Report: High Cost to Re-Occupying Gaza

Israel has the military ability to re-occupy the Gaza Strip, says the IDF, but the move would come at a cost of hundreds of Israeli lives and could endanger Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. The move could also result in numerous IDF soldiers being taken hostage.

According to a report on Channel 2 following the Tisha B’av fast Tuesday diplomatic correspondent Udi Segal,the report, IDF officers told government ministers that thousands of Palestinian civilians would be killed in the effort.

Segal reported that there are approximately 20,000 gunmen in the Strip,  who posses large stockpiles of rockets, explosives and weaponry. The report said that taking control of that arsenal would take no less than five years and could make Israel’s occupation of the South Lebanon security zone from 1983-2000 look like child’s play.

In addition, large-scale violence from Judea and Samaria Arabs and Arab citizens of Israel would be expected.