Israel Used Heavy Force, Expecting Bigger Fight

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 4, 2009 5:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – Israel used overwhelming force in its recent fight with Hamas because it feared a repeat of the heavy losses sustained in its 2006 war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Washington Post reports. Israeli military planners expected Palestinians in Gaza to put up a stronger fight, but it never materialized. The extensive airstrikes and destruction of buildings led to 1,400 Palestinian deaths, compared with 13 on the Israeli side.

“We thought we were going to meet really fierce resistance," said a paratrooper. "It did not happen.” An Israeli commander finds the critique of overwhelming force in Gaza disingenuous. In Lebanon, “we should apologize for why we lost so many tanks and choppers and soldiers, and now during the Gaza Strip war we should apologize for why we didn't.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

An explosion is seen from Israeli artillery during an Israeli military operation in the northern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo)

A Palestinian family in front of the remains of their destroyed home in the devastated area of Zeitoun, outside Gaza City. (AP Photo)

An explosion from an Israeli airstrike is seen in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo)

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When you go to fight with 10,000 soldiers and tanks inside a combat area with so much explosives and so many tunnels, you prepare yourself for any kind of surprises. According to this you don't take risks. - Israeli commander

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