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Important questions about conflict between Israel, Gaza

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    Where does escalating situation stand?

  • Duration 3:57
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Johnson's answer with the foundation for defense of democracies he's the author of Hamas and verses but Todd the struggle for Palestine.

Jonathan let's talk a little bit about the rockets.

I don't Leland you showed us they are coming from Gaza into Israel -- -- the rockets really tell a story all their own what is that.

Well -- what we've seen over the last it ten years is that Hamas has been firing shorter range rockets into Israel and every time it happens you don't see the Israelis going in.

And trying to root them out we have a very interesting story right now and that is that Hamas tried to smuggle in and actually succeeded in smuggling in.

What one official described to me -- game changer rockets these are called -- five rockets they are and -- and made.

And they about a hundred of them were imported into Gaza via Sudan it appears.

And when the Israelis learned of the existence of these rockets all it took was one provocation on the part of Hamas.

For Israel to go in and wipe out those those those rockets and those launchers that's what we saw for the first day or two of this conflict.

Now I think the Israelis are hunting down some of these smaller rockets that are hitting -- Cologne or or the areas around there were where we just saw a report.

But bottom line is it was these game changer that prompted this it.

-- a lot there let's talk about it bits and pieces of that Jonathan first the rockets coming from Iran.

But through Sudan.

In two guys say is that is that the past.

That is the smuggling route -- go from from Sudan that we think probably from the outskirts of Khartoum.

Through Port Sudan on the coast of India Egypt across the Sinai Peninsula into those tunnels and then into the Gaza Strip -- -- and -- -- and it's.

Well that's a big question and I think it's a question that very few in the media have bothered to ask for the last you know several months.

The government of Mohamed -- in Egypt has really been seen is the responsible party for Hamas it was assumed that -- -- had brought.

Hamas under his wing and that he was insuring that there would be com.

Now the -- we find that Hamas has these rockets smuggled into their territory likely.

Through Egyptian smuggling routes -- the question is.

Was Egypt irrelevant or where they complicit either way this looks horrible for the egyptians.

I'm the rockets that were smuggled into the bit the best of our knowledge and a lot of this depends upon intelligence -- maybe we don't have access you Jonathan but.

Are all those rockets ever smuggled in the longer range rockets.

Had -- been destroyed by Israel or are there more out there.

Well we've seen Israeli officials including the ambassador here in Washington Michael -- and say that more than 90% of the rockets they were looking for.

Have been neutralized.

That said I have to wonder whether there was an Israeli intelligence failure the fact that they were even brought in to Israel in the first place these are rockets that the Israelis would under no circumstances allowed to remain inside the Gaza Strip.

So my question is how long have they been there.

And they have a real handle on how many are left we see the occasional one fired -- which suggests that -- of course Hamas still has a few in their possession.

The -- -- you've traveled all around this region.

-- -- guys and beyond what is the goal.

These rockets these type -- rockets being fired now.

Well it's unclear to me because I you know Hamas knows they can't win this war you know what they're doing is flexing some muscle.

They're demonstrating that they are the leading party within that the Palestinian people.

To a certain extent one might argue that they're trying to upstage the PLO of course the PLO is about to declare a state -- the UN.

Later this month they're asking for an upgrade of their mission there.

And so Hamas may be trying to steal the thunder of their rival the PLO.

But you know one knows for sure that they cannot destroy Israeli can't defeat Israel here in fact what they're inviting is potentially a ground operation which would devastate the Gaza Strip.

So much let's talk about not and we never have enough time really look forward having you back as always thank you so much.

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