June 28, 2006:
An Israeli force moved into Gaza, apparently more intent on blocking movement for the kidnappers, to prevent them getting their captive into Egypt. Many Gaza towns and neighborhoods have put up barricades and prepared to resist Israeli troops. But the Israelis aren't looking for a fight, just the captive Israeli soldier.
Other Israeli troops are searching the West Bank for an Israeli hitchhiker Palestinian terrorists say they have kidnapped. The Palestinian terrorists say they are attempting to kidnap as many Israelis as they can.
June 27, 2006: Israel launched an attack on Gaza, bombing a power station and destroying three bridges. The lights went out over much of Gaza, and the bridges were taken out apparently to prevent the Palestinians from moving their Israeli captive. Fatah and Hamas say they have agreed to stop fighting each other, and together they will recognize Israel. However, some Hamas factions refuse to recognize Israel under any circumstances. Meanwhile, most civil servants in the Palestinian Territories have not been paid since March, and public opinion of Hamas is declining among Palestinians. Again, the Hamas radicals don't care. They are on a mission from God, and public opinion doesn't matter.
June 26, 2006: Israel demanded the Palestinians return the captured soldier. Hamas refused, and indicated they had no control over their "military wing." What Hamas is admitting is that the organization is more a coalition than a top-down operation. There are many factions in Hamas, and the more radical, and violent, ones have veto power over efforts to change Hamas's public attitude towards Israel (that it cannot be recognized and must be destroyed). The most radical Hamas leaders are those living in exile in Syria, and have long been out of touch with Palestinian public opinion. Meanwhile, the Hamas faction holding the Israeli soldier is demanding about 400 Palestinians be freed from jail if Israel wants any information about the status of the soldier. In response, Israel has moved several thousand soldiers and police to the Gaza border. As that happened, several rockets were fired from northern Gaza into Israel. One of the rockets wounded four Israeli civilians.
