Invasion will let us get at Israel, says Hamas

“TARGET GAZA” cried the banner headline across the front page of the broadsheet Ma’ariv when Israel woke up yesterday morning. Less than five miles across the border, inside the Gaza Strip, the man whose name appears at the head of Israel’s target list enjoyed breakfast with his family, unrepentant and apparently unconcerned.
Dr Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi is the second in command of Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organisation that has launched 56 suicide attacks during the 19-month intifada and is suspected of being behind Tuesday night’s pool hall bombing.

A retaliatory strike that could claim the lives of dozens of Palestinians and destroy the homes of many more was imminent, yet Dr al-Rantissi seemed to half-welcome an attack. “It will make it easier for us to get at them,” he smiled. “We do not have an army but we do have fighters, and an invasion of Gaza will give our fighters the chance to fight easy targets.

“The Israelis will pay a very high price if they come here. And even if they invade the Strip, they will not be able to stay here for long.”