The Palestininan Authority continues to crackdown on Hamas members and Palistinian officials who received Hamas support.

There’s a terrific article in this morning’s Washington Post about how Gaza’s smugglers make a fortune by smuggling weapons, blue jeans, and generic Viagra from Egypt into Gaza.


The report makes clear that Hamas’ control over Gaza extends to the smuggling networks as well. The terrorist group exerts Tony Soprano-like control over everything coming in and out of Gaza’s tunnels:

“For anything that comes through the tunnel, either they take taxes or they confiscate half the goods,” said Mahmoud Qeshtah, a 21-year-old candy salesman. “Day after day we are dying, and Hamas is responsible.”

But despite media hype that Gaza’s tunnels are used to sneak in food, clothes and medicine, the real priority for Hamas and the smugglers they rely upon are weapons they use to mount terror attacks against Israeli civilians, and the Israeli Defense Forces.

Smuggler’s can net $250 for each Kalashnikov and $1 for every bullet they bring into Gaza. They are likely to get tens of thousands more for bringing anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons into Gaza.

Iran continues to play a critical role in providing sophisticated weapons, and technical expertise to Hamas terrorists who train there.

According to Egypt’s official news agency, Hamas and Israel have agreed to a truce that begins at 6 a.m. on Thursday morning, June 19, 2008.


Remaining cautious, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak remained cautious, saying that “it is still early to declare” that Hamas rocket attacks on Israel civilians living just outside of the Gaza strip were safe from further terrorist attacks from this site.

In Sderot, Ashkelon, and other Israeli communities outside of Gaza, two days is an extraordinarily long time not to face the threat of continued attacks from Hamas operatives and their homemade Qassam rockets.

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that a “cessation of all hostile acts and military action” would start at 6 a.m. on Thursday.

If it happens, this would the first cessation of hostilities with Hamas since 2006.

The Israeli Defense Forces (‘IDF) hit Hamas in the Gaza strip yesterday.


In one operation, the Israeli Air Force hit Beit Lahiya (below), injuring at least 15 Palestinians.

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In a different operation, one Hamas gunman was killed and two were wounded during a battle with IDF troops in northern Gaza.