The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is standing on the brink of further escalation as a new round of killings and retaliations started with dozens dead and no immediate end in sight.  

After the first deadly suicide bombings on Beersheva's buses last week in nearly five months, Israeli military forces, as what they usually do, launched retaliations subsequently in the Gaza Strip, killing three and wounding at least a dozen others. However, the operation seemed far from enough for the Israelis who hold the belief that a harsh military oppression will bring them safety.

For most Israelis, massive military actions against Palestinian militants and the construction of the disputed separation fence contribute to the recent calmness during the past five months. Early Tuesday, Israel launched their bloodiest retaliation action by striking a training camp of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas with five missiles, killing 14 militants and wounding 30 others.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces also conducted large-scale raids in several cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the 12 hours from late Monday to early Tuesday, arresting 23 Palestinians. The attack sparked an outpouring of rage in Gaza. Some 30,000 people, including dozens of militants, joined a funeral procession as men fired machine guns into the air and the crowd screamed for revenge.

In response to the Israeli helicopter attack, Hamas, who claimed responsibility for the twin suicide bombings in Beersheva, fired three Qassam rockets at the western Negev town of Sderot and its environs, but caused no casualties.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement also blamed the attack in their strongest words and pledged revenge. Hamas spokesman Mushir al Masri called the operation "a new wave of aggression committed against our people and against our sons," vowing "this ugly Israeli crime ... will not go unpunished. It is an open war between the Zionists and us."

Islamic Jihad said in a statement that "the enemy will pay for its crimes with a heavy price in blood and bodies of Zionists". Hamas, whose spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin and his successor Abdel Aziz Rantisi were killed early this year, had to go underneath in a bid to avoid Israeli target killing of both its leaders and its member militants.

After nearly a five-month disappearance, Hamas showed its presence and strength again by suicide bombings at a time many people were wondering whether the military organization still had the capacity to challenge the Israelis.

Some said the organization wants to prove itself before the forthcoming second Palestinian election at the end of the year and draw more votes.

As Hamas vowed for revenge, Israel showed no sign of retreat, even in words.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said, "No one is immune when he carries out terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli civilians."

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's spokesman Raanan Gissin said that its campaign against Hamas would also be extended to a pursuit of the movement's Syrian-based leadership as well as its foot soldiers.

Some analysts said Sharon adopted such a tough policy to the Palestinian militants out of considerations that the implementation of his disengagement plan met with immense difficulties. Nearly five months without a terror bomb attack inside Israel had raised the hope of many Israelis that Hamas had given up, or at least postponed its attempt to retaliate for the assassination of Hamas leaders.

Last week's twin terror bombings, however, showed the frail, ardent hope to be only wishful thinking and the opposition to the pullout plan became stronger afterwards. Some extreme right-wingers started to attack the policemen responsible for the withdrawal. Under such a circumstance, Sharon, who found it difficult to press ahead with his plan, had to show a tough face to the so-called terrorists in order to placate the right-wingers' strong challenge.

On Wednesday morning, Hamas again fired five Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip at western Negev, and Israeli soldiers retaliated with another operation in Gaza on Thursday, killing five. With no immediate end in sight, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is standing on the brink of further escalation, since Israel seems determined to wipe out Hamas while Hamas vows to take revenge, analysts said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2004)