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Interpreting the Upsurge in Security Incidents on the Gaza-Israel Border
(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - The large number of recent security incidents on the Gaza-Israel border has spawned a wave of analysis suggesting that it is the result of a well-orchestrated campaign by the leadership of Hamas in Gaza, headed by Yahya Sinwar, to pressure Israel to move faster on promised relief. But conversations with a number of Israeli intelligence officials reveal nearly wall-to-wall disagreement with that thesis. The prevalent claim among defense officials is that the recent attacks mainly demonstrate the weakness of Hamas in controlling events. With Israel's quiet consent, Egypt recently began operating another major crossing point for goods into Gaza in the Rafah area, including food and building materials. Hamas taxes the merchandise coming over the border, earning tens of millions of shekels a month. Israel has also taken several steps to ease the situation in Gaza. Electricity is now on for 16 hours a day (as opposed to 4 hours) and thousands of Gazans - officially designated as business people but many of whom are day laborers - are now being allowed into Israel.