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Hamas reportedly has 10,000 active-duty fighters in addition to a similar number of well-trained reservists. (Google)
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GAZA CITY — With battles raging between invading Israeli troops and Palestinian resistance fighters, Hamas has prepared a set of tactics to apply against the mighty Israeli army.
"The Ezzeddin Al-Qassam has built an underground city of tunnels planted with land and anti-personnel mines," Hamas sources told IslamOnline.net, referring to the group's armed wing.
After eight days of bombardment, Israel sent ground troops into Gaza late Saturday, the second stage of its Israel's biggest operation in the Gaza Strip in four decades.
A column of Israeli tanks, backed by aircraft, pushed deep into the territory, and Israel's navy prevented travel along Gaza's coastal road, effectively cutting the enclave in half.
Ahead of the operation, Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza with concussion bombs in a bid to destroy underground tunnels.
"Ambushes have also been set up in houses near the border area," the Hamas sources said.
"Our invisible fighters will be waiting Israeli soldiers who move into such buildings."
According to IOL correspondent, several Israeli soldiers were ambushed in a house earlier Sunday.
They remained trapped for hours under heaving gunfire from resistance fighters and had to call up air support.
The Israeli army has admitted that 30 soldiers have been wounded, two seriously, in clashes since the start of the ground operation.
Tactics
Palestinian fighters also have in store rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) to fire at Israeli helicopter gunships.
"This is an effective weapon," one Qassam fighter told IOL.
Israel has been depending heavily on F-16s, which fly at high altitude, in bombing Gaza to avoid the Palestinian RPGs.
Al-Qassam claimed Sunday hitting an Israeli helicopter with its anti-aircraft artillery.
Mortar shells are also an effective tool in the hands of the Palestinian fighters to stop the advance of the Israeli tanks.
One Palestinian factions announced destroying seven Israeli tanks but there was no Israeli confirmation.
Rockets are also one of the most effective weapons in the modest arsenal of the Palestinian resistance groups.
A barrage of home-made rockets hit the southern Israeli town of Sderot early Sunday.
Two Grad rockets also hit Netivot.
Four Israelis have been killed in rocket attacks since the start of Israeli onslaught which has claimed the lives of 485 Palestinians since last Saturday.
Israel has ordered residents of cities located up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Gaza into shelters.
Ezzeddin Al-Qassam has also organized its fighters, who have gone under the radar, into special groups and units.
Hamas reportedly has 10,000 active-duty fighters in addition to a similar number of well-trained reservists.
"Palestinian resistance fighters are coordinating together against the Israeli invasion of Gaza," a Qassam source told IOL.
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