They’re In

Israeli troops have entered Gaza.  Along with lots of artillery fire.

 

A.  Kerem Shalom
B.  Nahal ‘Oz
C.  Downtown Gaza City
D.  Rafah
E.  Mefalsim
F.  Dahaniya

Shalit was kidnapped from a guard post at Kerem Shalom.  The JPost stories indicating Israeli tanks were on the move all referenced Nahal ‘Oz, up in the north, close to Gaza City.  But the most recent JPost articles say the IDF entered in the southeast (i.e. closer to Kerem Shalom).  Keep that in mind when you re-read my statement in the last post that tank movement in Nahal ‘Oz “could also be a feint to keep Pali eyes looking in the wrong direction.”

Rafah is where the Egyptians are lining up troops to prevent either Palestinian refugees or the hostage-takers themselves from crossing the border.

Update:

 

A view of Mefalsim, located at E on the map.  Picture courtesy of Reuters.  It looks like the city in the background is on fire, but I suspect that’s just over-exposure of city lights to allow for definition on the APCs.  If the Israelis only put units at the northern end of Gaza as a feint, they did a convincing job of it.

Update:

JPost reports little resistance to IDF inside Gaza.  They have taken secure positions around Dahaniya, which is about two miles from Kerem Shalom.  IDF denies reports that they have entered Gaza in the north.

I should also note that my Jerusalem Post links seem to be going bad.  JPost updates the stories, so while I have about fifty links, they are all going to the same place. 

Also, I’ve been looking for information on where the destroyed bridges are, and I haven’t found anything yet.  If anyone finds anything, let me know.

Update:

Shalit’s mother holds a picture of her son (AP photo, via CNN)

 

Palestinian kids helping to barricade the roads (AP photo, via CNN).

Israeli soldiers, presumably on their way to perform cruel experiments on E.T.