Saturday
Dec272008
Breaking News: Israeli Attacks Kill More than 100 in Gaza
Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 11:45
Last week we projected, as the Hamas-Israel truce ended, that the cycle of rocket attacks and Israeli raids would spiral.
The wait is over. After an escalation in the rockets across the border, with the deadly irony that it was two Palestinian schoolgirls who were killed when a missile misfired, the Israeli Defense Forces launched their own deadly strikes against "a series of Hamas targets and infrastructure facilities".
The Israelis are leading with the claim that the Hamas police chief is dead. Information from medical sources and officials in Palestine indicate 120 have been killed and more than 250 wounded.
UPDATE: Scott has posted a more in-depth analysis here.
The wait is over. After an escalation in the rockets across the border, with the deadly irony that it was two Palestinian schoolgirls who were killed when a missile misfired, the Israeli Defense Forces launched their own deadly strikes against "a series of Hamas targets and infrastructure facilities".
The Israelis are leading with the claim that the Hamas police chief is dead. Information from medical sources and officials in Palestine indicate 120 have been killed and more than 250 wounded.
UPDATE: Scott has posted a more in-depth analysis here.
tagged Al Jazeera, CNN, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israeli Defense Forces, Palestine in Middle East & Iran
Al Jazeera, CNN, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israeli Defense Forces, Palestine in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (95)
Deker,
Lets try to keep this conversation accurate. The majority of the dead are Hamas militants.
Hypocrisy in Action:
Where were Egypt, Russia, OIC, EU, Britain, Sarkozy, US & Austria when Hamas was pounding Israel with daily barrage of rockets?
http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/2008/12/hypocrisy-in-action.html" rel="nofollow">http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/2008/12/hypocrisy-in-action.html
Hamas wouldn't have so much support among Palestinians if israel wouldn't create unbearable conditions for Palestinians. Israel has been getting what they have asked for : terrorist attacks. And about terrorist, to me this term is sooooo relative. At this time israel is an absolute terrorist state .
Orel, i agree with you about powerful countries protecting their people. But just because they all agree in their technique to protect their people doesn't make it right. The US Iraq invasion should be condemned, Russian invasion of georgia should be condemn, Israeli's invasion should be condemned as well. It's about time to learn the f**** lesson that violence doesn't solve the violent conflict.
Gandhi showed the way. Blessed be the peacemakers!
You Say Israel is racist....The former supreme court judge of Israel is Arab, Arabs have voting rights and hold elected offices in Israel. Now the same cannot be said about Palestine. Yes Israel does use racial profiling in its security policy but with the Palestinians being so fond of using suicide bombers there is simply no other method to protect themselves.
I am not surprised by all the remarks by all these jewish extremists who think they are doing a world of good by killing innocent civilians. The reprisals would be against innocent jews in their own territories. When would they realise that by illegally occupying Palestenian land, they have become the biggest reason of terrorism in the world. They are creating walls against their own by raising barriers and killing innocent Muslims in their own territories. We can call them Nazis and it would not be that different from reality. The military difference is so obvious that there is a ratio of 200:1 between Palestinians and Israelis. They are the biggest breeding ground for the behaviour displayed by Muslim people in the world. In months, they never allowed humanitarian aid to come to Gaza and now this!! They are slaughtering civilians and for what!!! For asking for their rightful land, forcibly taken in 1967. Israel is the biggest refuter of UN resolutions in the world (always protected by USA). Now we are seeing the reasons for US defence of Israel by identification of all these jewish investment bankers who have now screwed the US economy.
Galia,
For failed to mention the Arab invasion of Israel in your remarks!! How many times has an Arab country attacked Israel for being nothing more than a Jews state..? You seem to like history so let me tell you a lesson about history that the Arabs seem to not be able to understand. Every time an Arab nation attacks Israel, Israel takes more land. Its there method to deter future attacks-it doesn't seem to be working to well i'll give you that. Remember your history, Arab nations cannot defeat Israel. They need to find peace with them or they need to get used to being beaten by them.
"They are creating walls against their own by raising barriers and killing innocent Muslims in their own territories."
" they have become the biggest reason of terrorism in the world."
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If Israeli occupation is the reason for Muslim terror in Israel, then how come Christian Palestinians don't engage in terror? They are just as nationalistic and just as occupied as Muslim Palestinians.
Akon,
Both side are wrong to attack each other.
Both side have people that do not want peace.
Both side are guilty of the situation right now.
Blaming only one side will need no where. It has been the case for 60 years. People are toooooooo stupid to change their behaviour.
Regarding supply goods and food to Gaza, I never seen prisonners from a jail being able to live without the guardians providing supplies. Do you agree?
And talking about robbery, do you want to start a discussion on the water from the West Bank? The settlers and Israel are really enjoying it.
Most of the world do not care about the situation in the Middle East for 60 years now. Adding you will not change anything. It will only make happy extremist on both side. One day, you will realize that Hamas need people like you. More Israel attack from F-16, more palestinians will support Hamas.
This is the billionth discussion I have on the subject and again, I have found nobody yet that loves Israel and Palestine enough to blame both side.
Many more sad days to come. It is human to make mistakes, it is a stupid to repeat it.
Salman,
The 1967 war was a war that Arab nations launched against Israel. So your saying that even though it was the Palestinians that started the war, a war that they lost, they need to be given back everything? When somebody launches a war against another country it is known that the winner takes the land. Palestinians would have their own country right now if they weren't so war happy....They rejected the UN accord and launched a war against Israel! DOn't forget how we got here. Yes Israel needs for their own good to remove the settlers but not because they are obliged but rather because it is in the interests of peace. Do you know that Israel is the only nation that ever won a defensive war and was then asked to return the land in captured while defending itself? That is a fact. By the way what would have happened if the Arabs won the war? Do you think they would have given Israel back the land? Be honest now....
Matt,
For the last 60 years we've seen all the action possible from the Palestinians. The only mean not used is the one used by Ghandi in India. I guess they should consider it.
And what is the result today: Gaza is the largest jail in the world and West Bank is like a swiss cheese with all the settlers there.
If you were a palestinian, do you realy believe a viable palestine state is possible? Go take a look at a map of the settlers in the West Bank and come to me saying it is possible. And do you believe the settlers will want to leave? They are as crazy as the Hamas extremist.
I am sorry to inform you that there is no hope for the palestinian. And when a kid as know hope, guess what happens.
I am done because, again, today was a sad day with lots of dead and a sterile conversation.
Happy Holiday.
If i were a Palestinian i would have no sympathy for Israel. Im not asking for Palestinians to do such a thing, they are at war with each other. I would hope that my reasoning would allowing me to recognize that although i would want to fight i would know that fighting isn't an options. Israel is much stronger, better trained, wealthier, and supplied by the most advanced military in the world (U.S.). If i were a Palestinian i hope i could see the light and realize that only through world opinion will i be able to have a country. If i were a Palestinian i hope i could see that for every Israeli we kill 100 Palestinians will die and for every day we fight that means another year of losing results. If i were a Palestinian i hope i'd see how Hamas while helping our ego is destroying our future.
On the flip side thing about how the Jews feel...For 1,000's of years they have been the punching bag for everybody...
They have no sympathy for the Palestinians b/c the Palestinians are just another in a long line of people that threaten them...
matt gray,
so what you feel proud for israel beating the palestinians? killing the school girls and women one more time? sounds like it.
there will be no peace unless there is mutual respect. unless there is an understanding for other needs to be met.
israel has better resources to solve the conflict, but what seems missing is the desire to do so. They don't understand that as long as the palestians suffer they will suffer themselves.
Israel did not start the war, they didn't want a war, but now that there is a war they are gonna end it on their terms...It's sad, very sad b/c the Palestinians that are responsible for this war are living pretty well. Look at the wealth Arafat had...Its sad but this is a good example of why people shouldn't start wars. You can never be sure it'll turn out the way you expected...Arabs expected to run right over the poorly supplied, untrained Israeli army but instead it was the Arab armies that lost the day...Now the Arab nations can't do anything to Israel. Israel as it is today was created by the Arabs....tough lesson.
The apartheid and racist Israeli regime and the governments of the so called free world have once again shown their contempt towards Palestinian men, women, and children. It would be good if everyone could watch the real footage showing how the majority of the victims are civilians and how children are running around screaming in terror. To bad you're not allowed to watch Almanar TV in the free world.
Most people in the Middle East don't believe peace is possible with a people who believe that God has chosen them over all others, allowing them to kill, expel, oppress, and confiscate. Advocating non-violence is easy for those who are safe and secure, not for those who because of the western backed siege aren't even allowed to purchace food and medicine for their sick and hungry children in refugee camps that look a lot like concentration camps.
Galia,
I know that Israel will suffer as long as Palestinians suffer. They are connected. I also know that the Israeli's are used to suffering for they have suffered for nearly all time. Also the level of suffering isn't equal; the Palestinians will continue to suffer far greater than the Israeli's will.
I don't know where you got the idea that i'm happy Palestinians are suffering in fact i specifically said other wise. Nobody here is happy that innocent people are being killed-at least i hope not. But i do hold more fault with the Palestinians instigators than with the Israeli response. Explain to me how Hamas helps Palestinians when they launch rockets are Israel and then run away to bomb shelters and let the Palestinian population bear the brunt of Israel's counterstrike? Hamas is run by cowards who have no sympathy for the suffering they inflict on the Palestinian people with their attacks on Israeli civilians.
Quoting Mo - "Most people in the Middle East don’t believe peace is possible with a people who believe that God has chosen them over all others, allowing them to kill, expel, oppress, and confiscate."
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Koran 5.51: O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Koran 4.89 : They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.
Mo,
Again you call Israel racist but you ignored my rebuttal on how Palestinians are far more guilty of racist charges...
Also you do know that those refugee camps you say resemble concentration camps are actually run by Arab governments don't you. FYI they reason they look like concentration camps might have something to do with the fact that Palestinians Arabs had a hand in the German Concentration camps...also that fact had a part in the UN determining that the British Mandate area be partitioned between Arabs and Jews. The UN didn't want to but the surviving Jews back into the hands of those who had a part in Genocide.
Also the Israeli gov. is not Apartheid....while they do separate Arabs form Jews at times it isn't b/c they believe Jews are superior but rather they don't know which Arab is carrying a suicide bomb so Arabs are racially profiled...I don't consider that Aparthied. I consider it to be self defense.
Israel does restrict the supplies going into Palestine but obviously the Palestinians aren't do to badly b/c they have all the supplies they need to launch dozens of missiles everyday. Maybe they should try to sneak food in instead of weapons...just a thought.
Brainwashed and Galia,
Look I dont know where you from, or when (if at all) you visited in Israel.
I think you got it all wrong from the begining.
First of all, saying that Israel is the one to blame for the conditions in Gaza is a complete rubbish. There are 20+ Islamic countries in the world, and you one find A SINGLE ONE who support the Gaza citizens more the Israel. And to make it clear - they are not Israeli citizens. Israel donst have to care for them.
At the end of the day we provied them with Electricity, fuel, food, medical attention (just yesterday a Gaza citizens got inj from the Hamas attack and was brought to Israel for medical attention). I remind you that between Gaza and Egypt (Who is an Islamic nation) there is a concrate wall!
and brainwashed, according to your comment I can understand that geographic and demographic reality in Ashkelon, Keriat-Gat, Sderot, Ashdod, Netiv-Haasara, Mishmar Hanegev...... allows a massive rocket attack?? daily?? It's nice that you just agnoring the last few years reality and talking about the f-16's.
And like I said before, you wont hear - even in the Islamic media - that a random building was bombed. All of the f-16 attacks are on Hamas explosive and rockets labs and warhouses. You wont find such connection in the Hamas attacks I assure you. They clearly attack citizens (only) targets.
Where were you a week ago when Hamas used violance and Israel ignored? was it ok?
You must understand who we dealing with here.
The Palestinian hospital has confirmed that over 140 militants were among the dead...militants aren't civilians so nobody should be saying Israel killed mostly civilians.
Anybody notice how Western countries have called for a halt to all violence but the Arab countries have simply said Israel needs to stop...
Israel shouldn't defend themselves?
Part of the problem is that the Palestinians continue to instill a mindset in their young people, one that views Christians and Jews and other non-Muslim minority groups as infidels... and as 'the other'. This is endemic in the Middle East.
This Palestinians says so here -- http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9391
how many innocent muslims have been killed because of the world's hate towards us for no reason. What about the gujarhti muslims in india, what about the muslims killed in bosnia, and isreal cant even beat the muslims on an even fighting ground. The palestinians have rocks while the isrealis have guns. go learn both sidesw..
Dave,
Koran 5:51 is a poor translation from arabic. the meaning is distorted.
Matt,
I can agree with you about hamas. But unfortunately, to understand the Palestinians support for hamas and why they see their last hope in hamas we would have to be in their shoes.
Anyways, placing blame won't do any good. Let's just pray that God guides our leaders and reverse them from fear and hate to love and peace.
With love for all of you,
The Bosnia numbers floated in the academic and media circles are grossly inflated. Also, the UN-designated safe havens were used by Muslims to attack Serbs.
Arab,
Hamas as plenty of guns....didn't you see them executing Fatah members in Gaza just a year ago?
They launch rockets everyday so don't try to say they only throw rocks...let be honest here.
I will agree with you that there are a lot of people who don't like Muslims and there is no excuse for that, nor a reason for that. I think some of the crap Lou Dobbs from CNN spits out is as hateful as some of the garbage you'd find on Hamas's tv station. Some people are simply intolerant to people who are different. But don't forget that a lot of Jews have died b/c of Muslim intolerance as have a lot of Americans. Nobody can claim their race or country is without fault. Also don't forget that far more Muslims are killed by fellow Muslims over simply intolerance than by Jews or American.
The United States came to the aid of Muslims in Bosnia and we still confront Russia today b/c of it. The Muslim/Hindu conflict in India is littered with horrible acts committed by both sides. Israel would like nothing better than to engage Hamas on a battle field...but remember the last time an Arab army took the field with a Israeli army....
Aw, just look at the poor pitiful comments sympathizing with the Palestinians! they'd been firing rockets into Israel for months. Then one day, Israel shoots back and all of a sudden you poor liberals and Muslims are all up in arms about it. Yeah, like it's gonna do you or the Palestinians any good. War is hell, soldier! Deal with it. Don't start none, won't be none.
And no, I'm not sympathetic to the poor innocent Palestinian civilians who got snuffed out. They chose Hamas to be their leadership. They will lose every battle with Israel. Instead, you want to blame Israel for defending itself. Pathetic!