On 4 January Israeli troops began to move to the center of the Gaza Strip from the north and east, as if trying to block the city from different sides. Why did Israeli troops continue ground operations in the Gaza Strip? How will attack resist by Israel of the Palestinian movement HAMAS?

According to the Israeli side, septan air strikes, which began on 27 December last year, has already caused serious damage to HAMAS. So far, at least three leaders of the radical movement were killed in a bombing of Israeli Air Force, the system of higher command of the organization was also partially destroyed.

However, the Israeli side believes that some armed groups of HAMAS, in particular the “Brigades Izzeddina al-Kassama”, to some extent to retain its strength and continue to be able to carry out attacks on Israeli troops.

It is believed by experts in the Gaza Strip, the forces of resistance in Gaza could lead to casualties among the Israeli military during their ground operation. HAMAS has an advantage over by Israeli troops: knowledge areas of the Gaza Strip and the use of “guerrilla tactics”.

The current ground operation in the Gaza Strip is the largest operation conducted by Israel after the Israeli-Lebanese conflict in 2006. Two of these events are often compared. According to Palestinian experts, the main difference the two most extensive Israeli military actions in recent years is that during the conflict with Lebanon Israel entered in the fighting very quickly, and Tel-Aviv carefully prepared to the operation in the Gaza Strip.

Scientists from the Institute of National Security of Israel believes that the statements of Tel-Aviv and scale military action will demonstrate “firm resolve” the Israeli side. According to local media, in a military operation involved three teams of Israeli armed forces.

Scientists from the Israeli Bar-Ilan University explained that for the past 8 years, the population in the south of Israel is constantly under threat of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. This, coupled with pressure from the Israeli people, was the direct cause of the start of air strikes and ground operations, and to some extent resulted in the intensity of these actions.

The Israeli leadership underlined that the current operation doesn’t have any attitude to politics. However, analysts believe that military operations will have a significant impact on the national elections in Israel, scheduled for February 10. If military operations will culminate in success, it could greatly ensure victory ruling coalition in the forthcoming elections.

On Sunday at the cabinet meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: to achieve the desired objective - to ensure long-term security of the population of southern Israel - the Israeli army had no option but to carry out a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Minister of Defense E. Barack said that ground operations by Israeli forces “will not be easy and quick.” The Israeli army will keep fighting until it reaches its goal.

On Sunday Israeli President Shimon Peres said that the current Israeli military operation is not aimed at the occupation of the Gaza Strip, or to overthrow the government of HAMAS, and to curb the attacks. The head of Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni indicated the need to end the control of HAMAS over the Gaza Strip to restore calm in the south of Israel.

Analysts point out that the current ground operations, the Israeli army had already reached far beyond the actions of retribution or punitive impact. Since the air raids have not been able to stop the shelling of rockets by force in the Gaza Strip, armed militias, southern Israel, the ground operation has become imminent. The Israeli army willy-nilly have to continue the initiated, it is difficult prekratitsvoyu operation to achieve the goal.

Currently, the international community pays close attention to the situation in the Gaza Strip. All sound louder voices calling for Palestine and Israel to cease fire. However some specialists confident that the efforts of the international community still can not shake the resolve of Israel in achieving this goal.