Hamas Rings In Christmas With Still More Attacks

Not only does Hamas continue firing kassams and mortars against Israel on Christmas Day, but it threatens suicide bombing attacks should Israel defend itself against the terrorist attacks originating in Gaza by going after those responsible with the full force and effect of the Israeli military. Hamas warns that it will carry out suicide bombings if the IDF engages in operations in Gaza.

The IDF notes that the situation cannot continue as it had. No kidding. The situation in Gaza has festered since 2005, and the Olmert government has frittered away the security advantage of the disengagement by not showing what would happen to the Palestinians if they continued to engage in attacks against Israel.

Funny thing is that Hamas would carry out the attacks against Israel if they could manage to infiltrate Israel. With Israel sealing the border with Gaza, the suicide bombing option is pretty much off the table, unless Hamas could either infiltrate undetected or has operations in the West Bank, which would make it easier to access Israeli territory not under Palestinian Authority control.

Gazans are preparing for the worst, knowing that Hamas will precipitate another conflict in Gaza. Of course, Gazans would much rather have Hamas bring death and destruction to their fellow Palestinians than live in peace with Israel, which is why the Palestinians will not heed calls by the Israelis to rise up against Hamas and end their disastrous rule of Gaza that has destroyed the Gazan economy and caused so much suffering.

Meanwhile, a PFLP terrorist connected with the assassination of a Knesset member was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

An Israeli military court on Thursday sentenced Ahmed Saadat, the leader of the leftist Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), to 30 years in prison for heading an "illegal terrorist organization."

"As chief of an illegal terrorist organization, Ahmed Saadat is responsible and guilty of all actions carried out by this organization," a military source told AFP on condition of anonymity following the verdict.

Watch for Hamas or the other terrorist groups to attempt an infiltration/kidnapping plot to capture Israelis for the express purpose of demanding his release.

UPDATE:
Looks like Hamas was going to get an assist from Hizbullah in Lebanon, but the Lebanese Army thwarted an attack. They came across seven katuysha rockets prewired and ready to fire remotely, and disarmed them.

UPDATE:
That didn't take long. Hamas is demanding Saadat's release in exchange for Gilad Shalit. For Israel's part, they're hinting that they may engage in a limited ground operation inside Gaza. That's not going to end well for Israel as it will only mean that the terrorists will continue to limp along until they have sufficient strength to try again. Israel's political leadership is going for a tie, rather than a win, which would improve Israel's security posture, and rid the world of a heinous terrorist group that seeks nothing less than the elimination of Israel.

At the same time, Hamas thugs claim that their leaders aren't afraid of death. That's a good reason why they're hiding behind women and children, men dress as women so as to avoid detection by Israeli forces, and use kids to fire off their kassams and mortars at Israel so as to maximize the chances that Israel kills people who would be considered civilians in an attempt to hit back at the very terrorists who are responsible for so much carnage. It's also a primary reason that Hamas' top terrorists are guests of the Syrian regime.