Brig. Gen. (res.) Tzvika Fogel, the former chief of staff for Southern Command, says the IDF has completed its preparations for a Gaza operation and will "reoccupy" Gaza – except Gaza City – for up to six months.
Fogel is quoted on Al Jazeera's website as saying that the invasion of the area could begin as early as April 15: "It will not be before April 15 because that's the end of Passover, and to be on the safe side it will not be after June 15, because we want it to be finished before the winter."
"Hamas is working towards the point that they will be like Hizbullah," Fogel says. "At that point they will start the war and it will not be good for Israel. We can't let them start the war. We will lose a lot of respect… The last thing the West wants is for Hamas to have its own country. It will be an Al Qaeda zone. So Israel, the Arab countries and the free world all want us to begin a war and win it."
Fogel is quoted on Al Jazeera's website as saying that the invasion of the area could begin as early as April 15: "It will not be before April 15 because that's the end of Passover, and to be on the safe side it will not be after June 15, because we want it to be finished before the winter."
"Hamas is working towards the point that they will be like Hizbullah," Fogel says. "At that point they will start the war and it will not be good for Israel. We can't let them start the war. We will lose a lot of respect… The last thing the West wants is for Hamas to have its own country. It will be an Al Qaeda zone. So Israel, the Arab countries and the free world all want us to begin a war and win it."