The ceasefire and “new hope for peace” declared at Sharm a-Sheikh just two days ago exploded last night and today amidst 36 Arab-fired mortar shells and Kassam rockets at Gush Katif towns.

No one was hurt in the attacks, though was one house in N’vei Dekalim suffered a direct hit, and electricity was out in most of Gush Katif - the bloc of Jewish communities in southern Gaza - for several hours.

Israel submitted a formal complaint about the attacks to the U.S. and to Egypt, which hosted the Sharm a-Sheikh summit on Tuesday.

The most recent shells landed in Netzarim, close to 11 AM, and three more in Morag around noon. Though Gush Katif has been pounded with well over 5,300 shells and rockets during the past four years, residents say they cannot remember such a large bombardment as the one that began early this morning.

On the one hand, the organized bombardment appears to be a direct result of the concessions that Prime Minister Sharon has made to the Palestinian Authority in recent days, and which continued even this morning. Katif.net reports that the north-south route that has long had an IDF checkpoint controlling its traffic is now open 24 hours a day to local Arab traffic, with no Israeli supervision. “This enables the terrorists to rearm and transport mortar shells from north to south with no disturbance,” the site reports.

On the other hand, Kfar Darom spokesman Asher Mivtzari says the tremendous amount of mortar shells shows that there is guidance from higher political echelons. “We see that no shells have hit Sderot, while Gush Katif is pounded mercilessly,” he said. “It is clear that Abu Mazen is allowing this, while at the same time receiving a signal from Sharon that it’s OK to hit Gush Katif, as long as Sderot is left out of the equation.”

“We call upon the Prime Minister and Defense Minister,” said Gush Katif spokesman Eran Sternberg, “to open their eyes and see with whom we’re making this imaginary peace, and to whom they’re making the gestures [of removing roadblocks, releasing prisoners, and the like].”

The first shells started blasting N’vei Dekalim close to 2 AM, and continued throughout the night. One shell landed directly in the shower stall of a home, and miraculously, no one was hurt. Electricity throughout Gush Katif, except for Moshav Katif and Netzer Hazani, was knocked out, apparently by a mortar shell, at 4 AM, until around 9:30. In between, another round of at least seven shells hit Atzmonah, and two Kassam rockets were fired this morning at N’vei Dekalim and Katif.

MK Uri Ariel (National Union) said very simply, “Sharon has abandoned Gush Katif and its residents; the fact that there have been no wounded has nothing to do with him… The soldiers can no longer merely open fire on suspected infiltrators; they have to ask permission from their higher-ups, and it takes a while. All the Hamas leaders have now come out of their holes, and are walking around free, preparing for the next round of terror.”

MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) has called upon the government to cease all goodwill gestures to the PA following the bombardment.

Hamas took credit for the bombardment of Gush Katif, stating it was in retaliation for Israel’s shooting last night at a group of four Arabs. The four were attempting to infiltrate the community of Atzmonah, having reached to within 40 meters of the fence, and were shot while in an area well-known as being banned to Arabs. Another terrorist was killed nearby when the bomb he was trying to place blew up in his hands.

In the meanwhile, the gestures towards the Palestinian Authority continue even today. The Erez Crossing, closed following terror attacks, was opened to 2,000 workers today, and family visits are also being permitted across the Gaza border.

Finance Minister Binymain Netanyahu said that Abu Mazen’s grace period is beginning to run out of time. Gaza Coast Regional Council chief Avner Shimoni said that the IDF must take action to stop the attacks. Minister Chaim Ramon (Labor) said that Israel is still awaiting action by Abu Mazen in this direction.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 11th, 2005 and is filed under news.