First post-ceasefire Palestinian gun, mortar fire from Gaza Tuesday
DEBKAfile Specia Report
January 20, 2009, 8:41 PM (GMT+02:00)
Israeli patrols along the Israel-Gaza border fence came under fire from Gaza three times Tuesday, Jan. 20, two days after the Gaza ceasefire was declared first by Israel then Hamas. Eight mortar rounds fired across the border next. No one was hurt in these attacks. Israel responded with air strikes against the mortar squads.
DEBKAfile's military sources report the Palestinian attacks began shortly after the withdrawal of small Israeli units, left at vantage points for a few hours to guard against renewed Palestinian rocket launches. The bulk of the Israeli army left the Gaza Strip earlier this week.
Jerusalem may be expected to decide on military restraint this time, although past experience with Hamas has shown that a single firing to test Israel's response is usually the harbinger of a general assault.
As in the past, Hamas may pin the blame on a fringe group. In fact, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced in Damascus that it was not a party to the Hamas ceasefire and its members would continue to fight Israel.
Hamas
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