Israel Calls up Another 16,000 Reserves - AP/ABCNews

[WillyT]

Israel Calls up Another 16,000 Reserves
JERUSALEM — Jul 31, 2014, 10:09 AM ET
By PETER ENAV and IBRAHIM BARZAK - Associated Press/ABCNews

<snip>

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel will destroy the Hamas tunnel network in the Gaza Strip "with or without a cease-fire," as the military called up another 16,000 reservists to pursue its campaign in the densely-populated territory.

Netanyahu's vow came as international efforts to end the 23-day-old conflict seemed to sputter despite concern over the mounting death toll, with more than 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and more than 50 Israelis, almost all of them soldiers, killed since July 8.

"We have neutralized dozens of terror tunnels and we are committed to complete this mission, with or without a cease-fire," Netanyahu said. "Therefore I will not agree to any offer that does not allow the military to complete this important mission for the security of the people of Israel."

An initial Israeli aerial campaign against Hamas was widened into a ground offensive on July 17. Since then the campaign has concentrated on destroying more than 30 cross-border tunnels that militants have constructed to carry out attacks on Israeli territory.

Israel says that most of the 32 tunnels it has uncovered have now been demolished and that getting rid of the remainder will take no more than a few days.

<snip>

More: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/shelling-school-kills-15-gaza-war-rages-24768905

16,000 more troops for the 2 remaining tunnels ???

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Murderer.

[leftstreet]

2. Stupid question, but did they just now discover '32 tunnels' ?

How long did these tunnels take to build?

If they are the reason for the increased war-on, why were they allowed to exist?

[Scootaloo]

3. "Terror tunnels" is as laughable as "freedom fries".

Seeing as how they haven't been used to conduct terrorism - as far as I'm aware, incursions into israel via these tunnels have targeted active soldiers in time of war. Now granted, my knowledge may not be up-to-the-minute, so I could be wrong. But to the best of my knowledge.

[IronGate]

4. You mean like this one?

This one was stopped just outside of Sulfa.

[Scootaloo]

5. See my response to this same post, on the other thread.

[AnalystInParadise]

6. Well done

good sir or ma'am.

[COLGATE4]

7. We don't talk about things like this - ruins the

selective outrage and breast-beating.