Urban combat raises the stakes in Gaza
By Tobias Buck in Jerusalem and James Blitz in London
Published: January 6 2009 19:44
The Israeli ground offensive is moving into a new and perilous phase, both for the Israeli soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip’s narrow alleys and for Palestinian civilians caught up in the clashes.
After two days of targeting outlying towns, dividing the territory into different battle zones and establishing positions outside the main population centre of Gaza City, Israeli forces are now engaged in one of the most dangerous forms of conflict: urban warfare.
The death on Tuesday of at least 30 Palestinians at a UN-run school in Jabaliya refugee camp illustrated graphically just how the close-quarter fighting that has now begun has raised the danger for civilians in the strip.
As tanks and troops strike deeper and deeper into the territory’s crowded and heavily built-up neighbourhoods, the risks for the Israeli troops – not least from their own comrades – are becoming clear. In two “friendly fire” incidents on Monday night, Israeli tank shells killed four Israeli soldiers.
For all the risks involved, Israeli analysts believe the army has no choice but to battle the Hamas gunmen on their home turf.
It is, they say, the only way to ensure that Israel achieves its main military objectives: killing as many Hamas gunmen as possible, destroying the group’s arsenal and severely weakening the Islamists’ overall military capability.
The Israeli tactics, says Uzi Dayan, a major-general in the Israeli reserves and former national security adviser to two Israeli prime ministers, are well-rehearsed.
“The basic components on the ground are infantry, tanks and engineers. You also need good intelligence, and you need the support of artillery and, more importantly, attack helicopters, which are usually more accurate,” he says.
The first aim in urban warfare, he adds, is to take control of key sites such as crossroads and high-rise buildings.
Israeli troops would then go on what Mr Dayan calls “search and kill missions” by trying to engage and defeat Hamas fighters in direct combat.
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