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Monday, September 17, 2007      New: Take a Stand

Hamas trains force of 10,000 to answer Israeli incursion

GAZA CITY — Hamas has been preparing a force to counter any Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas officials said their new Islamist regime has been training and equipping a force of at least 10,000 fighters to stop any Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

They said the effort was being led by Hamas's military wing, Izzedin Kassam.

On Sept. 14, Izzedin Kassam staged military maneuvers in the northern Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said Hamas expected an Israeli ground force to penetrate the Gaza Strip from the north and east and head toward Gaza City, the seat of government.

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"To send a message to the occupation forces that we are ready for any attack, Izzedin Kassam Brigades conducted a military maneuver on Sept. 14," Hamas said.

Over the last week, several Israeli ministers have raised the prospect of an invasion of the Gaza Strip. On Sept. 11, 69 Israeli soldiers were injured in a Palestinian missile strike on an Israeli military base south of Ashkelon.

Over the weekend, Israel's military operated in all sectors of the Gaza Strip. The military has used infantry forces, aircraft and naval surface vessels.

The Palestinian exercise in Beit Lahiya was led by Nizar Rayan, identified as Hamas military commander of the northern Gaza Strip. Rayan vowed that Hamas would not flee any Israel military advance.

The drill, attended by journalists, presented Hamas fighters in squad operations. Squad members, dressed in black ski masks and camouflage, fired rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire toward houses and other targets.

Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida said the Palestinian army has been on full alert for any Israeli invasion. Abu Obeida said Hamas was monitoring Israeli military movements along the Gaza border.

"We are witnessing a buildup along the borders of the Zionist sector [Israel] and the willingness of aggression amid the great conspiracy, internal, external and Arab silence," Abu Obeida said. "We in Izzedin Kassam Brigades have prepared a defense plan for the Gaza Strip."

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