Major Alexander Yishai checked his watch and looked towards the setting sun for the hundredth time, then looked towards his communications officer who was listening intently to incoming messages.  The communications officer shook his head and looked up at the Major.  "The negotiators are still talking, but they say there's no hope.  The settlers and the extremists won't budge!  They say the only way you will remove them from Gaza is in body bags.  If you attempt to enter their settlements they will fire!"
The Major shook his head.  One of his captains came up to him.  "Sir," he remarked, "many of the men are upset that we're attacking on the sabbath.  They're asking why we can't wait until tomorrow."
"Because many of the settlers," the Major answered, "are orthodox, and many of the radicals.  It's hoped they won't fight on the sabbath."  He looked at the tanks, bulldozers, and armored personnel carriers around him.  "Let's go get it done!" he snapped.  "Tell the forward units to move out.  Signal the other units to move in.  I want to hit them in as many places as we can simultaneously."
 The column moved out.  They rolled across the border into The Gaza Strip and within minutes were approaching the first Jewish settlement.  "Begin broadcasting the prime minister's message!" the Major snapped.  Loud speakers began playing the prime minister's message.
"People of The Gaza Strip settlements, your government has voted that for the sake of peace  you be removed from Palestinian territory.  New settlements have been prepared for you, new land made available to you.  I ask you to respect the wishes of your government, and not to resist the troops sent to remove you.  They are Israelis, you are Israelis.  Do not fire on Israeli troops!  Respect legal procedure and abandon these settlements.  I ask, in the name of God, that you obey!"
The first bulldozer had reached the concrete blocks that blocked the road and was preparing to push them aside when there was a bright flash and an horrendous blast!  The bulldozer lifted into the air, flipped over, and came crashing down.  By some miracle the driver crawled out, still alive.  A moment later a tank rocked as it was hit by a wire guided missile.  In moments it burst to flame and its crew evacuated before its ammunition started exploding.  The Major called his air cover.  "Eyeball One!" he screamed, "If you can spot where the fire is coming from against us, suppress it." There was a few moments' silence, then a voice came back.
"This is Eyeball One.  I regret, sir, I cannot follow that order.  I won't be a killer for The Palestinians.  I won't fire on my own people."
The Major took a deep breath.  "Eyeball One," he snapped, "if you do not comply with my orders you will be subject to a court martial.  You are rebelling against a senior officer. Suppress that fire!"
Eyeball One's voice came back, "Then I will stand for court martial, sir, and you can explain to the Israeli people why we are murdering our own."
Another voice cut in.  "This is Eyeball Two, sir, I see the source of fire.  I'll make the suppression run."
Eyeball One snapped back "Eyeball Two, if you attempt to make a fire run I will attack you!  The rest of us concur.  We will not fire on our own people.  If you attempt to do so we will shoot you down!"
The Major was totally perplexed.  "Eyeballs!" he snapped, "Return to your base and surrender yourselves!  Two, accompany them. When they are all on the ground refuel and return."
The Major went up to his other bulldozer.  "I don't think they could have a second charge in the same place.  The other two tanks are going to lay down a barrage around the barricade, try to move that same block."  The driver nodded, shut up his cab, and moved out.  The ding of bullets could be heard as the bulldozer took barrage after barrage, but it reached the block and despite two heavy explosions, probably rocket propelled grenades, it pushed the block aside clearing it away.  It was starting to back up when a wire guided rocket hit the cab and blew it apart.  The bulldozer continued to go backwards over an embankment and tipped over, its treads still turning.
The Major cursed, but the way was now open.  With one of the tanks in the lead they pushed on towards the settlement, wire guided rockets and rocket propelled grenades pounded them.  Several dozen of his men were withdrawn seriously wounded.  But they finally reached the outskirts of the settlement.  Fire poured in on them from every house, and they did their best to suppress it.  One of his officers came up.
"Sir!" he cried, "This is far, far more resistance than we had expected!  We count ten dead settlement people, both male and female.  We've lost six, ourselves.  It might be advisable, sir, to withdraw.
"No!" the Major screamed.  "Concentrate on that house over there. Blow the door!  Get inside.  Bring the people out.  We're going to remove some of them.  We're going to show the government's resolve!  Go!"
 It  took explosive charges to open the door, and the men trying to get inside met a hail of fire.  But they didn't want to use grenades because there might be children.  The Major moved around to the back. Suddenly there was a series of incredibly bright flashes, obviously meant to blind their night vision gear. The back door burst open, and a couple of dozen people, some of them small children, dashed out firing on anyone they saw, and heading for another house.