INVASION OF GAZA STARTING?

Earlier today, negotiations over releasing the IDF soldier held hostage by Hamas collapsed. It appears that Israel has began a military action in Gaza. It is unclear if this is the full-scale house cleaning that is needed and inevitable or merely a limited action aimed at rescuing the kidnapped soldier.

Israeli Planes Attack Bridge in Gaza (AP)
Israeli planes attacked a bridge in central Gaza late Tuesday, Israel Radio reported, and Israeli tanks were said to be on the move, possibly signaling the start of a military operation. Palestinian security forces said Israeli tanks were moving near the Israeli village of Nahal Oz, a main Israeli staging area just outside Gaza, but that they had not yet entered Gaza.

In the Shajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City, not far from the border fence, armed militants took up positions across from the blaring headlights of Israeli vehicles, and Israeli attack helicopters hovered overhead. The militants told residents to leave the area.

Israeli military officials said a limited operation has been authorized for southern Gaza, aimed at "terrorist infrastructure." The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters. Israel has been massing troops and armor around Gaza since Sunday, when Palestinian militants tunneled under the border and attacked an Israeli army post at a Gaza crossing, killing two soldiers and abducting a third.

Anticipating an invasion, Palestinian militants piled up sand on roads near the border and in Gaza City. "We are ready to confront any stupid act that the Zionists might commit," said Abu Obeida, spokesman for the military wing of Hamas, the Islamic group that controls the Palestinian parliament.

The group also claimed that militants from various factions had taken up positions throughout northern Gaza.

Egyptian officials said the government asked Hamas to release the soldier and has deployed 2,500 extra troops along the border with Gaza to prevent an influx of Palestinians if Israel invades. Egypt also imposed a nighttime curfew on residents along the border.


IDF believes captured soldier being held in southern Gaza; Israel also fears bid to move soldier out of Gaza (Haaretz)
An Israel Air Force aircraft attacked three bridges in central Gaza on Monday, in an effort to prevent miltants from transporting kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit within Gaza. According to information gleaned by the Palestinian Authority, Shalit is being held in the Khan Younis refugee camp and are trying to prevent his captors from moving him elsewhere, possibly to the Jabalya refugee camp.IDF officials said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved a "limited operation" for southern Gaza, aimed at "terrorist infrastructure." The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.