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CNN Live Today

Israeli Soldiers Poised Outside Gaza

Aired May 14, 2002 - 14:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, to the Middle East now.

Israeli ground forces still remain poised outside Gaza. It's an open question as to whether or not they go in.

Meanwhile, on the inside, Palestinian fighters there getting ready for an all-out assault.

Matthew Chance with more from the region and what's happening in South Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A show of force in Gaza from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. While Israeli forces remain poised outside this territory, they're preparing for what could still be a terrible fight.

Despised as terrorists in Israel, these Brigades have carried out shootings and suicide attacks, but they see themselves here as defenders of Gaza, subject, they believe, of an inevitable invasion like, the West Bank, by Israel.

"If the world will not defend our homes, our families or our holy places," he says, "then we'll do it ourselves. Sharon, the war criminal, is the terrorist, not us."

There is no shortage of grim determination here.

(on camera): Israel's plans to strike at Gaza may have been placed on hold for the moment, but few Palestinians believe an attack has been anything but temporarily delayed, and armed groups, like this, all over Gaza, are still on high alert.

(voice-over): At night, members of the Brigade plant landmines in earth barricades on the street. Tanks are the main target, but armored bulldozers, so devastating in Jenin, could also be stopped. Small units of fighters like this say they'll spread out across Gaza in conjunction with other groups, to harass Israeli forces once they attack.

"In spite of the disagreements that may occur between the different Palestinian groups, we all know who the real enemy is," he says. "Israel does not differentiate between a member of FATA or Hamas or Islamic jihad, so we are one front against them."

And from the Hamas leader, the promise of more suicide attacks, as long as Israel's occupation goes on.

SHEIK AHMED YASSIM, HAMAS SPIRITUAL LEADER (through translator): This is the last arrow in the quiver of our fighters. We do not have F-16 warplanes or Apache helicopters or tanks. Our bodies are our only weapons. We have no option but to die in order to defend ourselves.

CHANCE: B it's that coordination on the ground that could turn any West Bank-style operation here into a bloodbath.

Israeli soldiers might have to fight in close quarters with these men through densely populated civilian areas, and the real possibility of heavy casualties, they say, has forced Israel to blink, this time.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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