9 mar 2008
Israeli forces destroyed this house in Jabalia refugee camp
By Uri Avnery
I WAS reminded this week of the old tale about a Jewish mother taking leave of her son, who has been called up to serve in the Czar's army against the Turks.
"Don't exert yourself too much," she admonishes him, "Kill a Turk and rest. Kill another Turk and rest again."
"But mother," he exclaims, "What if the Turk kills me?"
"Kill you?" she cries out, "Why? What have you done to him?"
This is not a joke (and this is not a week for jokes). It is a lesson in psychology. I was reminded of it when I read Ehud Olmert's statement that more than anything else he was furious about the outburst of joy in Gaza after the attack in Jerusalem, in which eight yeshiva students were killed.
Before that, last weekend, the Israeli army killed 120 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, half of them civilians, among them dozens of children. That was not "kill a Turk and rest". That was "kill a hundred Turks and rest". But Olmert does not understand.
THE FIVE-DAY WAR in Gaza (as a Hamas leader called it) was but another short chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. This bloody monster is never satisfied, its appetite just grows with the eating.
This chapter started with the "targeted liquidation" of five senior militants inside the Gaza Strip. The "response" was a salvo of rockets, and this time not only on Sderot, but also on Ashkelon and Netivot. The "response" to the "response" was the army's incursion and the wholesale killing.
The stated aim was, as always, to stop the launching of the rockets. The means: killing a maximum of Palestinians, in order to teach them a lesson. The decision was based on the traditional Israeli concept: hit the civilian population again and again, until it overthrows its leaders. This has been tried hundreds of times and has failed hundreds of times.
As if an example for the folly of the propagators of this concept had been lacking, it was provided on TV by ex-general Matan Vilnai, when he said that the Palestinians are "bringing a Shoah on themselves". The Hebrew word Shoah is known all over the world, where it has one clear meaning:
the Holocaust carried out by the Nazis against the Jews. Vilnai's utterance spread like a bushfire throughout the Arab world and set off a shock wave. I, too, received dozens of phone calls and e-mail messages from all over the world. How to convince people that in day-to-day Hebrew usage, Shoah means "only" a great disaster, and that General Vilnai, a former candidate for Chief of Staff, is not the most intelligent of people?
Some years ago, President Bush called for a "Crusade" against terrorism. He had no idea that for hundreds of millions of Arabs, the word "Crusade" brings to mind one of the biggest crimes in human history, the appalling massacre committed by the original crusaders against the Muslims (and Jews) in the alleys of Jerusalem. In an intelligence contest between Bush and Vilnai, the outcome, if any, would be in doubt.
VILNAI DOES not understand what the word "Shoah" means to others, and Olmert does not understand why there is rejoicing in Gaza after the attack on the yeshiva in Jerusalem. Wise men like these direct the state, the government and the army. Wise men like these control public opinion through the media.
What is common to all of them: blunted sensibilities to the feelings of anybody who is not Jewish/Israeli. From this springs their inability to understand the psychology of the other side, and hence the consequences of their own words and actions.
This is also expressed in the inability to understand why the Hamas people claimed victory in the five-Day War. What victory? After all, only two Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were killed, as against 120 Palestinian dead, both fighters and civilians.
But this battle was fought between one of the strongest armies in the world, equipped with the most modern arms on earth, and a few thousand irregulars with primitive arms. If the battle ended in a draw - and such a battle always ends in a draw - this is a great victory for the weak side. In Lebanon War II and in the Gaza war.
(Binyamin Netanyahu made one of the most stupid statement this week, when he demanded that "the Israeli army must move from attrition to decision". In a struggle like this, there never is a decision.)
The real effect of such an operation is not expressed in material and quantitative facts: so-and-so many dead, so-and-so many injured, so-and-so much destroyed. It is expressed in psychological results that cannot be measured, and therefore are inaccessible to the minds of generals: how much hatred has been added to the seething pool, how many new potential suicide bombers were produced, how many people vowed revenge and became ticking bombs - like the Jerusalem youngster, who woke up one bright morning this week, got himself a weapon, went to the Mercaz Harav yeshiva, the mother of all settlements, and killed as many as he could.
Now the political and military leadership of Israel sits down to discuss what to do, how to "respond". No new idea has come up or will come up, because not one of these politicians and generals is able to bring up a new idea. They can only go back to the hundred things they have already done, and that have failed a hundred times.
THE FIRST step on the way out of this madness is the readiness to question all our concepts and methods of the last 60 years and start thinking again, right from the beginning.
That is always hard. That is even harder for us, because our leadership has no freedom of thought - its thinking is very closely tied to the thinking of the American leadership.
This week, a shocking document was published: David Rose's article in Vanity Fair. It describes how US officials have in recent years dictated every single step of the Palestinian leadership, down to the most minute detail. Though the article does not touch the Israeli-American relationship (in itself a surprising omission) it goes without saying that the American course, including the smallest items, is coordinated with the Israeli government.
Why shocking? These things were already known, in general terms. In this respect, that article held no surprises: (a) The Americans ordered Mahmoud Abbas to hold parliamentary elections, in order to present Bush as bringing democracy to the Middle East. (b) Hamas won a surprise victory. (c) The Americans imposed a boycott on the Palestinians, in order to nullify the election results. (d) Abbas diverted for a moment from the policy dictated to him and, under Saudi auspices (and pressure), made an agreement with Hamas, (e) The Americans put an end to this and compelled Abbas to turn over all security services to Muhammad Dahlan, whom they had chosen for the role of strongman in Palestine, (f) The Americans provided plenty of money and arms to Dahlan, trained his men and ordered him to carry out a military coup against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, (g) The elected Hamas government forestalled the move and itself carried out an armed counter-coup.
All this was known before. What is new is that the mixture of news, rumors and intelligent guesses has now condensed into an authoritative, well substantiated report, based on official US documents. It testifies to the abysmal American ignorance, which trumps even Israeli ignorance, of the internal Palestinian processes.
George Bush, Condoleezza Rice, the Zionist neocon Elliott Abrams and the assortment of American generals innocent of any knowledge are competing with Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak and our own assorted generals, whose understanding reaches as far as the end of the gun barrels of their tanks.
The Americans have in the meantime destroyed Dahlan by exposing him publicly as their agent, on the lines of "he's a son-of-a-bitch, but he is our son-of-a-bitch". This week Condoleezza dealt a mortal blow to Abbas, too. He had announced in the morning that he was suspending the (meaningless) peace negotiations with Israel, the very minimum he could do in response to the Gaza atrocities. Rice, who received the news while she was having breakfast in the exciting company of Livni, immediately called Abbas and ordered him to cancel his announcement. Abbas gave in, thus exposing himself to his people in all his nakedness.
LOGIC WAS not given to the People of Israel on Mount Sinai, but handed down from Mount Olympus to the ancient Greeks. In spite of this drawback, let us try to apply it.
What is our government trying to achieve in Gaza? It wants to topple Hamas rule (and incidentally also put an end to the launching of rockets against Israel).
It tried to achieve this by imposing a total blockade on the population, hoping that they would rise up and overthrow Hamas. This failed. The alternative course is to re-occupy the entire Strip. That would carry a high price in lives of soldiers, perhaps more than the Israeli public is ready to pay. Also, it will not help, because Hamas will return the moment the Israeli troops withdraw. (In accordance with Mao Zedong's first rule for guerrillas: "When the enemy advances, withdraw. When the enemy withdraws, advance.")
The only result of the Five-Day War is the strengthening of Hamas and the rallying of the Palestinian people behind it - not just in the Gaza Strip, but in the West Bank and Jerusalem, too. Their victory celebration was justified. The launching of rockets did not stop. The range of the rockets is increasing.
But let us assume that this policy had succeeded and that Hamas had been broken. What then? Abbas and Dahlan could return only on top of Israeli tanks, as subcontractors of the occupation. No insurance company would cover their lives. And if they did not come back, there would be chaos, out of which extreme forces would emerge the like of which we cannot even imagine.
Conclusion: Hamas is there. It cannot be ignored. We have to reach a cease-fire with it. Not a sham offer of "if they stop shooting first, then we will stop shooting". A cease-fire, like a tango, needs two participants. It must come out of a detailed agreement that will include the cessation of all hostilities, armed and otherwise, in all the territories.
The cease-fire will not hold if it is not accompanied by speeded-up negotiations for a long-term armistice (hudna) and peace. Such negotiations cannot be held with Fatah and not Hamas, nor with Hamas and not Fatah. Therefore, what is needed is a Palestinian government that includes both movements. It must bring in personalities who enjoy the confidence of the entire Palestinian people, such as Marwan Barghouti.
That is the very opposite of the present Israeli-American policy, which forbids Abbas even to talk with Hamas. In all the Israeli leadership, as in all the American leadership, there is no one who dares to spell this out openly. Therefore, what has been is what will be.
We will kill a hundred Turks and rest. And from time to time, a Turk will come and kill some of us.
Why, for God's sake? What have we done to them?
By Uri Avnery
I WAS reminded this week of the old tale about a Jewish mother taking leave of her son, who has been called up to serve in the Czar's army against the Turks.
"Don't exert yourself too much," she admonishes him, "Kill a Turk and rest. Kill another Turk and rest again."
"But mother," he exclaims, "What if the Turk kills me?"
"Kill you?" she cries out, "Why? What have you done to him?"
This is not a joke (and this is not a week for jokes). It is a lesson in psychology. I was reminded of it when I read Ehud Olmert's statement that more than anything else he was furious about the outburst of joy in Gaza after the attack in Jerusalem, in which eight yeshiva students were killed.
Before that, last weekend, the Israeli army killed 120 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, half of them civilians, among them dozens of children. That was not "kill a Turk and rest". That was "kill a hundred Turks and rest". But Olmert does not understand.
THE FIVE-DAY WAR in Gaza (as a Hamas leader called it) was but another short chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. This bloody monster is never satisfied, its appetite just grows with the eating.
This chapter started with the "targeted liquidation" of five senior militants inside the Gaza Strip. The "response" was a salvo of rockets, and this time not only on Sderot, but also on Ashkelon and Netivot. The "response" to the "response" was the army's incursion and the wholesale killing.
The stated aim was, as always, to stop the launching of the rockets. The means: killing a maximum of Palestinians, in order to teach them a lesson. The decision was based on the traditional Israeli concept: hit the civilian population again and again, until it overthrows its leaders. This has been tried hundreds of times and has failed hundreds of times.
As if an example for the folly of the propagators of this concept had been lacking, it was provided on TV by ex-general Matan Vilnai, when he said that the Palestinians are "bringing a Shoah on themselves". The Hebrew word Shoah is known all over the world, where it has one clear meaning:
the Holocaust carried out by the Nazis against the Jews. Vilnai's utterance spread like a bushfire throughout the Arab world and set off a shock wave. I, too, received dozens of phone calls and e-mail messages from all over the world. How to convince people that in day-to-day Hebrew usage, Shoah means "only" a great disaster, and that General Vilnai, a former candidate for Chief of Staff, is not the most intelligent of people?
Some years ago, President Bush called for a "Crusade" against terrorism. He had no idea that for hundreds of millions of Arabs, the word "Crusade" brings to mind one of the biggest crimes in human history, the appalling massacre committed by the original crusaders against the Muslims (and Jews) in the alleys of Jerusalem. In an intelligence contest between Bush and Vilnai, the outcome, if any, would be in doubt.
VILNAI DOES not understand what the word "Shoah" means to others, and Olmert does not understand why there is rejoicing in Gaza after the attack on the yeshiva in Jerusalem. Wise men like these direct the state, the government and the army. Wise men like these control public opinion through the media.
What is common to all of them: blunted sensibilities to the feelings of anybody who is not Jewish/Israeli. From this springs their inability to understand the psychology of the other side, and hence the consequences of their own words and actions.
This is also expressed in the inability to understand why the Hamas people claimed victory in the five-Day War. What victory? After all, only two Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were killed, as against 120 Palestinian dead, both fighters and civilians.
But this battle was fought between one of the strongest armies in the world, equipped with the most modern arms on earth, and a few thousand irregulars with primitive arms. If the battle ended in a draw - and such a battle always ends in a draw - this is a great victory for the weak side. In Lebanon War II and in the Gaza war.
(Binyamin Netanyahu made one of the most stupid statement this week, when he demanded that "the Israeli army must move from attrition to decision". In a struggle like this, there never is a decision.)
The real effect of such an operation is not expressed in material and quantitative facts: so-and-so many dead, so-and-so many injured, so-and-so much destroyed. It is expressed in psychological results that cannot be measured, and therefore are inaccessible to the minds of generals: how much hatred has been added to the seething pool, how many new potential suicide bombers were produced, how many people vowed revenge and became ticking bombs - like the Jerusalem youngster, who woke up one bright morning this week, got himself a weapon, went to the Mercaz Harav yeshiva, the mother of all settlements, and killed as many as he could.
Now the political and military leadership of Israel sits down to discuss what to do, how to "respond". No new idea has come up or will come up, because not one of these politicians and generals is able to bring up a new idea. They can only go back to the hundred things they have already done, and that have failed a hundred times.
THE FIRST step on the way out of this madness is the readiness to question all our concepts and methods of the last 60 years and start thinking again, right from the beginning.
That is always hard. That is even harder for us, because our leadership has no freedom of thought - its thinking is very closely tied to the thinking of the American leadership.
This week, a shocking document was published: David Rose's article in Vanity Fair. It describes how US officials have in recent years dictated every single step of the Palestinian leadership, down to the most minute detail. Though the article does not touch the Israeli-American relationship (in itself a surprising omission) it goes without saying that the American course, including the smallest items, is coordinated with the Israeli government.
Why shocking? These things were already known, in general terms. In this respect, that article held no surprises: (a) The Americans ordered Mahmoud Abbas to hold parliamentary elections, in order to present Bush as bringing democracy to the Middle East. (b) Hamas won a surprise victory. (c) The Americans imposed a boycott on the Palestinians, in order to nullify the election results. (d) Abbas diverted for a moment from the policy dictated to him and, under Saudi auspices (and pressure), made an agreement with Hamas, (e) The Americans put an end to this and compelled Abbas to turn over all security services to Muhammad Dahlan, whom they had chosen for the role of strongman in Palestine, (f) The Americans provided plenty of money and arms to Dahlan, trained his men and ordered him to carry out a military coup against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, (g) The elected Hamas government forestalled the move and itself carried out an armed counter-coup.
All this was known before. What is new is that the mixture of news, rumors and intelligent guesses has now condensed into an authoritative, well substantiated report, based on official US documents. It testifies to the abysmal American ignorance, which trumps even Israeli ignorance, of the internal Palestinian processes.
George Bush, Condoleezza Rice, the Zionist neocon Elliott Abrams and the assortment of American generals innocent of any knowledge are competing with Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak and our own assorted generals, whose understanding reaches as far as the end of the gun barrels of their tanks.
The Americans have in the meantime destroyed Dahlan by exposing him publicly as their agent, on the lines of "he's a son-of-a-bitch, but he is our son-of-a-bitch". This week Condoleezza dealt a mortal blow to Abbas, too. He had announced in the morning that he was suspending the (meaningless) peace negotiations with Israel, the very minimum he could do in response to the Gaza atrocities. Rice, who received the news while she was having breakfast in the exciting company of Livni, immediately called Abbas and ordered him to cancel his announcement. Abbas gave in, thus exposing himself to his people in all his nakedness.
LOGIC WAS not given to the People of Israel on Mount Sinai, but handed down from Mount Olympus to the ancient Greeks. In spite of this drawback, let us try to apply it.
What is our government trying to achieve in Gaza? It wants to topple Hamas rule (and incidentally also put an end to the launching of rockets against Israel).
It tried to achieve this by imposing a total blockade on the population, hoping that they would rise up and overthrow Hamas. This failed. The alternative course is to re-occupy the entire Strip. That would carry a high price in lives of soldiers, perhaps more than the Israeli public is ready to pay. Also, it will not help, because Hamas will return the moment the Israeli troops withdraw. (In accordance with Mao Zedong's first rule for guerrillas: "When the enemy advances, withdraw. When the enemy withdraws, advance.")
The only result of the Five-Day War is the strengthening of Hamas and the rallying of the Palestinian people behind it - not just in the Gaza Strip, but in the West Bank and Jerusalem, too. Their victory celebration was justified. The launching of rockets did not stop. The range of the rockets is increasing.
But let us assume that this policy had succeeded and that Hamas had been broken. What then? Abbas and Dahlan could return only on top of Israeli tanks, as subcontractors of the occupation. No insurance company would cover their lives. And if they did not come back, there would be chaos, out of which extreme forces would emerge the like of which we cannot even imagine.
Conclusion: Hamas is there. It cannot be ignored. We have to reach a cease-fire with it. Not a sham offer of "if they stop shooting first, then we will stop shooting". A cease-fire, like a tango, needs two participants. It must come out of a detailed agreement that will include the cessation of all hostilities, armed and otherwise, in all the territories.
The cease-fire will not hold if it is not accompanied by speeded-up negotiations for a long-term armistice (hudna) and peace. Such negotiations cannot be held with Fatah and not Hamas, nor with Hamas and not Fatah. Therefore, what is needed is a Palestinian government that includes both movements. It must bring in personalities who enjoy the confidence of the entire Palestinian people, such as Marwan Barghouti.
That is the very opposite of the present Israeli-American policy, which forbids Abbas even to talk with Hamas. In all the Israeli leadership, as in all the American leadership, there is no one who dares to spell this out openly. Therefore, what has been is what will be.
We will kill a hundred Turks and rest. And from time to time, a Turk will come and kill some of us.
Why, for God's sake? What have we done to them?
Palestinian shot by Israeli forces near Kisufim
A Palestinian was shot by Israeli forces stationed at the Kisufim military site, east of the town of Al-Qarara, on Sunday, Palestinian medical sources said.
Muawiya Hasanain, the director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry, said that the Gazan resident is in serious condition, and has been transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for treatment.
Israeli sources claimed that Palestinian fighters opened fire at Israeli soldiers near Kisufim on Sunday, but reported no injuries.
A Palestinian was shot by Israeli forces stationed at the Kisufim military site, east of the town of Al-Qarara, on Sunday, Palestinian medical sources said.
Muawiya Hasanain, the director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry, said that the Gazan resident is in serious condition, and has been transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for treatment.
Israeli sources claimed that Palestinian fighters opened fire at Israeli soldiers near Kisufim on Sunday, but reported no injuries.
Second Israeli soldier dies from Islamic Jihad's border ambush
Hamas lashes out at OIC leader for condemning Jerusalem attack
Heads to the Right - By Gideon Levy
West Bank closure extended for at least 24 hours
Hamas lashes out at OIC leader for condemning Jerusalem attack
Heads to the Right - By Gideon Levy
West Bank closure extended for at least 24 hours
8 mar 2008
Israeli security minister calls for expelling East Jerusalem Palestinians involved attacks
Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said on Friday that Palestinians living in East Jerusalem should be expelled to the West Bank if they are found to be involved in "militant activity."
Dichter was speaking to mourners at Friday's funeral for eight students killed by an armed Palestinian man at the Mercaz Harav religious school in West Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
The attacker in Thursday's attack is believed to be either a resident of East Jerusalem or a Palestinian citizen of Israel. Palestinian residents of the West Bank are only allowed into greater Jerusalem with hard-to-obtain permits.
Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said on Friday that Palestinians living in East Jerusalem should be expelled to the West Bank if they are found to be involved in "militant activity."
Dichter was speaking to mourners at Friday's funeral for eight students killed by an armed Palestinian man at the Mercaz Harav religious school in West Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
The attacker in Thursday's attack is believed to be either a resident of East Jerusalem or a Palestinian citizen of Israel. Palestinian residents of the West Bank are only allowed into greater Jerusalem with hard-to-obtain permits.
Two members of the armed wing of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades were wounded, one seriously, in an Israeli raid on the Ash-Shaja'eyah neighborhood of Gaza City.
Mu'awiyah Hassanain, the head of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said that the two injured men were taken to Ash-Shifa hospital in Gaza.
Mu'awiyah Hassanain, the head of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said that the two injured men were taken to Ash-Shifa hospital in Gaza.
Four Palestinians were injured and three seized during an Israeli military raid in the town of Beit Fajjar, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday night.
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli special forces troops stormed the town and began shooting. Ahmas Issa Abu Ya'qub was shot in the stomach. His injury was described as seirous.
Medical sources told Ma'an that occupation forces seized 18-year-old Mohammad Mahmoud Abdel-Salam, who had been injured in the attack, by forcibly removing him from an ambulance. Imad Musa Taqatqa and Mahmoud Thawabta, both 20 years old, were also injured and then detained by the Israeli forces.
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli special forces troops stormed the town and began shooting. Ahmas Issa Abu Ya'qub was shot in the stomach. His injury was described as seirous.
Medical sources told Ma'an that occupation forces seized 18-year-old Mohammad Mahmoud Abdel-Salam, who had been injured in the attack, by forcibly removing him from an ambulance. Imad Musa Taqatqa and Mahmoud Thawabta, both 20 years old, were also injured and then detained by the Israeli forces.
Islamic Jihad spokesperson denies unannounced truce with Israel
PRCS in Lebanon holds protest over Gaza massacres
PLC speaker condemns settler attack on Palestinian lawmaker
Hamas' armed wing denies claiming responsibility for Jerusalem shooting attack
PRCS in Lebanon holds protest over Gaza massacres
PLC speaker condemns settler attack on Palestinian lawmaker
Hamas' armed wing denies claiming responsibility for Jerusalem shooting attack
7 mar 2008
Israeli settlers attacked Siham Thabit, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), on Friday while she was driving near the West Bank city of Nablus.
Settlers assaulted the car when it passed the Yizhar settlement, smashing the windshield. Thabit was taken to a hospital in Nablus.
Thabit was driving from Tulkarem, where she is from, to Ramallah with her son Ahmad.
Thabit, a Fatah member, is widow of Fatah leader Thabit Thabit, who was assassinated by Israeli forces in 2000.
Israeli settlers have been enraged after an overnight shooting attack on a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem that left eight Israelis dead. The school is reported to be linked to the settler movement.
Settlers assaulted the car when it passed the Yizhar settlement, smashing the windshield. Thabit was taken to a hospital in Nablus.
Thabit was driving from Tulkarem, where she is from, to Ramallah with her son Ahmad.
Thabit, a Fatah member, is widow of Fatah leader Thabit Thabit, who was assassinated by Israeli forces in 2000.
Israeli settlers have been enraged after an overnight shooting attack on a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem that left eight Israelis dead. The school is reported to be linked to the settler movement.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the complete closure of the West Bank on Friday, sealing all entrances to Jerusalem and Israel.
According to the Defense Ministry, the closure will last at least until next Sunday, giving the Israeli security services time to re-evaluate the situation after the attack on a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
The Israeli police announced a state of alert in all Israeli cities, especially Jerusalem where thousands of soldiers and police officers deployed preventing Muslims from praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Meanwhile, extremist Jews threatened to take revenge, shouting "death to Arabs".
Barak said the attack represented the failure of the Palestinian Authority to fight "terrorism."
According to the Defense Ministry, the closure will last at least until next Sunday, giving the Israeli security services time to re-evaluate the situation after the attack on a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
The Israeli police announced a state of alert in all Israeli cities, especially Jerusalem where thousands of soldiers and police officers deployed preventing Muslims from praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Meanwhile, extremist Jews threatened to take revenge, shouting "death to Arabs".
Barak said the attack represented the failure of the Palestinian Authority to fight "terrorism."
The military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, said that their fighters clashed with undercover Israeli troops near Al-Ma'arri school, east of Al-Qarara in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday morning.
They said in a statement that their fighters injured Israeli soldiers, and that the operation was in response to Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
They said in a statement that their fighters injured Israeli soldiers, and that the operation was in response to Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces killed 40-year-old Nafith Abu Karsh in the Al-Waha area in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday.
A spokesperson for the armed wing of Fatah's armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, Abu Tha'ir said that Abu Karsh was one of their activists.
Muawiya Hasanain, the director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said Abu Karsh's body arrived at the Kamal Udwan hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.
A spokesperson for the armed wing of Fatah's armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, Abu Tha'ir said that Abu Karsh was one of their activists.
Muawiya Hasanain, the director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said Abu Karsh's body arrived at the Kamal Udwan hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army destroys Muhammad Shahada's house in Bethlehem
Israeli military forces invaded the West Bank city of Bethlehem overnight, demolishing two houses, seizing a Palestinian man and injuring another.
The forces withdrew on Friday morning.
Immediately after an attack on a Jewish school in Jerusalem, to the north of Bethlehem, Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers entered Bethlehem, surrounded the home of Islamic Jihad activist Muhammad Shahada and began to demolish the house.
The invading forces fired a missile at the two-storey house before bulldozers began demolishing it. They also demolished house of Shahada's father and seized his brother.
Local sources said that the Israeli forces closed the area surrounding Shahada's house and searched in the neighbor's houses looking for Shahada. Bethlehem resident Hasan Abu Sadud was shot in the foot.
Ma'an's reporter said that the Israeli soldiers forced all the residents of the neighborhood out into the street and ordered them to undress. Not knowing wether Shahada was present, the soldiers called Shahada through loudspeakers, demanding to emerge from the house.
Earlier on Thursday, 20-year-old Osama 'Eed from the village of Jurat Ash-Sham'a, near Bethlehem, was seriously injured after confrontations broke out between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian young people.
Israeli military forces invaded the West Bank city of Bethlehem overnight, demolishing two houses, seizing a Palestinian man and injuring another.
The forces withdrew on Friday morning.
Immediately after an attack on a Jewish school in Jerusalem, to the north of Bethlehem, Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers entered Bethlehem, surrounded the home of Islamic Jihad activist Muhammad Shahada and began to demolish the house.
The invading forces fired a missile at the two-storey house before bulldozers began demolishing it. They also demolished house of Shahada's father and seized his brother.
Local sources said that the Israeli forces closed the area surrounding Shahada's house and searched in the neighbor's houses looking for Shahada. Bethlehem resident Hasan Abu Sadud was shot in the foot.
Ma'an's reporter said that the Israeli soldiers forced all the residents of the neighborhood out into the street and ordered them to undress. Not knowing wether Shahada was present, the soldiers called Shahada through loudspeakers, demanding to emerge from the house.
Earlier on Thursday, 20-year-old Osama 'Eed from the village of Jurat Ash-Sham'a, near Bethlehem, was seriously injured after confrontations broke out between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian young people.
The procession in Khan Younis
Crowds of Palestinians took to the streets in Gaza City and Khan Younis on Friday for the funeral processions of four Palestinians killed by Israeli forces on Thursday.
The funeral of Islamic Jihad fighters Fadi Abu Haddaf, Sa'id Abu Haddaf and Zakariyya Al-'Imawi were held in Khan Younis. The procession began at at Nasser Hospital, proceeded to houses of the families of the death for before prayer at Sheikh Hammuda Mosque and finally to the eastern cemetery in the city.
Meanwhile, the funeral procession of Nafidh Abu Karsh, a member of the armed wing of Fatah, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, was held in the Saftawi neighborhood in Gaza City.
The mourners in both processions shouted slogans condemning what they see as criminal Israeli attacks on Gaza and calling on all Palestinian military groups to take revenge. Militants who led the processions fired into the air, expressing their anger.
Crowds of Palestinians took to the streets in Gaza City and Khan Younis on Friday for the funeral processions of four Palestinians killed by Israeli forces on Thursday.
The funeral of Islamic Jihad fighters Fadi Abu Haddaf, Sa'id Abu Haddaf and Zakariyya Al-'Imawi were held in Khan Younis. The procession began at at Nasser Hospital, proceeded to houses of the families of the death for before prayer at Sheikh Hammuda Mosque and finally to the eastern cemetery in the city.
Meanwhile, the funeral procession of Nafidh Abu Karsh, a member of the armed wing of Fatah, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, was held in the Saftawi neighborhood in Gaza City.
The mourners in both processions shouted slogans condemning what they see as criminal Israeli attacks on Gaza and calling on all Palestinian military groups to take revenge. Militants who led the processions fired into the air, expressing their anger.
Israeli forces killed 22 Palestinian students over last week
Israeli military forces killed 22 Palestinian students in the last week, 20 of them in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ministry of Education said on Thursday. Ten other students were injured.
In a new report, the Ministry said that "Rafah Martyr Secondary School and Beer Al- Sabeaa Secondary school became a subject of the Israeli atrocities. The Israeli incursion troops used their weapons against the two schools, causing serious damages in school buildings and full windows' breakages."
In addition, Israeli curfews prevented students in the West Bank towns of Azzoun, Al-Funduq and Haja to attend their classes.
The Ministry called on the international community to intervene ensure the rights of Palestinian students
Israeli military forces killed 22 Palestinian students in the last week, 20 of them in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ministry of Education said on Thursday. Ten other students were injured.
In a new report, the Ministry said that "Rafah Martyr Secondary School and Beer Al- Sabeaa Secondary school became a subject of the Israeli atrocities. The Israeli incursion troops used their weapons against the two schools, causing serious damages in school buildings and full windows' breakages."
In addition, Israeli curfews prevented students in the West Bank towns of Azzoun, Al-Funduq and Haja to attend their classes.
The Ministry called on the international community to intervene ensure the rights of Palestinian students
Hamas political leadership hesitant to claim responsibility for Jerusalem attack
Exclusive: Ahrar Al-Jalil claims responsibility for Jerusalem shooting attack
Palestinian kills 8 in attack on Jewish religious school in Jerusalem
Exclusive: Ahrar Al-Jalil claims responsibility for Jerusalem shooting attack
Palestinian kills 8 in attack on Jewish religious school in Jerusalem
6 mar 2008
Olmert attempting to dodge blame for potential failure in Gaza
Nasser Lahham - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert tricked his political opponent, Ehud Barak, the chair of the Labor party, during the Israeli cabinet session on Wednesday. Meanwhile, ministers from Olmert's Kadima party, including Haim Ramon and Avi Dichter, and even ministers from the religious Shas party, demanded that Olmert order the army to undertake a major ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
Only a month ago, Barak called upon Olmert to resign after his failure in the war against Hizbullah in Lebanon in the summer of 2006. He did not realize that Olmert has learned from his failure in Lebanon, and is pressuring his ministers to take decisive action against the projectiles being launched from the Gaza Strip.
When the cabinet decided to ask the Israeli army to resolve the problem of projectiles at any cost, the move was intended to exert pressure on the Labor party. Since Barak is the defense minister, if he fails to stop projectile attacks from the Gaza strip, the Labor party will be blamed rather than Olmert's Kadima party.
It is possible that Barak understood Olmert's plot, and that he will hold back from ending his political ambitions by ordering a sudden incursion into the Gaza Strip. His recent divorce may add to his psychological instability at the moment, and his desire to avoid another defeat.
It was Barak himself who gave the directive for unilateral disengagement from Lebanon in 2000, which implies that he might resign to keep what is left of his political image, leaving the Gaza Strip issue in the hands of Olmert. It is an issue that all Israeli politicians want to avoid but cannot ignore.
Yet another question which needs to be answered is: how will Barak withdraw from Olmert's coalition government? Quite simply, he will push the religious Shas party to withdraw from the coalition.
Barak decided on Thursday to draft 1000 religious Israelis to the military service, in contradiction to the original terms of the coalition. This will pressure the Shas into withdrawing from the coalition.
Only a month ago, Barak called upon Olmert to resign after his failure in the war against Hizbullah in Lebanon in the summer of 2006. He did not realize that Olmert has learned from his failure in Lebanon, and is pressuring his ministers to take decisive action against the projectiles being launched from the Gaza Strip.
When the cabinet decided to ask the Israeli army to resolve the problem of projectiles at any cost, the move was intended to exert pressure on the Labor party. Since Barak is the defense minister, if he fails to stop projectile attacks from the Gaza strip, the Labor party will be blamed rather than Olmert's Kadima party.
It is possible that Barak understood Olmert's plot, and that he will hold back from ending his political ambitions by ordering a sudden incursion into the Gaza Strip. His recent divorce may add to his psychological instability at the moment, and his desire to avoid another defeat.
It was Barak himself who gave the directive for unilateral disengagement from Lebanon in 2000, which implies that he might resign to keep what is left of his political image, leaving the Gaza Strip issue in the hands of Olmert. It is an issue that all Israeli politicians want to avoid but cannot ignore.
Yet another question which needs to be answered is: how will Barak withdraw from Olmert's coalition government? Quite simply, he will push the religious Shas party to withdraw from the coalition.
Barak decided on Thursday to draft 1000 religious Israelis to the military service, in contradiction to the original terms of the coalition. This will pressure the Shas into withdrawing from the coalition.
PLO initial report: Israeli assaults against Palestinians increased in February
Ameera Khalid Abu Aser 2 weeks old
The monitoring group affiliated with the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) announced on Thursday, in the initial draft of their monthly report, that Israeli assaults against Palestinians increased noticeably during February 2008 in all Palestinian districts. The final report is expected to be released in the coming days.
Assassinations
The report lists five instances in which Israeli forces committed "targeted" assassinations of Palestinians in February:
An unmanned Israeli reconnaissance plane launched a missile at a civilian car in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, killing Amir Qarmut and injuring two others
Undercover Israeli forces entered Nablus, in the northern West Bank, in a Palestinian-plated car, then shot dead Ibrahim Al-Masimi and injured three others.
Israeli helicopters fired a missile at Palestinian activists driving a car in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, killing Jawad Tafish, Hamza Al-Hayya and Rami Khalifa, and injuring one other.
Killings, arrests, incursions and checkpoints
The report says that the total Palestinian death toll resulting from Israeli military operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip reached 69 in Gaza and seven in the West Bank. Among the victims were 11 children, including a 5-month-old child, a disabled man, a prisoner in an Israeli prison, and 49 members of military groups.
The document also reports that 208 Palestinians were injured in February in the Gaza Strip and 57 in the West Bank, including 26 children and 69 members of military groups. 664 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank. The Israeli army conducted 857 incursions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and erected flying checkpoints 564 times in the West Bank.
The monitoring group affiliated with the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) announced on Thursday, in the initial draft of their monthly report, that Israeli assaults against Palestinians increased noticeably during February 2008 in all Palestinian districts. The final report is expected to be released in the coming days.
Assassinations
The report lists five instances in which Israeli forces committed "targeted" assassinations of Palestinians in February:
An unmanned Israeli reconnaissance plane launched a missile at a civilian car in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, killing Amir Qarmut and injuring two others
Undercover Israeli forces entered Nablus, in the northern West Bank, in a Palestinian-plated car, then shot dead Ibrahim Al-Masimi and injured three others.
Israeli helicopters fired a missile at Palestinian activists driving a car in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, killing Jawad Tafish, Hamza Al-Hayya and Rami Khalifa, and injuring one other.
Killings, arrests, incursions and checkpoints
The report says that the total Palestinian death toll resulting from Israeli military operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip reached 69 in Gaza and seven in the West Bank. Among the victims were 11 children, including a 5-month-old child, a disabled man, a prisoner in an Israeli prison, and 49 members of military groups.
The document also reports that 208 Palestinians were injured in February in the Gaza Strip and 57 in the West Bank, including 26 children and 69 members of military groups. 664 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank. The Israeli army conducted 857 incursions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and erected flying checkpoints 564 times in the West Bank.
Elderly Palestinian woman dies of heart attack after Israeli soldiers abducted her son
An elderly Palestinian woman died of a heart attack when Israeli soldiers raided her home in Balata refugee camp, in eastern Nablus in the northern West Bank, on Thursday.
Local sources said that 72-year-old Zakiyya Al-Ammuri suffered a fatal heart attack when Israeli troops ransacked her home and abducted her son.
Israeli forces seized three Palestinians in Balata this morning.
Local sources said that 72-year-old Zakiyya Al-Ammuri suffered a fatal heart attack when Israeli troops ransacked her home and abducted her son.
Israeli forces seized three Palestinians in Balata this morning.
Palestinian activist killed by Israeli missile, another injured, near Jabalia
One Palestinian fighter was killed and another was injured when Israeli warplanes fired a missile at Qleibo hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on Thursday.
The director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian health ministry, Muawiya Hassanein, named the victim as 20-year-old Nadir Abu Dayir, who was hit directly by the missile, tearing his body in half. He added that another man arrived at the hospital with moderate wounds.
One Palestinian fighter was killed and another was injured when Israeli warplanes fired a missile at Qleibo hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on Thursday.
The director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian health ministry, Muawiya Hassanein, named the victim as 20-year-old Nadir Abu Dayir, who was hit directly by the missile, tearing his body in half. He added that another man arrived at the hospital with moderate wounds.
The all mighty Israeli Force strikes again
Ameera Khalid Abu Aser 2 weeks old
By: Mitri I. Musleh
Ma'an News Agency reported that Israeli forces, killed a senior leader of Islamic Jihad, Yousif Smairi, execution style. While doing so, this mighty Israeli Defense Force, shot and killed a two-week-old infant Amira Abu Asir.
Ma'an continued to say that, "Israeli military sources claimed that the operation was part of their effort to stop what they called 'terrorist assaults' at the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip. They affirmed that such incursions will continue in the future."
The disturbing fact that lies behind such act is the outright, cold blooded murder of a two-week infant. How was the infant Amira a threat to Israeli security that the Israeli force felt compelled to eliminating her? Needless to say, Amira is not the first helpless young Palestinian victim to pay dearly for unforgiving actions of the Israeli Defense Force which prides itself as being the strongest, well equipped and most disciplined force in the region.
Israeli leaders continuously state that their actions are justified because they are trying to protect themselves from the poorly equipped, sadly trained and virtually imprisoned and outnumbered Palestinian 'terrorists' whose only crime is being born Palestinians.
Can the Israeli soldier, who fired the shot that ended the life of Amira, sleep tonight? Can the Israeli officer, who ordered the shooting, sleep tonight? Let me tell you the truth, I am detached from the conflict as I live far away and yet, I know, I will not be able to sleep tonight.
By: Mitri I. Musleh
Ma'an News Agency reported that Israeli forces, killed a senior leader of Islamic Jihad, Yousif Smairi, execution style. While doing so, this mighty Israeli Defense Force, shot and killed a two-week-old infant Amira Abu Asir.
Ma'an continued to say that, "Israeli military sources claimed that the operation was part of their effort to stop what they called 'terrorist assaults' at the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip. They affirmed that such incursions will continue in the future."
The disturbing fact that lies behind such act is the outright, cold blooded murder of a two-week infant. How was the infant Amira a threat to Israeli security that the Israeli force felt compelled to eliminating her? Needless to say, Amira is not the first helpless young Palestinian victim to pay dearly for unforgiving actions of the Israeli Defense Force which prides itself as being the strongest, well equipped and most disciplined force in the region.
Israeli leaders continuously state that their actions are justified because they are trying to protect themselves from the poorly equipped, sadly trained and virtually imprisoned and outnumbered Palestinian 'terrorists' whose only crime is being born Palestinians.
Can the Israeli soldier, who fired the shot that ended the life of Amira, sleep tonight? Can the Israeli officer, who ordered the shooting, sleep tonight? Let me tell you the truth, I am detached from the conflict as I live far away and yet, I know, I will not be able to sleep tonight.
Israeli soldier killed, another seriously injured, in fighting in southern Gaza
Masked Al-Quds Brigades fighter at a press conference in Gaza City, 6 March 2008
The Israeli army confirmed that an Israeli soldier was killed and another was seriously injured on Thursday during clashes with Palestinian fighters near the Kisufim military post east of Al-Qarara, in the southern Gaza Strip.
The injured soldier has been taken to Soroka hospital in Be'er Sheva, the Israeli army said.
Witnesses said that fierce fighting between Palestinian fighters and Israeli soldiers took place 200 meters from the military installation.
The witnesses said that they heard a thunderous explosion and saw an Israeli military jeep completely burned at 8:10am, as if the jeep had driven over a powerful landmine.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces progressed one kilometer in the area firing shells at Palestinian houses.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Israeli army confirmed that an Israeli soldier was killed and another was seriously injured on Thursday during clashes with Palestinian fighters near the Kisufim military post east of Al-Qarara, in the southern Gaza Strip.
The injured soldier has been taken to Soroka hospital in Be'er Sheva, the Israeli army said.
Witnesses said that fierce fighting between Palestinian fighters and Israeli soldiers took place 200 meters from the military installation.
The witnesses said that they heard a thunderous explosion and saw an Israeli military jeep completely burned at 8:10am, as if the jeep had driven over a powerful landmine.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces progressed one kilometer in the area firing shells at Palestinian houses.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Palestinian killed, Israeli injured, after attack on checkpoint near Hebron
A Palestinian man was killed and an Israeli was seriously injured when gunmen opened fire near the Tarqumiya commercial crossing near the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian sources said.
The sources said that 40-year-old Muhammad Nofal from the southern West Bank town of Idhna, south of Hebron, was killed after he sustained serious wounds in his stomach as his car came under fire near the Tarqomia crossing.
The sources did not verify whether the fire came from Israeli soldiers who were manning the crossing or other sources. They said that an Israeli ambulance evacuated the injured Israeli to hospital.
In the same regard, Fatah's Al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for shooting at an Israeli car near Tarqumiya crossing in retaliation for the assassination of Hizbullah's military leader Imad Mughniyya.
According to Al-Aqsa Brigades, the plan was originally aimed at kidnapping the Israeli, yet a patrol arrived on the spot impeding the abduction, so they decided to shoot at the target.
Eyewitnesses said that following the incident more than 30 Israeli military vehicles raided Idhna, and a confrontation ensued between Palestinian youths and the invading Israeli forces.
The sources said that 40-year-old Muhammad Nofal from the southern West Bank town of Idhna, south of Hebron, was killed after he sustained serious wounds in his stomach as his car came under fire near the Tarqomia crossing.
The sources did not verify whether the fire came from Israeli soldiers who were manning the crossing or other sources. They said that an Israeli ambulance evacuated the injured Israeli to hospital.
In the same regard, Fatah's Al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for shooting at an Israeli car near Tarqumiya crossing in retaliation for the assassination of Hizbullah's military leader Imad Mughniyya.
According to Al-Aqsa Brigades, the plan was originally aimed at kidnapping the Israeli, yet a patrol arrived on the spot impeding the abduction, so they decided to shoot at the target.
Eyewitnesses said that following the incident more than 30 Israeli military vehicles raided Idhna, and a confrontation ensued between Palestinian youths and the invading Israeli forces.
Al-Aqsa Brigades shoot at Israeli military vehicle near Qalqilia
Al-Quds Brigades launch four projectiles at Sderot
DFLP's military wing launches projectile at Sderot
Israeli forces impose curfew on West Bank town of Husan
5 mar 2008
Abbas demands ceasefire; Israeli cabinet orders more attacks
Before political negotiations can resume between Palestinian and Israeli officials, Israel must agree to a ceasefire immediately, Palestinian president Mahmouh Abbas said during a joint press conference in Ramallah with the president of Hungary on Tuesday.
Separately, Arab foreign ministers have threatened to withdraw the Arab peace initiative proposed in Beirut in 2002 if Israel continues its attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Abbas suspended talks with Israel after a massive Israeli incursion in the Gaza Strip left more than 100 Palestinians dead, more than half of them civilians.
Israeli government orders more attacks
Israeli Security Cabinet meanwhile gave the Israeli military a green light to continue to attack the Gaza Strip, contrary to the Palestinian Authority's requests. However, Israeli minister of Internal Security Avi Dichter abstained from the vote on the order and recommended that Israel attack the Gaza Strip only if Hamas attacks Israeli towns.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet that military operations in the Gaza Strip will continue until Palestinians stop launching projectiles at Israeli towns.
In the same Cabinet meeting, David Tal, an Israeli member of the Knesset from Kadima, accused the government of ignoring the plight of the border Sderot, which as been the target of Palestinian projectile attacks for years, and choosing to invade the Gaza Strip only when the projectiles targeted Ashkelon.
A statement from the Security Cabinet said Israel's plans include "Action against launch areas and striking at projectile weapons' support network of activists and knowledge, and production and storage facilities, and against other military and infrastructure targets.
The cabinet also approved more attacks on "Hamas institutions in the Gaza Strip."
"The targets will be approved by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni," the statement added.
Separately, Arab foreign ministers have threatened to withdraw the Arab peace initiative proposed in Beirut in 2002 if Israel continues its attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Abbas suspended talks with Israel after a massive Israeli incursion in the Gaza Strip left more than 100 Palestinians dead, more than half of them civilians.
Israeli government orders more attacks
Israeli Security Cabinet meanwhile gave the Israeli military a green light to continue to attack the Gaza Strip, contrary to the Palestinian Authority's requests. However, Israeli minister of Internal Security Avi Dichter abstained from the vote on the order and recommended that Israel attack the Gaza Strip only if Hamas attacks Israeli towns.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet that military operations in the Gaza Strip will continue until Palestinians stop launching projectiles at Israeli towns.
In the same Cabinet meeting, David Tal, an Israeli member of the Knesset from Kadima, accused the government of ignoring the plight of the border Sderot, which as been the target of Palestinian projectile attacks for years, and choosing to invade the Gaza Strip only when the projectiles targeted Ashkelon.
A statement from the Security Cabinet said Israel's plans include "Action against launch areas and striking at projectile weapons' support network of activists and knowledge, and production and storage facilities, and against other military and infrastructure targets.
The cabinet also approved more attacks on "Hamas institutions in the Gaza Strip."
"The targets will be approved by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni," the statement added.
Body recovered in Jabalia brings toll to 129 in Gaza incursion
The corpse of a Palestinian man found buried in the Gaza Strip raises the death toll of Israel's five-day incursion that ended Monday to 129.
Palestinian medics found the body of 45-year-old Na'im Hamdiyya in the area of Izbat Abid Rabbu in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.
Muawiya Hasanain, the director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said the victim appeared to have been killed three days ago during the Israeli incursion.
The corpse of a Palestinian man found buried in the Gaza Strip raises the death toll of Israel's five-day incursion that ended Monday to 129.
Palestinian medics found the body of 45-year-old Na'im Hamdiyya in the area of Izbat Abid Rabbu in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.
Muawiya Hasanain, the director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said the victim appeared to have been killed three days ago during the Israeli incursion.
Khan Younis buries its dead
Scores of Palestinians in Khan Younis and Gaza City took place in the funeral procession for Yousif Smairi, a leader of Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades, and Amira Abu Asir, a two-week-old baby girl. Both were killed when Israeli forces invaded the town of Al-Qarara, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday evening.
Gunmen fired into the air in anger as they lead the procession, and mourners shouted slogans denouncing Israeli atrocities, especially the targeting of women and children, and called on Palestinian resistance fighters to retaliate.
Gunmen fired into the air in anger as they lead the procession, and mourners shouted slogans denouncing Israeli atrocities, especially the targeting of women and children, and called on Palestinian resistance fighters to retaliate.
Israeli soldiers fire at Palestinian taxi driver near Ramallah
Israeli border guards on Wednesday attacked a Palestinian taxi driver on his way from the West Bank village of Rantis to the city of Ramallah.
The taxi driver, 43-year-old Jawdat Shaladwa, told Ma'an that he was driving his taxi close to three Israeli military jeeps, when a soldier fired a clip of rubber-coated metal bullets at the taxi, smashing the front windshield.
"Fortunately, the windshield was fortified with a plastic coat which reduced the effect of the bullets which hit me in the neck, yet I did not need to be hospitalized," explained Shaladwa.
He said the attack was not unprecedented as the Israeli soldiers haven often attacked drivers and try to provoke them by impeding their movement from Rantis to Ramallah.
The taxi driver, 43-year-old Jawdat Shaladwa, told Ma'an that he was driving his taxi close to three Israeli military jeeps, when a soldier fired a clip of rubber-coated metal bullets at the taxi, smashing the front windshield.
"Fortunately, the windshield was fortified with a plastic coat which reduced the effect of the bullets which hit me in the neck, yet I did not need to be hospitalized," explained Shaladwa.
He said the attack was not unprecedented as the Israeli soldiers haven often attacked drivers and try to provoke them by impeding their movement from Rantis to Ramallah.
India condemns Israel's use of "disproportionate force" in Palestine
India condemned on Tuesday the use of "disproportionate force" by Israeli troops in Palestine and demanded an immediate end to the "unacceptable" violence in the region, the Representative Office of India in Ramallah reported in a press release.
"Recent events, including the disproportionate use of retaliatory force by Israel, have lead to avoidable civilian casualties, including the death of innocent children. This is unacceptable," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said in Geneva.
Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee echoed this condemnation in New Delhi and called for the violence to end, noting that both the international community and people in the region want peace. He added, "it is clear that the violence that we have seen, particularly in the recent months, cannot produce peace."
Hamas accuses Israel of "criminal acts" in the Gaza Strip
Hamas declared on Wednesday that they hold Israel, and the international community that has failed to pressure Israel, responsible for "criminal acts" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, their press statement said.
"The blood of Palestinian children will not be forgotten, and the Israeli occupation will pay for shedding that blood," Hamas added.
They also accused Israel of violating international law, which prohibits involving civilians, especially children, in armed conflict. They pointed to the death of a Palestinian baby girl, Amira Abu Asir, who was killed by Israeli troops in Al-Qarara on Wednesday, while pursuing the Islamic Jihad activist Yousif Smairi.
India condemned on Tuesday the use of "disproportionate force" by Israeli troops in Palestine and demanded an immediate end to the "unacceptable" violence in the region, the Representative Office of India in Ramallah reported in a press release.
"Recent events, including the disproportionate use of retaliatory force by Israel, have lead to avoidable civilian casualties, including the death of innocent children. This is unacceptable," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said in Geneva.
Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee echoed this condemnation in New Delhi and called for the violence to end, noting that both the international community and people in the region want peace. He added, "it is clear that the violence that we have seen, particularly in the recent months, cannot produce peace."
Hamas accuses Israel of "criminal acts" in the Gaza Strip
Hamas declared on Wednesday that they hold Israel, and the international community that has failed to pressure Israel, responsible for "criminal acts" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, their press statement said.
"The blood of Palestinian children will not be forgotten, and the Israeli occupation will pay for shedding that blood," Hamas added.
They also accused Israel of violating international law, which prohibits involving civilians, especially children, in armed conflict. They pointed to the death of a Palestinian baby girl, Amira Abu Asir, who was killed by Israeli troops in Al-Qarara on Wednesday, while pursuing the Islamic Jihad activist Yousif Smairi.
Infant girl, senior Islamic Jihad leader killed in Israeli incursion in southern Gaza
Two-week old Amira Abu Asir, killed by Israeli tank fire on Wednesday
Israeli forces killed a two-week-old infant in the southern Gaza Strip in an incursion that also killed a senior leader of Islamic Jihad on Tuesday evening.
Yousif Smairi, a leader in Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, was found dead, his body riddled with bullets after Israeli forces invaded the town of Al-Qarara, near the city of Khan Younis, sources in Islamic Jihad said.
The sources said Smairi appeared to have been shot at close range, suggesting a summary execution. Islamic Jihad called the killing "cold-blooded. Smairi was in his thirties.
Israeli military sources claimed that the operation in Al-Qarara was part of their efforts to stop what they called "terrorist assaults" at the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip. They reaffirmed that such incursions will continue in the future.
The Israeli forces had earlier surrounded Smairi's home. Israeli tanks fired on the house killing a two-week-old baby girl named Amira Abu Asir, local Palestinian sources said. Clashes erupted in the area, leaving eight Palestinian civilians injured. Three fighters with the armed wing of Fatah, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, were also injured.
Ma'an's reporter said later that the Israeli forces withdrew after seizing Smairi's son Mu'ath and the father of the killed baby girl who was visiting friends in the area.
Local sources stated that other members of the girl's family have been injured and they were evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Khan Younis.
The spokesperson of the Al-Quds Brigades, Abu Ahmad, said an undercover Israeli force infiltrated in the area before the Israeli incursion.
Meanwhile, Al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for launching a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at an Israeli military jeep in the besieged area in Al-Qarara.
Israeli forces killed a two-week-old infant in the southern Gaza Strip in an incursion that also killed a senior leader of Islamic Jihad on Tuesday evening.
Yousif Smairi, a leader in Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, was found dead, his body riddled with bullets after Israeli forces invaded the town of Al-Qarara, near the city of Khan Younis, sources in Islamic Jihad said.
The sources said Smairi appeared to have been shot at close range, suggesting a summary execution. Islamic Jihad called the killing "cold-blooded. Smairi was in his thirties.
Israeli military sources claimed that the operation in Al-Qarara was part of their efforts to stop what they called "terrorist assaults" at the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip. They reaffirmed that such incursions will continue in the future.
The Israeli forces had earlier surrounded Smairi's home. Israeli tanks fired on the house killing a two-week-old baby girl named Amira Abu Asir, local Palestinian sources said. Clashes erupted in the area, leaving eight Palestinian civilians injured. Three fighters with the armed wing of Fatah, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, were also injured.
Ma'an's reporter said later that the Israeli forces withdrew after seizing Smairi's son Mu'ath and the father of the killed baby girl who was visiting friends in the area.
Local sources stated that other members of the girl's family have been injured and they were evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Khan Younis.
The spokesperson of the Al-Quds Brigades, Abu Ahmad, said an undercover Israeli force infiltrated in the area before the Israeli incursion.
Meanwhile, Al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for launching a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at an Israeli military jeep in the besieged area in Al-Qarara.
Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades clash with Israeli forces, launch projectiles
Palestinian military groups active in the Gaza Strip
Hamas political leader Mash'al: Gaza-Israel ceasefire must be bilateral
Israeli forces abduct 26 Palestinians in the West Bank, continue closures
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