Despite Discovery of Numerous Arms-Smuggling Tunnels, Israel Ensures Humanitarian Aid Flows to Palestinian Civilians to Ease Hardships
Israel will increase its military operations in the Gaza Strip in response to a recent rise in Qassam rocket attacks by Hamas [see timeline below], Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday, Oct. 30. One of the Qassam rockets fired Monday landed near an Ashkelon strategic structure. [1]
“Israel is operating against Hamas centers in Gaza,” Olmert told the Knesset (Parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. [2] “We will expand the operations, but we will not remain for an extended period in Gaza.”
He also stressed that Israel will cooperate with the international community to facilitate the continuation of foreign aid into the Gaza Strip to help Palestinian civilians. [see below]
Olmert denied news reports that the Egyptian army had deployed thousands of troops along the Israeli border in recent days in order to prevent arms-smuggling into the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has in the last two months uncovered dozens of smuggling tunnels dug underneath the Gaza-Egyptian border by terrorist groups linked to Fatah, Hamas and the Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
On Sunday, Oct. 29, Hamas acknowledged publicly for the first time its role in digging such tunnels, in a statement mourning the death of Izz Eddeen al-Qassam Brigades member Bakr Na’eem Al-Assar, who died two days earlier in an accidental explosion in one such tunnel. “The Qassam fighters are working on top of and under the ground… Their guns are pointed and will remain directed at the one and only enemy, Israel,” according to the statement. [3]
Background and Key Facts
The number of Qassam rockets launched in October, in comparison to September, has increased drastically. According to the IDF, about 15 Qassams landed in Israel during September. [4] In October, 72 Qassam rockets and 12 mortars were launched from Gaza into Israel. Twelve of the Qassams have landed in the southern Israeli city of Sderot. [5]
In the past month, IDF ground troops have unearthed 14 tunnels Palestinians used for smuggling weapons from Egypt into the Gaza Strip. [6] Additional shafts and uncompleted tunnels have been found near the Gaza anti-terrorist fence. [7]
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Oct. 18, 2006 During a single IDF operation to prevent weapons smuggling from Egypt into Gaza, the IDF uncovered five tunnels. Since the beginning of the IDF operations on Oct. 18, eight tunnels have been unearthed. Source: The Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Office |
A tunnel of this type, dug under the Gaza fence into Israeli territory, was used in the attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing on June 25, in which two soldiers were killed and IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit was kidnapped. [8]
Shalit is still being held by his captors, three terrorist groups – The Army of Islam, the Izz Eddeen al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Resistance Committees. The latter two are directly linked to Hamas.
Since Shalit’s abduction, 25 tunnels have been discovered by IDF forces. [9]
In September alone, 12 tunnels were found within a kilometer of the Gaza Strip town of Dahaniya, and three of the tunnel openings were found on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza. [10]
In the past five years, more than 15 Israeli citizens and foreign worker residents in Israel have been killed by Palestinian Qassam attacks both inside Gaza and in Israeli territory. Several of those killed or wounded were residents of the Israeli town of Sderot, which sits adjacent to the border of the Gaza Strip.
Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in Aug. 2005, making painful sacrifices as it uprooted about 9,000 citizens and resettled them in other parts of they country. The country also withdrew all of its troops, including from the strategically vital “Philadelphi corridor” running along the Gaza side of the Gaza-Egypt border fence.
When Israel completed its disengagement from Gaza, Egyptian and Palestinian troops agreed to patrol the Egypt-Gaza border. But that didn’t stop the serious problem of arms smuggling; instead, said IDF sources, the rates at which weapons are smuggled into the Gaza Strip are increasing. Civilian property often provides cover for the tunnels, according to Lt. Col. Drory of Israel’s Givati Infantry Brigade. [11]
“The tunnels are often dug from within homes or agricultural areas,” Lt. Col. Drory said. “When we asked the owners of the homes, they denied there are any tunnels present, but a search of the homes revealed the tunnel shafts.” [12]
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Oct. 20, 2006 A tunnel used for smuggling weaponry was discovered near the Philadelphi corridor during an IDF operation. The tunnel was hidden inside a civilian home in the southern area of the Gaza Strip. A total of 14 tunnels have been unearthed since the operation began.
Source: The Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Office |
According to an IDF official, militant groups have also found a way to smuggle into Gaza light weapons and ammunition, and about 20 advanced anti-tank missiles since the end of the recent Israel-Hezbollah war. [13]
Anti-tank missiles found in Gaza tunnels in recent weeks are similar to those used by Hezbollah militants in the recent war; which caused a number of IDF casualties on the Lebanese border. [14]
Over the past year, Israeli officials say that among the tons of arms and explosives that have been smuggled into Gaza, Palestinians are obtaining 122-millimeter (mm) Grad rockets, which can be launched 18-30 km (11-19 mi.), placing major Israeli cities such as Ashkelon and Ashdod well within firing range. [15]
On March 28, 2006 Palestinian Islamic Jihad launched a Grad-type Katyusha into Israel for the first time. [16] Four Grad-type rockets in total have been fired into Israeli territory.
All the Katyusha rockets that have been fired from Gaza were 122 mm, [17] the same as those found on the Karin-A ship captured by Israeli authorities in Jan. 2002. The ship was carrying a supply of weapons and munitions delivered by the Shiite terrorist group Hezbollah and paid for by Iran, [18] the leading state sponsor of terror.
The 122-mm Katyusha rocket was widely used by Hezbollah to attack Israeli civilians in northern Israel during the recent Lebanon war and is thought to comprise the bulk of its arsenal. [19]
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Oct. 24, while touring the Gaza border area with the Southern Command, “We will not allow the Gaza Strip to turn into southern Lebanon and we will take action to prevent the strengthening of the terrorist organizations.” [20]
Gaza Civilians Receiving Extensive Aid
Although the Palestinian civilian population is undoubtedly experiencing some hardship due to the current security situation in the Gaza Strip, it is receiving extensive financial aid to prevent humanitarian suffering.
Both Israel and the international community, including the European Union, continue to hold back direct payment of funds to the Palestinian Authority, until the ruling Hamas party agrees to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce terrorism, and agree to abide by existing agreements. But despite this, humanitarian aid benefactors’ programs are operational, and Palestinians are receiving extensive financial and medical support.
The European Commission (EC), for example, has recently initiated its Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) for aid payments. Through the TIM, the EC has started paying social welfare allowances to 40,000 of the neediest Palestinian families.
The payments are in addition to stipends that have already been paid to health workers and those who have suffered a sudden drop in income and pensioners. Families selected to receive allowances through the TIM will receive $344 (€270) each. No regular payments have been made to the families since February 2006 due to the ongoing Palestinian Authority (P.A.) financial crisis.
In Sept. 2006 the Quartet (United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia) supported an extension of the TIM for a three month period and an expansion of its scope. So far, 1.3 million people in the Gaza Strip have gained access to water, health care and sanitation through the TIM. In the upcoming months, more than 600,000 people will benefit from social allowances under the TIM, including 12,000 health care workers, 55,000 other low-paid public service providers and pensioners and 40,000 families in greater need.
TIM has delivered over 2 million liters of fuel to Palestinians to ensure the continued supply of energy, in particular for hospitals and water sanitation in the Gaza Strip following the destruction of the Gaza power plant in July.
The European Commission is making $134 million (€105 million) available for the TIM from the Community budget and Member States have so far pledged an additional $98 million (€77 million). Together with the support granted through international organizations, UNRWA and NGOs, the total European Commission support to the Palestinian people will reach $420 million (€330 million) this year. [21] Following EU Council approval, the TIM will be extended an additional three months. [22]
Israel has permitted the Karni crossing and the Nahal Oz terminal to continue operations for the delivery of food and fuel to Palestinians despite the constant threat of terrorist attacks at these facilities. [23]
Overview: Oct. 2006 Timeline of Gaza Terror Activities
Oct. 29 – Two Qassam rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza. One landed in Sderot and the other in the western Negev, north of the Karni crossing. One woman was treated for shock and one structure was damaged. [24]
Oct. 28 – Four Qassam rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza. Four mortars were also fired from Gaza and landed near Kibbutz Nahal Oz. [25]
Egypt deployed an additional 3,000 security forces to the Gaza border, according to an Egyptian official, due to “fears of Palestinian militants breaching the border wall between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.” [26]
Oct. 26 – Israel prevented a shipment of 13 lbs. (6 kg) of TNT from reaching the West Bank through a Gaza-Israel passage. [27]
Oct. 23 – Three Qassam rockets were launched from Gaza, two of which landed in the city of Sderot. Two vehicles were damaged and several residents were treated for shock. [28]
Oct. 22 – Two Qassams were fired into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip, one landing south of Ashkelon. [29]
Oct. 21 – Four Qassam rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza, landing in Sderot. [30]
An anti-tank missile was fired at IDF troops near the Gaza anti-terrorist security fence. [31]
Oct. 20 – Five Qassam rockets were launched from Gaza, one landing south of Ashkelon. One resident was wounded by shrapnel. Several people were treated for shock. [32] An apartment building in Sderot was damaged when it was directly hit.
Five mortar shells were also fired from Gaza.
Three Bedouin were arrested in Sinai, Egypt en route to smuggle 200 crates of automatic weapons into Gaza. [33]
Oct. 19 – IDF announced that nine tunnels were uncovered between the Egypt-Gaza border. [34]
Oct. 16 – One Qassam was launched at the city of Sderot, landing near a home and another rocket landed near the western Negev Kibbutz Nir Am. In Sderot, one person was lightly injured and six others were treated for shock. [35]
Of the two Qassams, one of them bared the Hebrew inscription “Al-Quds” for the first time. The Hebrew inscription signified that the terrorist group – Al-Quds Brigades – closely associated with Islamic Jihad, was responsible for the rocket attack.
Oct. 14 – Two Qassam rockets landed in Sderot. One of the rockets damaged a fence adjoining a home in Sderot. Three residents were lightly wounded and one home was damaged. [36]
Oct. 13 – Six Qassams were fired from Gaza and landed in the western Negev area. [37]
Oct. 12 – Five Qassam rockets landed in the western Negev.
Oct. 8 – “Al-Qaeda in Palestine” claimed responsibility for blowing up an Internet café in Gaza. [38]
Oct. 7 – Qassam rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza; one landed next to Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal’s home. [39]
Oct. 6 – A tunnel collapsed under the Gaza-Egypt border from an explosion, trapping five Palestinian militants inside and killing at least one. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a violent offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, said the five were members of the group. [40]
Oct. 5 – Two Qassams landed in the western Negev.
Oct. 2 – Two Qassam rockets were fired into Israel from northern Gaza. [41]
Oct. 1 – One Qassam rocket hit a home in Sderot, wounding a 76 year-old woman and an 11 year-old boy. [42] Five other residents were treated for shock. [43]
Footnotes
[1] Hadad, Shmulik, “Qassam lands near Ashkelon strategic facility,” Ynetnews, Oct. 30, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3321203,00.html
[2] Alon, Gideon, “PM Olmert: Israel to expand military operations in Gaza Strip,” Haaretz, Oct. 30, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/781386.html
[3] “Hamas says militant died while digging tunnel in Gaza Strip,” published in Haaretz, via Associated Press, Oct. 29, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/780868.html ; “Statements: Baker Al-Asar Was Martyred During A Jihad Mission,” Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades, Military Wing of Hamas Movement, Oct. 29, 2006, http://www.alqassam.ps/english/statements/491.htm ; Arabic Statement, Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades, Military Wing of Hamas Movement, Oct. 29, 2006, http://www.alqassam.ps/arabic/win_bayan.php?nid=2092
[4] Chronological order: Grinberg, Mijal, & Haaretz Service, “One person hurt as two Qassam rockets strike Negev town of Sderot,” Haaretz, Sept. 17, 2006; Hadad, Shmulik, “Sderot house, Sapir College hit by Qassams,” Ynetnews, Sept. 21, 2006; Dadon, Tova, “2 Qassam rockets land in south,” Ynetnews, Sept. 25, 2006; Issacharoff, Avi, & Agencies, “Palestinians: IDF tanks, troops move into northern Gaza,” Haaretz, Oct. 1, 2006; “September: News Archive,” Weaponsurvey Web site, http://www.weaponsurvey.com/newsarchive/september06.htm
[5] Statement via phone from IDF Spokesperson’s office.
[7] Harel, Amos, Issaharoff, Avi, Haaretz Service & Associated Press, “Four Qassam rockets launched from Gaza hit Sderot area,” Haaretz, Oct. 21, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/777252.html
[8] “IDF force attacked and soldier abducted by Kibbutz Kerem Shalom,” Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, June 27, 2006, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/kerem_shalom_e.pdf
[9] Greenberg, Hanan, “Gaza; 13 tunnels unearthed,” Ynetnews, Oct. 19, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3317229,00.html
[10] Fishman, Alex, “Tunnels feed new Hamas army,” Ynetnews, Oct. 5, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3311372,00.html
[11] Greenberg, Hanan, “Gaza; 13 tunnels unearthed,” Ynetnews, Oct. 19, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3317229,00.html
[13] JPost.com Staff, “Anti-tank missiles smuggled into Gaza,” The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 14, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1159193433744&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[14] Ellingwood, Ken, “Israel finds 9 tunnels from Gaza Strip into Egypt,” The Los Angeles Times, Oct. 19, 2006, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-smuggling19oct19,1,3551949.story?coll=la-headlines-world “
[15] Missiles and Mortars: Introduction,” Weaponsurvey Web site, http://www.weaponsurvey.com/missilesrockets.htm
[16] “Katyusha rocket ‘fired from Gaza,'” BBC News, March 28, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4855056.stm
[17] Katz, Yaakov, “Katyusha fired for the first time from Gaza,” The Jerusalem Post, March 28, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1143498754886&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[18] Karmon, Ely, “Hizbullah and the war on terror,” The Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Aug. 1, 2002, http://www.ict.org.il/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=444
[19] Gordon, Michael, “Militants Are Said to Amass Missiles in South Lebanon,” The New York Times, July 16, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/16/weekinreview/16isra.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
[20] “Brannon, Josh, “Peretz: IDF operations in south must continue to stop terror,” The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 25, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1159193510716&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[21] 40,000 Palestinian families to benefit from EU social allowances,” The European Commission’s Delegation to Israel, [IP/06/1251], Sept. 25, 2006, http://www.eu-del.org.il/English/whatsnew.asp?id=756 “
[22] The European Union extends under the Temporary International Mechanism allowances to some 40,000 vulnerable Palestinians,” European Commission Technical Assistance Program, Sept. 21, 2006, http://www.delwbg.cec.eu.int/en/whatsnew/pressrelease_en.doc
[23] “Summary of IDF activity in the Gaza Strip,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, July 26, 2006, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2006/Summary%20of%20IDF%20activity%20in%20the%20Gaza%20Strip%2026-Jul-2006
[24] Greenberg, Michal, and Itim, “Two Qassam rockets land in Sderot and western Negev,” Haaretz, Oct. 29, 2006
[26] “Egypt sends troops to Gaza border,” BBC News, Oct. 28, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6095608.stm
[27] Lavie, Mark [Associated Press], “Israel intercepts shipment of explosives,” The Washington Post, Oct. 25, 2006, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/25/AR2006102501157_pf.html
[28] Brannon, Josh, and JPost.com Staff, “IDF kills 7 Palestinian gunmen in Gaza,” The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 23, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1159193500694&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[29] JPost.com Staff, “11 rockets fired over past three days,” The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 22, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1159193486033&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[30] Harel, Amos, Issaharoff, Avi, Haaretz Service & Associated Press, “Four Qassam rockets launched from Gaza hit Sderot area,” Haaretz, Oct. 21, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/777252.html
[33] “Egyptian police intercepts 200 crates of weapons en route to Gaza,” published in Ynetnews, via Associated Press, Oct. 20, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3317454,00.html
[34] Ellingwood, Ken, “Israel finds 9 tunnels from Gaza Strip into Egypt,” The Los Angeles Times, Oct. 19, 2006, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-smuggling19oct19,1,3551949.story?coll=la-headlines-world
[35] Hadad, Shmulik, “New: Qassam rockets with Hebrew captions,” Ynetnews, Oct. 16, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3315719,00.html
[36] Grinberg, Mijal, Harel, Amos, & Stern, Yoav, “2 Qassams land in Sderot area, lightly wounding three people,” Haaretz, Oct. 14, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/774581.html
[38] Waked, Ali, “Al-Qaeda affiliate burns coffee shop in Gaza Strip,” Ynetnews, Oct. 8, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3312455,00.html
[39] Hadad, Shmulik, “Qassam lands next to Sderot mayor’s home,” Ynetnews, Oct. 7, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3312158,00.html
[40] “Terrorist trapped after tunnel blast,” published in The Jerusalem Post via Associated Press, Oct. 6, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1159193380916&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[41] Hadad, Shmulik, “2 Qassam rockets fired at Sderot on Yom Kippur,” Ynetnews, Oct. 2, 2006
[42] Katz, Yaakov, “Security forces on alert ahead of Yom Kippur,” The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 1, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1159193342519
[43] Issacharoff, Avi, & Agencies, “Palestinians: IDF tanks, troops move into northern Gaza,” Haaretz, Oct. 1, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/769071.html
Calev Ben-David: 011-972-2-6236427, calevbd@theisraelproject.org
Leah Soibel: 011-972-2-6236427, leahs@theisraelproject.org
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