Q&A - What's next in the Gaza conflict?
Jan 2 (Reuters) - Israel pressed on with its seven-day-old air attack on Hamas militants in Gaza on Friday and the death toll reached 424 Palestinians, with 2,000 more wounded in the blockaded coastal strip. Gaza rocket attacks have killed 4 Israelis.
Here are some questions and answers about the conflict:
Q - Where do things stand now?
A - Israel continues to hit Hamas mainly from the air at its government buildings, the homes of leaders and militants and their infrastructure, such as smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border that serve as supply lines for the Islamist group and for the Gaza Strip as a whole. An Israeli naval vessel has also fired on targets from close offshore, but so far there has been no move into Gaza by Israeli armour and infantry massed along the border. Despite the offensive, Hamas rockets are hitting deeper inside Israel and have struck the city of Beersheba, 40 km (24 miles) away. The rockets are very inaccurate, and Israel's advanced early warning system has helped keep casualties low.
Q - What's life like in Gaza?
A - Food is in short supply, especially rice, flour, sugar and dairy products. This is partly due to hoarding. Electricity is on for 3 to 6 hours a day. There is no shortage of water and the city is not totally blacked out at night. Hospitals do not have enough beds or medicine to cope with the wounded. They also say they lack at least 70 kinds of drugs for serious illnesses such as cancer and kidney failure.
Palestinians cannot leave unless Israel permits them or they are ready to risk the perilous trip through a tunnel to Egypt. Israel has allowed a few hundred foreign passport holders to leave and has admitted at least 16 Palestinians for special medical treatment. Residents of Gaza City have taped up windows in case of explosions that send glass flying. They are wary of going outdoors, of going to mosques that may be targeted as suspected Hamas arms dumps or command posts, and of living next to anyone who gets an Israel air force telephone warning to "Get out of your house because it is going to be bombed".
Q - Will Israel launch a ground invasion?
A - This has been the big question for several days, with rumours growing that it is more likely than not and more imminent by the hour. Tanks, artillery, troops and armoured personnel carriers are massed at several points along the 40 km border of Gaza, with mine-clearing armour and bulldozers to push a route through Hamas defences.
Q - What may be holding up a ground operation?
A - A few days ago heavy rain made it less likely because the fields in this fertile coastal strip turned to mud. But it has been dry for a couple of days now. Israel would clearly like to achieve its aims without having to send troops into Gaza where some are likely to die -- a huge political risk for Israeli leaders before a national election six weeks away. On the other hand, it is committed to making Hamas stop firing rockets at Israel and does not want to back off with this mission not accomplished. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday that the next steps were being weighed constantly. Reports that military commanders had been given the green light to go ahead at the time of their choosing were denied.
Q - How would Hamas try to counter an incursion?
A - The Islamist group is believed to have planted landmines and booby-traps across the Gaza Strip for use against armour and infantry, and it commands at least 25,000 trained fighters. Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth and Israel could face tough urban warfare in a showdown with Hamas forces, who know their way around the maze of streets and backroads.
Q - Is a truce still possible?
A - The United Nations, United States, European Union, Arab League, Russia and Turkey all urge a ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington was working for a lasting truce and insisted that Hamas must stop firing rockets first. She said she had no plans to visit the region. EU foreign ministers were due to start a peace mission on Monday and French President Nicolas Sarkozy was scheduled to go to Jerusalem.
Israel rejected calls for a 48-hour ceasefire to admit humanitarian aid, saying it was letting sufficient food and medicine through. But leaders are divided on what course to take following a possible ground offensive. Some say a formal ceasefire backed by the U.N and major powers would be best. Others say it would only tie Israel's hands should rocket fire continue. They believe the best course is to cease fire unilaterally but only when Israel is convinced that Hamas has got the message: start up again, and we will hit you again. (Writing by Douglas Hamilton, Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
Here are some questions and answers about the conflict:
Q - Where do things stand now?
A - Israel continues to hit Hamas mainly from the air at its government buildings, the homes of leaders and militants and their infrastructure, such as smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border that serve as supply lines for the Islamist group and for the Gaza Strip as a whole. An Israeli naval vessel has also fired on targets from close offshore, but so far there has been no move into Gaza by Israeli armour and infantry massed along the border. Despite the offensive, Hamas rockets are hitting deeper inside Israel and have struck the city of Beersheba, 40 km (24 miles) away. The rockets are very inaccurate, and Israel's advanced early warning system has helped keep casualties low.
Q - What's life like in Gaza?
A - Food is in short supply, especially rice, flour, sugar and dairy products. This is partly due to hoarding. Electricity is on for 3 to 6 hours a day. There is no shortage of water and the city is not totally blacked out at night. Hospitals do not have enough beds or medicine to cope with the wounded. They also say they lack at least 70 kinds of drugs for serious illnesses such as cancer and kidney failure.
Palestinians cannot leave unless Israel permits them or they are ready to risk the perilous trip through a tunnel to Egypt. Israel has allowed a few hundred foreign passport holders to leave and has admitted at least 16 Palestinians for special medical treatment. Residents of Gaza City have taped up windows in case of explosions that send glass flying. They are wary of going outdoors, of going to mosques that may be targeted as suspected Hamas arms dumps or command posts, and of living next to anyone who gets an Israel air force telephone warning to "Get out of your house because it is going to be bombed".
Q - Will Israel launch a ground invasion?
A - This has been the big question for several days, with rumours growing that it is more likely than not and more imminent by the hour. Tanks, artillery, troops and armoured personnel carriers are massed at several points along the 40 km border of Gaza, with mine-clearing armour and bulldozers to push a route through Hamas defences.
Q - What may be holding up a ground operation?
A - A few days ago heavy rain made it less likely because the fields in this fertile coastal strip turned to mud. But it has been dry for a couple of days now. Israel would clearly like to achieve its aims without having to send troops into Gaza where some are likely to die -- a huge political risk for Israeli leaders before a national election six weeks away. On the other hand, it is committed to making Hamas stop firing rockets at Israel and does not want to back off with this mission not accomplished. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday that the next steps were being weighed constantly. Reports that military commanders had been given the green light to go ahead at the time of their choosing were denied.
Q - How would Hamas try to counter an incursion?
A - The Islamist group is believed to have planted landmines and booby-traps across the Gaza Strip for use against armour and infantry, and it commands at least 25,000 trained fighters. Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth and Israel could face tough urban warfare in a showdown with Hamas forces, who know their way around the maze of streets and backroads.
Q - Is a truce still possible?
A - The United Nations, United States, European Union, Arab League, Russia and Turkey all urge a ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington was working for a lasting truce and insisted that Hamas must stop firing rockets first. She said she had no plans to visit the region. EU foreign ministers were due to start a peace mission on Monday and French President Nicolas Sarkozy was scheduled to go to Jerusalem.
Israel rejected calls for a 48-hour ceasefire to admit humanitarian aid, saying it was letting sufficient food and medicine through. But leaders are divided on what course to take following a possible ground offensive. Some say a formal ceasefire backed by the U.N and major powers would be best. Others say it would only tie Israel's hands should rocket fire continue. They believe the best course is to cease fire unilaterally but only when Israel is convinced that Hamas has got the message: start up again, and we will hit you again. (Writing by Douglas Hamilton, Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
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