The following article was first published by Global Research in January 2009 at the height of the Israeli bombing and invasion under Operation Cast Lead.

Author's Note and Update
Early Saturday October 7, 2023, Hamas launched "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm" which was led by its Military Chief Mohammed Deif. On that same day, Netanyahu confirmed a so-called "State of Readiness For War."

Israel has now (October 7, 2023) officially declared an illegal war on Palestine. 

Military operations are invariably planned well in advance. Was "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm" a "surprise attack"? Did Netanyahu and his vast military-intelligence apparatus have foreknowledge of the Hamas attack? 

Was a carefully formulated plan to wage an all out war against Palestine envisaged prior to the launching of "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm"?

According to Dr. Philip Giraldi,

"As a former intelligence officer, I find it impossible to believe that Israel did not have multiple informants inside Gaza as well as electronic listening devices all along the border wall which would have picked up movements of groups and vehicles."

[Did Netanyahu have foreknowledge] about developments in Gaza and chose to let it happen so they can wipe Gaza off the map… in retaliation" (Philip Giraldi, October 8, 2023) 

It should also be understood that Netanyahu's October 7, 2023 illegal declaration of war against Gaza is a continuation of its 2008-2009 invasion of Gaza under "Operation Cast Lead." The underlying objective is the outright military occupation of Gaza by Israel's IDF forces and the expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland.