Gaza terrorist groups are on high alert and their leaders are reportedly clearing out of their headquarters and heading for safe spaces.
The London-based Al Hayat reported Sunday the Hamas-led factions are preparing for what they believe is a “95 percent” chance that war with Israel could erupt within “hours or days.”
Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar told sources the factions believe that Israel will use the cover of this week’s joint military exercise, Juniper Cobra, to launch a military operation against Hamas.
However, it appears the alert is aimed more at beefing up the Hamas image of Gaza’s protector and probably an intentional diversion from the escalating humanitarian and economic crisis in the region — due to the incessant theft of resources by Hamas for military use — rather than a realistic assessment of any actual threat from Israel towards the enclave.
Israel has indeed attacked Hamas terror targets in Gaza this weekend in response to repeated rocket attacks on southern Israel this past week, but the strikes were limited and “proportional.”
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted in his opening remarks to the government cabinet meeting, “We face many challenges. . . Our presence here is the main element in the Middle East blocking the spread of radical Islam, led by Iran and Islamic State which also threaten all other elements in the world.
“We are not bent on war, but we will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves.”
