascus leaders’ veto against Egyptian ceasefire terms 12 Jan.: The Gaza Hamas faction failed to persuade its Damascus leaders to accept the Egyptian ceasefire terms and was ordered to carry on fighting in the Gaza Strip. This setback followed 48 hours of optimism in Jerusalem and Cairo where it had been hoped that with their backs to the wall, the Palestinian extremists would submit to the tough Egyptian-Israeli ultimatum. It is now up to the Israeli defense cabinet to decide whether Israeli forces stand still on their present battle lines or go forward to the crunch, which means entering Gaza City proper and capturing the Philadelphi smuggling corridor.