Gaza factions on increased alert after heightened Israeli military activity

[Falcon29]

What primary weapons being used aside from rockets?

Rockets and mortars. There have been two cases of anti-tank fire earlier but nothing was reported from Israeli side. Their troops and armor are far from the border. They have developed a large buffer zone around Gaza and moved their forces further back to escape sniper or anti-tank fire. Once they move close to the border they will get hit.

Exchange of fire is happening every few minutes. However, Palestinian factions are limiting their fire to areas near the border. Hamas is not involved yet it seems. Hamas's political brass is preventing armed wing from getting involved. Hamas political brass is allowing PIJ to avenge the assassination(in hopes this doesn't become a full fledged conflict) but I don't think PIJ will be satisfied until they inflict casualties.

Problem is the PIJ is not as well trained as Hamas's armed wing and the Israeli's are prepared from the get go.

 

[Lieutenant]

anti-tank fire.

Do Gaza-factions have anti-tank systems? Kornet like.... maybe smuggled from Syria?

 

[Falcon29]

PIJ needs help from Hamas, Hamas should have gotten involved from the beginning. The thing is Hamas wants to get Palestinian elections over with. Even if they lose. They seem to not want to govern anymore. Then this thing happened. And they are not interested in war. This is wrong, however, and their political brass is making a mistake. Israel will not stop the strikes and now 25+ Palestinians have been killed. With no Israeli fatalities.

If they waited a little and if Hamas gave the green light for its armed wing from the beginning, it would have been a different story. Now they will be forced to get involved later on when morale of Palestinians is taking a hit. And if they agree to a ceasefire without inflicting casualties, Israel will kill who it wants a week or two from now.

Israel has no more 'bank of targets' anymore. It is targeting PIJ members involved in rocket fire directly. PIJ is not as well trained or organized as Hamas so they take a lot of casualties above ground. Hamas is more organized and well trained, and they operate underground when it comes to their artillery teams.

The problem is, once this happens, Israel gets frustrated and starts bombing random civilian apartment buildings and high rise complexes to try to force Palestinians to surrender.

Do Gaza-factions have anti-tank systems? Kornet like.... maybe smuggled from Syria?

Yes they do, but the IDF forces are hiding behind cement/trains/walls and are too far from the border.

 

[Falcon29]

Israeli's are relying on massive technological advantage. And tons of US military aid. Gaza is also very small and surrounded by Israel. Gaza has no solution for Israeli drones. If they can shoot those down, it will improve their military performance. However, despite their technological advantage, do not believe that they are phenomenal fighters. They are not, they are not good at ground combat. They just keep a far distance between themselves and Palestinian soldiers and call in airstrikes or artillery strikes until a neighborhood is completely razed to the ground.

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Meanwhile Quds Brigades releases a statement saying it along with three other factions(Hamas not one of them) are retaliating to the assassination that took place two days ago.

 

[Falcon29]

Breaking: Israeli airstrikes target home in Khan Yunis, destroying it completely.

Breaking: Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza

^^
Motorcycle targeted, Palestinian soldier killed.

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Breaking: Another Israeli air strike targets home in Al Buriej refugee camp

 

[Falcon29]

Rocket alerts in Hof Ashkelon:

 

[Falcon29]

Israeli media reports 5 soldiers lightly injured after inhaling tear gas. Unclear if mortar did hit a base near the border and caused this or not. There are reports of ceasefire talks in Egypt.

Most recent Israeli airstrikes hit a training base for the Quds Brigades.

 

[Falcon29]

Some Israeli reports of an cross border operation by Palestinian soldiers, although I suspect it is general paranoia of Israeli forces and nothing actually happened.

^^

If it's true I hope it succeeds in neutralizing some IDF troops. Turns out to be paranoia like I suspected.

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Israeli airstrikes just hit Khan Yunis. Likely targeting a training base.

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All reports of a ceasefire are fake. Israeli media and politicians keep spamming such news to make it appear like something was agreed upon. Nothing has been agreed upon yet. It would require steps taken by Israel to end all attacks on the Strip and lift collective punishment measures.

 

[Falcon29]

More reports coming up of Palestinian cross border op, it will be difficult to inflict casualties on IDF forces but nevertheless seems an attempt was taken. It would be the first time the PIJ has attempted such an OP. There is a gag order by Israeli media.

For such operations to succeed, you need good surveillance prior hand. I don't think the PIJ surveyed the field, they would need drones and human intelligence.

Unless a tunnel is dug under a military base.

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New drone strike just hit central Gaza.

 

[Falcon29]

Palestinian factions, if they agree to a halt of fire, should not declare a truce whatsoever. They should make it known that it is a unilateral halt of fire and Israeli commanders that come near the border will be suspect to assassination. They can't continue taking ethical position with an unethical enemy.

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Breaking: Israeli airstrike targets home in Deir Al Balah

 

[Falcon29]

Some air strikes heard east of Khan Yunis, there could indeed have been an cross border OP by a PIJ force. And they are likely being attacked now. Whether they succeeded in neutralizing IDF soldiers or not. They signed up for it knowing they might die in the process. So may God rest their souls and accept them as believers in the afterlife ....

Clashes are now heard. Could be IDF incursion as well.

Heavy Israeli artillery strikes are hitting Rafah and Khan Yunis. Could be preparations for ground invasion.

 

[Indos]

Rocket alerts in Hof Ashkelon:

What is the maximum range of Palestinian rocket ? Is it locally made or smuggled from Egypt ?

 

[Falcon29]

Breaking: Home targeted in Israeli air strike in central Gaza

What is the maximum range of Palestinian rocket ? Is it locally made or smuggled from Egypt ?

They can reach all of Israel but longer range rockets are of limited quantities. Most rockets are locally made and of low quality.

 

[Falcon29]

Edit: Seems like there was no cross border op, two civilians from Gaza attempting crossing the border and were hit by Israeli artillery strikes.

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One rocket just fired on Ashdod moments ago.

 

[Falcon29]

Rocket barrage on Ashkelon moments ago. One of the rocket in the Ashdod barrage hit a building.

Another rocket alert in Ashkelon.

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Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza.