Israeli troops have been operating on the ground in the Gaza Strip for a week now. An asymmetrical war between the firepower of the Jewish state on one side and a well-equipped paramilitary militia on the other.
Lined up on the ground were around fifty automatic rifles, mines and rocket launchers. “The first one is Iranian. This one was assembled in Gaza, this one was made in Korea,” explains Lieutenant Colonel Idan. This impressive arsenal was seized by the Israeli army during battles against Hamas.
This type of very varied weapon is currently being used against Israeli armored vehicles and tanks in Gaza. The lieutenant colonel, who fought in the enclave nine years ago, sees “changes” since that time. “For example, the Iranian rocket launcher with a double warhead, we had not seen it in 2014. It undoubtedly arrived later through smuggling. he explains.
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Tunnels and civilians, other Hamas “assets”
Hamas’ other assets, according to the Israeli army, are the tunnels and the civilians who serve as human shields, judges Colonel Olivier Rafowicz. “We are doing our utmost to ensure that there are as few civilians as possible. We have one priority, which is the elimination of the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip,” says the spokesperson for the Israeli army. “It is not a guerrilla war, it is a war against an enemy which is the government in place. And we are encountering very fierce fighting with this Hamas army which is using the civilian population of Gaza as hostages,” believes Colonel Rafowicz.
None of the civilians contacted in the Palestinian enclave on Thursday evening were able or willing to confirm this assertion. “No, that’s not true. They say Hamas is stopping us from leaving but no, that’s not the case,” assures Assia. And if she does not go to the South, it is because the schools which welcome the displaced are overflowing.“Where are we going to go? That’s what’s stopping me from leaving” and that the area is not spared from the bombings.