The first paragraph of this piece from The Strategy Page unmistakably describes the troubled state of affairs in Gaza as the road for peace in the Middle-East remains elusive, especially with the iron fist of Hamas in firm control. “Swearing allegiance” and prohibited “anti-Hamas demonstrations” are familiar terms in world history: Nazism, Communism, Socialism, Islamist(ism)!

August 14, 2007: Gaza has turned into a large prison camp, with Hamas trying to maintain control of the 1.5 million Palestinians. Hamas has forbidden anti-Hamas demonstrations, and over a hundred dozen people that have been injured or arrested for trying. Government officials who refuse to swear allegiance to Hamas are being fired, which is causing more disorder. Meanwhile, Hamas does nothing to halt terrorists making, or attempting, attacks on Israel. In response, Israel continues to maintain an intelligence operation in Gaza, and the army makes raids every few days to capture or kill key terrorists. About 50 Gaza terrorists a week are being killed, wounded or captured by these operations. There has also been a reduction in Kassam rockets being fired into Israel, caused by a shortage of fertilizer (used to make propellant and explosives) in Gaza. Hamas has not dipped into its reserve of professionally made rockets, preferring to save these for a larger attack, perhaps coordinated with Hizbollah in Lebanon. These rockets are stored in residential neighborhoods, which would force the Israelis to kill civilians in order to destroy the rockets.

Continued HERE.