Israel reportedly has drawn up imminent plans to invade the Gaza Strip. Britain’s Sunday Times reported that Ehud Barak, Israel’s incoming defense minister, has a plan to send 20,000 troops into Gaza “to destroy much of Hamas’s military capability in days.” According to the report, the order would be given in the event of a surge of Hamas cross-border rocket salvos or suicide bombings. Israeli officials declined to comment. Hamas, which has an estimated 12,000 militiamen in Gaza, has not shown signs of seeking a confrontation with Israel since it purged the rival Fatah faction last week.
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