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Sign up with GoogleConflict flares up in Gaza again
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LazyLion
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ISRAEL MULLS WIDENING GAZA ASSAULT AS TOLL HITS 265
by Sakher ABOU EL OUN
Israel warned Friday it could broaden a Gaza ground assault aimed at smashing Hamas's network of cross-border tunnels, as it stepped up attacks that have killed more than 260 Palestinians.
In the face of Israel's land, sea and air offensive that has sent terrified civilians running for cover, the Islamist movement Hamas which runs Gaza remained defiant and warned the Jewish state it would pay dearly for putting boots on the ground.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu is killing our children and he is going to pay a heavy price. We are not afraid," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
He warned that Israel with the launch of its first ground incursion into the coastal territory in more than five years would "drown in the swamp of Gaza".
As Gaza Strip residents spoke of a night of terror, with fierce gunbattles in the south and all-night shelling in the north, Netanyahu warned the operation could yet be widened, despite growing international calls to avoid harm to civilians.
"My instructions and those of the defence minister to the military ... is to prepare for the possibility of a significant broadening of the ground activity," he told ministers at a special cabinet session in Tel Aviv.
Immediately afterwards, he convened his security cabinet to discuss plans for a possible expansion of the campaign, which began on July 8 with the aim of stamping out cross-border rocket fire.
Early on Friday, Israel approved the call-up of another 18,000 reservists, taking the total number approved to 65,000, the army said.
On Thursday night, the army said it struck 150 targets across Gaza, among them four tunnels and 21 rocket launchers, with troops killing 17 "terrorists" and arresting another 13.
The ground operation, which began in the Gaza periphery at around 2000 GMT, sent thousands of people fleeing west to escape the fighting along the Gaza border, a UN official told AFP.
"People are fleeing from east to west, away from the border. We're hearing about thousands. We now have 27 schools open for them and we're expecting to open more," he said.
"We have close to 30,000 people taking refuge (with us) at this point."
By mid-morning, the road between Gaza City and Khan Yunis was deserted with only a single minibus, packed with passengers, careering south, its windows covered with makeshift white flags, an AFP correspondent said.
"They were shelling from dusk until the early hours of the morning. We've left the eastern front and we're going to a UN school," Shejaiya resident Bassil Araeer told AFP.
"There's no water at home, no electricity at home, just shelling and fear and terror," he said.
Since midnight, 24 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire across Gaza, including three teenagers and a five-month-old baby, raising to 265 the number of Gazans killed since Israel launched its attacks on July 8.
An Israeli soldier was also among the dead, the army said.
Army spokesman Major Arye Shalicar told AFP that Israel's goal was "to strike Hamas infrastructure and operatives" in Gaza, including tunnels which are used for cross-border attacks on southern Israel.
They are also used by militants as an assembly area for rockets.
Experts say a ground operation is the only way to cause significant damage to the underground network.
"Last night our forces began a ground operation to hit the terror tunnels crossing from Gaza into Israel's territory," Netanyahu told ministers.
He cited the example of a tunnel through which 13 heavily-armed militants had managed to infiltrate southern Israel on Thursday before they were spotted by troops, with one killed in an air strike and the rest fleeing back underground.
"It is not possible to deal with tunnels only from the air, so our soldiers are also doing that on the ground," he said, while admitting there was "no guarantee of 100 percent success."
"There is no guarantee that a ground incursion into Gaza will lead to victory," Israel's top-selling daily Yediot Aharonot said of the narrow, densely-populated enclave that is home to 1.8 million Palestinians.
"Ground operations are necessary not only to deal with the tunnel problem, but also to project to the other side that Israel is undeterred from a head-on clash," it said.
"As of yesterday, Operation Protective Edge was showing signs of a draw, which is basically an Israeli defeat. The ground operation is intended to change the situation."
Israel pulled out all of its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but within a year it became the de facto seat of Hamas after it won a landslide victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections.
In summer 2007, the Islamist movement forcibly took over the territory, ousting factions loyal to the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli land assault came just hours after a brief humanitarian truce on Thursday and despite urgent diplomatic appeals that Israel redouble efforts to protect civilians.
US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel to limit collateral damage in Gaza and be "precise" in its ground assault on the enclave, the State Department said.
Egypt condemned the Israeli "escalation" but also lashed out at Hamas, saying it could have saved dozens of lives had it accepted a truce brokered by Cairo earlier this week.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 13:17
by Sakher ABOU EL OUN
Israel warned Friday it could broaden a Gaza ground assault aimed at smashing Hamas's network of cross-border tunnels, as it stepped up attacks that have killed more than 260 Palestinians.
In the face of Israel's land, sea and air offensive that has sent terrified civilians running for cover, the Islamist movement Hamas which runs Gaza remained defiant and warned the Jewish state it would pay dearly for putting boots on the ground.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu is killing our children and he is going to pay a heavy price. We are not afraid," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
He warned that Israel with the launch of its first ground incursion into the coastal territory in more than five years would "drown in the swamp of Gaza".
As Gaza Strip residents spoke of a night of terror, with fierce gunbattles in the south and all-night shelling in the north, Netanyahu warned the operation could yet be widened, despite growing international calls to avoid harm to civilians.
"My instructions and those of the defence minister to the military ... is to prepare for the possibility of a significant broadening of the ground activity," he told ministers at a special cabinet session in Tel Aviv.
Immediately afterwards, he convened his security cabinet to discuss plans for a possible expansion of the campaign, which began on July 8 with the aim of stamping out cross-border rocket fire.
Early on Friday, Israel approved the call-up of another 18,000 reservists, taking the total number approved to 65,000, the army said.
On Thursday night, the army said it struck 150 targets across Gaza, among them four tunnels and 21 rocket launchers, with troops killing 17 "terrorists" and arresting another 13.
The ground operation, which began in the Gaza periphery at around 2000 GMT, sent thousands of people fleeing west to escape the fighting along the Gaza border, a UN official told AFP.
"People are fleeing from east to west, away from the border. We're hearing about thousands. We now have 27 schools open for them and we're expecting to open more," he said.
"We have close to 30,000 people taking refuge (with us) at this point."
By mid-morning, the road between Gaza City and Khan Yunis was deserted with only a single minibus, packed with passengers, careering south, its windows covered with makeshift white flags, an AFP correspondent said.
"They were shelling from dusk until the early hours of the morning. We've left the eastern front and we're going to a UN school," Shejaiya resident Bassil Araeer told AFP.
"There's no water at home, no electricity at home, just shelling and fear and terror," he said.
Since midnight, 24 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire across Gaza, including three teenagers and a five-month-old baby, raising to 265 the number of Gazans killed since Israel launched its attacks on July 8.
An Israeli soldier was also among the dead, the army said.
Army spokesman Major Arye Shalicar told AFP that Israel's goal was "to strike Hamas infrastructure and operatives" in Gaza, including tunnels which are used for cross-border attacks on southern Israel.
They are also used by militants as an assembly area for rockets.
Experts say a ground operation is the only way to cause significant damage to the underground network.
"Last night our forces began a ground operation to hit the terror tunnels crossing from Gaza into Israel's territory," Netanyahu told ministers.
He cited the example of a tunnel through which 13 heavily-armed militants had managed to infiltrate southern Israel on Thursday before they were spotted by troops, with one killed in an air strike and the rest fleeing back underground.
"It is not possible to deal with tunnels only from the air, so our soldiers are also doing that on the ground," he said, while admitting there was "no guarantee of 100 percent success."
"There is no guarantee that a ground incursion into Gaza will lead to victory," Israel's top-selling daily Yediot Aharonot said of the narrow, densely-populated enclave that is home to 1.8 million Palestinians.
"Ground operations are necessary not only to deal with the tunnel problem, but also to project to the other side that Israel is undeterred from a head-on clash," it said.
"As of yesterday, Operation Protective Edge was showing signs of a draw, which is basically an Israeli defeat. The ground operation is intended to change the situation."
Israel pulled out all of its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but within a year it became the de facto seat of Hamas after it won a landslide victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections.
In summer 2007, the Islamist movement forcibly took over the territory, ousting factions loyal to the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli land assault came just hours after a brief humanitarian truce on Thursday and despite urgent diplomatic appeals that Israel redouble efforts to protect civilians.
US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel to limit collateral damage in Gaza and be "precise" in its ground assault on the enclave, the State Department said.
Egypt condemned the Israeli "escalation" but also lashed out at Hamas, saying it could have saved dozens of lives had it accepted a truce brokered by Cairo earlier this week.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 13:17
Israeli Crowd Cheers As Missile Hits Gaza Live On…: http://youtu.be/pqbOSqx84Mk
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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MAIN EVENTS IN ISRAEL'S OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE
Here is a list of the main developments since Israel launched a major offensive in Gaza on July 8 aimed at halting cross-border rocket fire by Palestinian militants.
The cycle of violence began on June 12 with the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, prompting a major crackdown on Hamas, which triggered a surge in rocketfire from Gaza.
JULY, 2014
8: Israel launches Operation Protective Edge, with dozens of air strikes on Gaza in response to mounting rocket fire by Palestinian militants.
At least 28 Palestinians killed in the largest and deadliest Israeli air campaign since 2012.
Israel calls up 40,000 reservists.
The Islamist Hamas movement says "all Israelis" are potential targets.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas demands an immediate halt to Israel's offensive.
9: Israeli air strikes as Hamas fires rockets at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
10: Egypt opens its Rafah border crossing with Gaza to Palestinian wounded.
US President Barack Obama tells Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Washington is willing to broker a ceasefire.
11: The Israeli air force says it has carried out dozens of raids targeting rocket launchers, tunnels, Hamas premises and Islamist institutions and the homes of Hamas officials.
12: The bloodiest day of the conflict, with 56 Palestinians dead.
The UN Security Council urges Israel and Hamas to end hostilities, calling on both sides to respect international humanitarian law.
Israel continues border build-up ahead of a possible ground invasion.
13: Israeli naval commandos launch a brief ground operation overnight in northern Gaza, the first since the offensive began, targeting a rocket launcher site.
Abbas asks the UN to put the state of Palestine under "international protection".
15: Israel's security cabinet accepts a ceasefire proposal from Egypt. Hamas rejects it.
Netanyahu warns Israel will expand its campaign if Hamas refuses to accept the truce.
Israel resumes raids after the truce fails to hold.
The UN aid agency for Palestinians describes the damage in Gaza as "immense", with more than 500 homes razed.
16: Israel intensifies its bombardment, killing at least 25 Palestinians, including eight children of whom four were on a beach.
17: Israel begins a ground operation preceded by an intense bombardment. It is the first ground operation since the 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead in which 1,400 Palestinians were killed.
Hamas says "Israel will pay a high price" for the operation.
Israel approves the call-up of another 18,000 reservists, taking the total number approved to 65,000.
18: Netanyahu says "a significant broadening" of the ground operation is possible, as air strikes alone cannot alone destroy Hamas's tunnel network.
Since July 8, more than 260 Palestinians have been killed and at least 1,920 injured, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian medics. One Israeli civilian and one soldier have been killed.
Nearly 1,200 rockets have been fired at Israel, of which 320 have been successfully intercepted.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 14:15
Here is a list of the main developments since Israel launched a major offensive in Gaza on July 8 aimed at halting cross-border rocket fire by Palestinian militants.
The cycle of violence began on June 12 with the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, prompting a major crackdown on Hamas, which triggered a surge in rocketfire from Gaza.
JULY, 2014
8: Israel launches Operation Protective Edge, with dozens of air strikes on Gaza in response to mounting rocket fire by Palestinian militants.
At least 28 Palestinians killed in the largest and deadliest Israeli air campaign since 2012.
Israel calls up 40,000 reservists.
The Islamist Hamas movement says "all Israelis" are potential targets.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas demands an immediate halt to Israel's offensive.
9: Israeli air strikes as Hamas fires rockets at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
10: Egypt opens its Rafah border crossing with Gaza to Palestinian wounded.
US President Barack Obama tells Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Washington is willing to broker a ceasefire.
11: The Israeli air force says it has carried out dozens of raids targeting rocket launchers, tunnels, Hamas premises and Islamist institutions and the homes of Hamas officials.
12: The bloodiest day of the conflict, with 56 Palestinians dead.
The UN Security Council urges Israel and Hamas to end hostilities, calling on both sides to respect international humanitarian law.
Israel continues border build-up ahead of a possible ground invasion.
13: Israeli naval commandos launch a brief ground operation overnight in northern Gaza, the first since the offensive began, targeting a rocket launcher site.
Abbas asks the UN to put the state of Palestine under "international protection".
15: Israel's security cabinet accepts a ceasefire proposal from Egypt. Hamas rejects it.
Netanyahu warns Israel will expand its campaign if Hamas refuses to accept the truce.
Israel resumes raids after the truce fails to hold.
The UN aid agency for Palestinians describes the damage in Gaza as "immense", with more than 500 homes razed.
16: Israel intensifies its bombardment, killing at least 25 Palestinians, including eight children of whom four were on a beach.
17: Israel begins a ground operation preceded by an intense bombardment. It is the first ground operation since the 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead in which 1,400 Palestinians were killed.
Hamas says "Israel will pay a high price" for the operation.
Israel approves the call-up of another 18,000 reservists, taking the total number approved to 65,000.
18: Netanyahu says "a significant broadening" of the ground operation is possible, as air strikes alone cannot alone destroy Hamas's tunnel network.
Since July 8, more than 260 Palestinians have been killed and at least 1,920 injured, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian medics. One Israeli civilian and one soldier have been killed.
Nearly 1,200 rockets have been fired at Israel, of which 320 have been successfully intercepted.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 14:15
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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I hear about three people cheering, but the missile looks like it landed in the desert (dark area)?
Yeesh like it. I don't even know what to say about this.
Hardly the point though.
d0b33
Honorary Master
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LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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How is it not the point? It's not a crowd, and it's not smack-on Gaza?
Yes, it is terrible that some people cheer, but let's at least be accurate in our descriptions!
I feel you
. I just felt your response was a bit shallow considering the implications of the video.Its very likely. The point is, no humane person should cheer for anything regarding the loss of civilian life.
daveza
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So the Israelis should stoop to their level ?
Crowley
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LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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And I think we should be very careful ourselves in this thread to gloat over the loss of life.
I have very little sympathy for terrorists, especially those who bring children into harm's way, but at least let's be better than them.
rorz0r
Executive Member
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My point is that there's undoubtedly cheering going on from both sides involved so why is there only propaganda spread to make all Israelis look insensitive because of the actions of a few? Followed straight after by complaints that people are lumping all Muslims together?
daveza
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That's just how it works - remember the few muslim nutters who rejoiced at 9/11.
d0b33
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LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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THOUSANDS AT PRO-PALESTINE MARCH IN SANDTON
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy Trade Office in Sandton on Friday.
There were traffic jams as protesters waved pro-Palestine flags and banners against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
They carried banners with slogans such as "Hoot for freedom", "Free Palestine - stop the genocide" and "I see humans but no humanity", while shouting: "Hey, hey Israel, how many kids have you killed today?".
Metro police blocked off roads around the protesters.
Anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi joined the protest, which was aimed at putting pressure on the government to boycott Israeli products.
In Cape Town on Wednesday, a pro-Palestine march organised by the Muslim Judicial Council handed over a memorandum to Siphosezwe Masango, chairman of Parliament's international relations portfolio committee.
The protesters wanted to air their views about the Israeli military action.
Since Israel's 10-day campaign to halt Hamas rocket fire on its cities, more than 260 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded, news agency The Associated Press reported, quoting Palestinian health officials.
In Israel, a civilian had died and several had been wounded, it reported.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Gaza officials said 560 homes had been destroyed, and thousands of buildings damaged after a week of fighting and air strikes.
The latest surge in violence was sparked by the kidnapping and murders of three Israeli teenagers and the revenge killing of a Palestinian youth.
Source : Sapa /wb/dm/fg/cls/ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 15:57
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy Trade Office in Sandton on Friday.
There were traffic jams as protesters waved pro-Palestine flags and banners against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
They carried banners with slogans such as "Hoot for freedom", "Free Palestine - stop the genocide" and "I see humans but no humanity", while shouting: "Hey, hey Israel, how many kids have you killed today?".
Metro police blocked off roads around the protesters.
Anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi joined the protest, which was aimed at putting pressure on the government to boycott Israeli products.
In Cape Town on Wednesday, a pro-Palestine march organised by the Muslim Judicial Council handed over a memorandum to Siphosezwe Masango, chairman of Parliament's international relations portfolio committee.
The protesters wanted to air their views about the Israeli military action.
Since Israel's 10-day campaign to halt Hamas rocket fire on its cities, more than 260 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded, news agency The Associated Press reported, quoting Palestinian health officials.
In Israel, a civilian had died and several had been wounded, it reported.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Gaza officials said 560 homes had been destroyed, and thousands of buildings damaged after a week of fighting and air strikes.
The latest surge in violence was sparked by the kidnapping and murders of three Israeli teenagers and the revenge killing of a Palestinian youth.
Source : Sapa /wb/dm/fg/cls/ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 15:57
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