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IDF: Gaza Resistance Fierce But Unorganized

[Ha'aretz] Amos Harel - On Tuesday IDF commanders in the recent Gaza operation reported during a debriefing that while the resistance they encountered was fierce, it was less organized than they expected. IDF units penetrated around three kilometers west of the border fence between Sajiyeh and Jabalya before they were discovered. Fierce fighting then broke out and the two Israeli soldiers killed were shot during the first two hours of the fighting. The moment Hamas realized that the advancing IDF forces were relatively large, they withdrew. The Palestinians were trying to coordinate their moves by radio, and their deployment reflected some organization. Hamas was well-equipped with weapons, night-vision gear and flak jackets. They fired dozens of RPGs at Israeli tanks, hitting a few, but not penetrating them. The officers said some of the Palestinian civilians were hit by "heavy and inaccurate" Palestinian fire. In one case an officer saw a boy of about 10 sent to bring a weapon from a dead gunman. The officer ordered his men not to fire and the boy delivered the weapon to other armed men.
2008-03-05 01:00:00
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