"You are cowards and do not want to die and that's why we will win"
Weakened Hamas, Islamic Jihad and what that would knock the strengthening of Israel at the end that the Palestinians: Shay Levy, a resident of South shelled, tried to figure out exactly who shoot missiles at him and his children. He spoke with journalists from the Gaza Strip while shells whistled overhead, and the operator has to hear the next time Islamic Jihad million from Tel Aviv rattle in fear under the ground
Shay Levy | Magazine MAKO | Posted 15/03/12 11:55:35


"We killed no one scores, but now you know who we are." Islamic Jihad activist
Photo: Getty images
Sami Ajrami Gazan is a veteran journalist and without doubt a brave man. He works Palestinians news agency, Italian and for Israeli media like Channel 2 and Ma'ariv. There is no doubt that his work is difficult even without the recent escalation wave. His car is already a month outside the house for a simple reason - there is no fuel. He had to report and manipulate as he walks from place to place, and in recent days he, like other residents of the Gaza Strip, also was in mortal danger.

Now it is calm, and she seems to be preserved, but when I spoke with Sami Monday morning it was in the midst of a round of escalation. His home is in Jabalia, I'm home in Kiryat Gat - explosions in the background falls and Heirotim of Iron Dome. "There's a feeling of a real war," Sami said by telephone from the Gaza Strip, "throughout the night were shelling damaged two hours ago a group of school children and one killed and five others were injured. It was the northern Gaza Strip, west of Jabaliya. Through the night injured 40 and two Islamic Jihad activists were killed. until now we have 21 dead and dozens injured, people kept visiting in hospitals and mourn, and always in the air drones. It gives a very hard message to people that we are not a normal life. "

Welcome to the surreal reality
While Sammy was talking I hear a strong jet. "Once it has launched two rockets in front of my eyes, the Jabaliya refugee camp, 200 meters away," reports the Sami. Not a minute later and I hear in my location powerful booms shaking the windows of the house. A moment later another pager notifies the successful interception of Iron Dome. Undoubtedly, this is a surreal moment.

A strained silence on both sides of the conversation, and I stop to think a moment how our worlds are similar. 40 miles separate us and diametrically opposed agendas. But we have much in common. Also writes the paper, also counting the minutes until the next boom, he did not know where his children will be tomorrow morning. And mostly, he did not know How this conflict will end, if at all.



"People are hysterical about the attacks here." Validated Air Force jet, photo archive
Photo: Reuters
Sami says that my previous escalation not reached the boiling point so fast and so strong as last round. He said people in Gaza are sure that Israel initiated these attacks, they associate the escalation of the situation with Iran and believe that Israel heats up the sector in preparation and justification to attack Iran. For them, they are paying the price.

Sami tells the harsh conditions in the Gaza Strip. "There is no electricity, fuel and cooking gas. The Egyptians do not provide these products and certainly not in Israel, already five years in the siege of Gaza. Not residents of any assistance. The water system of Gaza, which works on electricity, not functioning because there is no electricity. People here hysteria, I say this because when I walk the streets here and I see how they react, and drones attacks. "

One can argue about the life of those who suffered more, but one thing is certain: Even here, in the south, the situation was serious this time than usual. More than a million people were hiding under the ground or in the hallways and prayed that the missiles do not fall on their heads. Parents lost time from work and talk about the children who wet the bed. A third country was paralyzed for several days, and all clear that the cease-fire, meaning that only one missile or two a day, is only until the next time. In this situation we must ask, who disrupts and endangers the lives of so many people? Who exactly firing missiles at us? The answer is complex.



Many activists are Hamas Islamic Jihad has been a long time. Dr. Ramadan Shallah (center), secretary general
Photo: Getty images
Hamas's position injured
For Israel, there is one sovereign in Gaza: Hamas. Organization actually controls the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after a military coup against Fatah rule. When Israel attacked vehicle Friday afternoon in the Tel al - Hawaii, and killed the Secretary General of the Popular Resistance Committees Zuhair Casey, and Muhammad Hanani, who was released from Israeli prison as part of Shalit deal and deported West Bank to Gaza, necessarily decided the second most important organization in Gaza - Islamic Jihad - to begin the attack, although burnout is not a Jihad. Hamas stood by and took on so much criticism.

"He who controls the Gaza Strip that Hamas, but it can not provide protection," says Sami Gaza. "We need someone to defend us against Israel's air strikes."

So why Hamas will not stop the shooting?
"Shooting is a natural reaction to the destruction, and Hamas can not stop Those who respond to the attack of Israel. You can not act against them as long as there is no talk of relaxation and Tahdiih. Hamas demand from the international community intervene and stop the attacks in Israel. They sent requests for relaxation and Egypt on Saturday Last, but that does not help ".

Today Jihad, headed by Dr. Ramadan Shallah, is the second largest organization in Gaza, and Gaza officials say the organization is getting stronger - there is active leakage undergo jihad for a long time. But even if the position of Hamas hit the current round of escalation, the relationship between organizations are supposed to and the prospect of Jihad disobey his lowest Hamas.



"Hamas does not provide protection. We need someone to defend against air attacks." Jihad in action, archive
Photo: Getty images
"These organizations are in constant dialogue, are the two factions Aslmiim there were never any misunderstandings between them," says Sami question whether there can be no confirmation shot Jihad Hamas. "Both factions believed armed resistance in theory, both funded by Iran and get the same instructions. If you want to calm so they sit and calm".

There are other organizations in the Gaza Strip, and a clear hierarchy among them. Greatest power in Gaza is Hamas, whose members make up the police and border police. Most weapons in the hands of the Gaza Strip Azzedine al-Qassam, Hamas' military wing. They control the border crossings and smuggling tunnels are the largest. "Fatah is the third largest organization in Gaza, but has no weapons," says Sammy. "Hamas also took over all the other small organizations, and took away their arms."



Million people live in fear. Ashdod rocket arena
Photo: Getty images
The only two organizations able to campaign against Israel are Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In fact Jihad, and Hamas, which receives the most funding from Iran to Gaza. "Grad rockets are found only in these organizations. The Qassams stop producing, they are no longer relevant. Now everyone is trying to retain her long-range weapons, which is the best party propaganda and resistance."

People dare to speak out against Hamas?
"Some people said or. Okay, you can not deliver the goods then you go home. Why are you sitting in office? Religious but their response, they say that God wants their power. More than 95 percent in Gaza are devout Muslims, and they became more devout because of Hamas, then no one will want to resist. had them out several times in the streets to demonstrate against Hamas, but they were beaten. now nobody dares to go against the government. course these days, that will say you're collaborating with Israel. "



Received approval from Hamas speak. Sami Ajrami
Photo: News 2
The attack on Friday was the secretary general of the resistance committee. Where are all this?
"They left a very small stream and has no capabilities. Who wants to capture the area and the stigma of armed resistance to Israel is the Jihad."

Sammy speaks freely, almost admirable. "I do this job for many years and recognized in Gaza. Got the permission from Hamas. They said, 'Please, you can do it, will continue to work. There's nothing your rejects Palestinians'".

"Your army afraid to enter Gaza"
During the escalation of trying to make contact with Islamic Jihad activist of the executive branch - those who fire the rockets. "No way," Sammy said. "We do not come close to the jihadists that they define themselves as people in danger, and who approaches them hijack". I tried by other factors, too, have said that active would not talk. After repeated attempts would make up the gauntlet, very restrictive conditions: the active call will be conducted with several separate conversations, each 45 seconds and the phone without a cost - "that is the time it takes for the GSS website."

The hours passed and no connection was not created, and when it was day and another day I give up. On Tuesday, when the ceasefire took effect, I received the desired sign and I got in touch with who called himself "Abu Riyad Islamic Jihad". He declined to give any identifying details about him and hardly answered any questions. In fact, he hardly took notice of me - not given a chance to talk, not trying to milk information, but simply took the platform offered him and gave his teachings.

"You think you've won?" Said Abu Riad in Hebrew with a heavy accent. "We killed a Zionist one, but now you know who we are. We have a million people are buried under the ground when they're scared to death and not going to work. Great God knows that if we want even a millionth of Tel Aviv live underground until we win. We have time and your army of fear enter Gaza. You are cowards and do not want to die, and why we will win and the end will refund all the settlements ".



"You are cowards and that is why we will prevail." Gaza rocket launched by Islamic Jihad activist, photo archive
Photo: Getty images
According to Abu Riad he personally fired six rockets into Israel and once almost eliminated. "Helicopter's rocket landed next to me and his machine gun bullets, but thanks to the great god and only managed to come back and shoot another one."

Abu Riad have not agreed to answer questions but gave a speech one-sided, but just before he hung up he asked me where I lived. After I answered said, "This time we fired you too."

"Jihad has nothing to lose"
The latest escalation in numbers could have been summed up: Four days, 222 rockets, 56 Iirotim Iron Dome's successful, and 37 air strikes in Gaza. 19 times foiled rocket attacks and 18 weapons caches have been attacked many times and launching pits. 26 dead and 80 wounded in Gaza. Feelings from the Strip are the next round is just a matter of time, and Informed sources say it will be difficult to present one, for Gaza, Hamas and its branches will produce the conclusions. Gaza residents know that when organizations decide to shoot, they will have to protect persons and property on the shooters.



After the shaky ceasefire I made contact with another journalist in Gaza who asked to remain anonymous. He explained that despite the damage, the street has a sense of victory. "Now everything is fine, life returned to normal and the atmosphere of war was gone," he says. "Israel promised not to kill and not to operate in Gaza, Gaza, and for this achievement. Now return to the woes of life, it's more important than any problems, even more from the war with Israel."

Why Jihad took it upon himself to attack this time?
"I think that Jihad wanted to send a message that it protects the people. Israel will destroy anyone, no matter which organization - we have a right to defend. Many asked why they were shooting, what connection, but others said that burnout is a recognized no matter that he was not HELL Jihad. Hamas did not intervene because it has nothing to lose, is the government. has police stations, offices and infrastructure, what Slg'ihad not Islamic. But if they stop the jihad, they will think as traitors. We are not the South Lebanese Army to protect the Israel ".

From the State of Israel should primarily be afraid?
"Israel should be afraid of all of Gaza, not only from the Islamic Jihad. That everyone sitting without water, electricity and labor, that's what hurt you."