13 mar 2012
IOF troops fire at funeral in violation of calm
Three Palestinian citizens were wounded on Tuesday at the hands of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) while participating in a funeral procession of two martyrs who fell in the Israeli air raid on Monday night.
Spokesman of the higher committee for ambulance and emergency Adham Abu Salmiya said that the three were hospitalized in moderate condition.
The IOF shooting is in violation of the Egyptian-brokered calm agreement that was reached between Israel and Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza effective 0100 am Tuesday (local time).
Hamas slams Ki-moon for his bias against the Palestinian people
The Hamas Movement condemned the latest remarks made by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Israel's military escalation against the besieged Gaza as a "flagrant bias" in favor of the occupation and a violation of the UN resolutions.
"We strongly denounce the unbalanced position that was voiced today by the UN secretary-general before the Security Council regarding the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip," Hamas stated in a press release on Monday.
"The position of Ki-moon reflects his full bias in favor of the occupation and demonstrates a double standard in holding the victim responsible while the executioner is not blamed for starting its dangerous aggression and its criminal bombing of unarmed, peaceful population," Hamas highlighted.
"This position is against the charters and the principles on which the UN was established and which confirm that the nations under occupation have the right to defend themselves," it added.
Hamas called upon Ki-moon to reconsider his position which draws an unjust parallel between a military occupation entity and a suppressed occupied people, and to show positions in defense of the Palestinian people who are exposed to systematic Zionist killing and ethnic cleansing.
Spokesman of the higher committee for ambulance and emergency Adham Abu Salmiya said that the three were hospitalized in moderate condition.
The IOF shooting is in violation of the Egyptian-brokered calm agreement that was reached between Israel and Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza effective 0100 am Tuesday (local time).
Hamas slams Ki-moon for his bias against the Palestinian people
The Hamas Movement condemned the latest remarks made by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Israel's military escalation against the besieged Gaza as a "flagrant bias" in favor of the occupation and a violation of the UN resolutions.
"We strongly denounce the unbalanced position that was voiced today by the UN secretary-general before the Security Council regarding the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip," Hamas stated in a press release on Monday.
"The position of Ki-moon reflects his full bias in favor of the occupation and demonstrates a double standard in holding the victim responsible while the executioner is not blamed for starting its dangerous aggression and its criminal bombing of unarmed, peaceful population," Hamas highlighted.
"This position is against the charters and the principles on which the UN was established and which confirm that the nations under occupation have the right to defend themselves," it added.
Hamas called upon Ki-moon to reconsider his position which draws an unjust parallel between a military occupation entity and a suppressed occupied people, and to show positions in defense of the Palestinian people who are exposed to systematic Zionist killing and ethnic cleansing.
Israel and Gaza militants agree truce after clashes
A ceasefire is in place between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza after four days of deadly clashes.
The Egyptian-mediated truce took effect at 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Monday), and there have been no new attacks.
The recent violence "appears to be behind us," said Israeli Cabinet Minister Matan Vilnai.
At least 25 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes since Friday, reports say. Israel says 35 people were injured in Palestinian rocket attacks.
Officials from Hamas, which runs Gaza, told the BBC that Israel had agreed to stop targeting leaders of militant groups in Gaza, if rocket attacks on its southern cities ceased.
The deal was brokered by the Egyptian authorities, who reportedly negotiated with each side separately.
Four days of cross-border violence was triggered by an Israeli air strike on Friday that killed a senior leader of the militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), who Israel said had been planning an attack.
Militants in Gaza responded quickly by unleashing a barrage of rockets towards southern Israel, triggering further air strikes.
Most of those killed in Gaza were militants, but several civilians also died, Palestinian medical sources say.
Israel said the major reason for a relatively low number of injuries among its population was the country's new Iron Dome missile system, which shot down about 50 rockets launched from Gaza.
The US has condemned the rocket attacks as "cowardly"; the Arab League called the Israeli air strikes "a massacre".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed grave concern over the flare-up in violence, describing rocket attacks on Israeli civilians as "unacceptable" and urging Israel to "exercise maximum restraint".
Islamic Jihad and the PRC - and not Hamas - have said they have been behind the rocket attacks.
The increase in violence has alarmed world powers trying to bring peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis back on track.
The Egyptian-mediated truce took effect at 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Monday), and there have been no new attacks.
The recent violence "appears to be behind us," said Israeli Cabinet Minister Matan Vilnai.
At least 25 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes since Friday, reports say. Israel says 35 people were injured in Palestinian rocket attacks.
Officials from Hamas, which runs Gaza, told the BBC that Israel had agreed to stop targeting leaders of militant groups in Gaza, if rocket attacks on its southern cities ceased.
The deal was brokered by the Egyptian authorities, who reportedly negotiated with each side separately.
Four days of cross-border violence was triggered by an Israeli air strike on Friday that killed a senior leader of the militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), who Israel said had been planning an attack.
Militants in Gaza responded quickly by unleashing a barrage of rockets towards southern Israel, triggering further air strikes.
Most of those killed in Gaza were militants, but several civilians also died, Palestinian medical sources say.
Israel said the major reason for a relatively low number of injuries among its population was the country's new Iron Dome missile system, which shot down about 50 rockets launched from Gaza.
The US has condemned the rocket attacks as "cowardly"; the Arab League called the Israeli air strikes "a massacre".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed grave concern over the flare-up in violence, describing rocket attacks on Israeli civilians as "unacceptable" and urging Israel to "exercise maximum restraint".
Islamic Jihad and the PRC - and not Hamas - have said they have been behind the rocket attacks.
The increase in violence has alarmed world powers trying to bring peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis back on track.
Some houses were completely destroyed in the latest Israeli air strikes
By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
The sound of Israeli jets and the rumble of explosions were heard again in Gaza on Monday.
Sitting in the centre of Gaza City this mini-conflict has an almost surreal quality.
With the windows open, a distant rumble very like thunder rolled across the city each time an Israeli strike hit home.
But down below on the streets the cars kept passing, the shops stayed open, pedestrians kept walking home with their groceries.
After years of blockade and repeated rounds of air strikes Gazans appear almost inured to the endless conflict.
Further out of the city, closer to the Israeli border, the atmosphere is different. The streets are quieter.
On the northern outskirts of Gaza, I was taken on Monday to see one of the latest bomb sites.
A four-storey house had been completely destroyed. Its roof had collapsed inwards; tables and chairs, bedclothes and children's toys spilled out of its squashed floors like shopping from a torn plastic bag.
The ground around the house was charred black and smelled of burning.
Groups of children standing in the rubble pointed up in to the sky directing my eyes to the Israeli drones circling high over head.
At one point I counted four circling together over a point further south, their powerful cameras hunting the ground below for any sign of militants trying to launch rockets in to Israel.
Then suddenly as we were filming a rocket streaked in to the sky a kilometre or so to the west - a long white trail tracing its path in to the clouds.
Within a minute the rumble of thunder could be heard again, Israel's response had been swift.
'Willing to sacrifice'
By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
The sound of Israeli jets and the rumble of explosions were heard again in Gaza on Monday.
Sitting in the centre of Gaza City this mini-conflict has an almost surreal quality.
With the windows open, a distant rumble very like thunder rolled across the city each time an Israeli strike hit home.
But down below on the streets the cars kept passing, the shops stayed open, pedestrians kept walking home with their groceries.
After years of blockade and repeated rounds of air strikes Gazans appear almost inured to the endless conflict.
Further out of the city, closer to the Israeli border, the atmosphere is different. The streets are quieter.
On the northern outskirts of Gaza, I was taken on Monday to see one of the latest bomb sites.
A four-storey house had been completely destroyed. Its roof had collapsed inwards; tables and chairs, bedclothes and children's toys spilled out of its squashed floors like shopping from a torn plastic bag.
The ground around the house was charred black and smelled of burning.
Groups of children standing in the rubble pointed up in to the sky directing my eyes to the Israeli drones circling high over head.
At one point I counted four circling together over a point further south, their powerful cameras hunting the ground below for any sign of militants trying to launch rockets in to Israel.
Then suddenly as we were filming a rocket streaked in to the sky a kilometre or so to the west - a long white trail tracing its path in to the clouds.
Within a minute the rumble of thunder could be heard again, Israel's response had been swift.
'Willing to sacrifice'
Israel says more that 240 rockets have been fired from the Gaza since Friday
Back at the bomb site, I met the man who owned the pile of rubble that was - until last night - his home. Amazingly no-one was killed in the explosion, despite the complete devastation.
On first inspection it looked like one of Israel's missiles must have gone astray, a case of collateral damage.
But on closer questioning the pictures changes.
"I have already lost one son to the struggle for liberation," the man told me. "I have two more, and I am willing to sacrifice them too."
One of his sons is in the al-Qasam brigades, he says, the other in Islamic Jihad.
"After the attack last night (Sunday) the Israeli Shin Bet (Internal Security) called me on the phone to tell me it was because of my son's activities," he says.
I asked another local how it was that so many people could have escaped relatively unscathed from a building that was so completely destroyed.
"Sometimes the Israelis call up the person beforehand and warn them that they have 10 minutes to leave the house, then they strike."
Behind high wal
Back at the bomb site, I met the man who owned the pile of rubble that was - until last night - his home. Amazingly no-one was killed in the explosion, despite the complete devastation.
On first inspection it looked like one of Israel's missiles must have gone astray, a case of collateral damage.
But on closer questioning the pictures changes.
"I have already lost one son to the struggle for liberation," the man told me. "I have two more, and I am willing to sacrifice them too."
One of his sons is in the al-Qasam brigades, he says, the other in Islamic Jihad.
"After the attack last night (Sunday) the Israeli Shin Bet (Internal Security) called me on the phone to tell me it was because of my son's activities," he says.
I asked another local how it was that so many people could have escaped relatively unscathed from a building that was so completely destroyed.
"Sometimes the Israelis call up the person beforehand and warn them that they have 10 minutes to leave the house, then they strike."
Behind high wal
Palestinians say a number of civilians were injured
This is a strange conflict, between old enemies who know each other extremely well.
Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005. Its military and intelligence services know every inch of this narrow strip of land, even the home telephone numbers of their enemies. But familiarity has not softened the anger here at the great historical injustice they believe has been inflicted on them by Israel.
"What do you mean when you say you are struggling against the occupation?" I asked one Gazan. "After all Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005?"
"We mean the occupation of Jerusalem, and Jaffa and Haifa and all the other places that belong to us," he said without hesitation.
A short distance away a group of young boys sat on a pile of rubble, chatting and smiling at the foreigner.
"Hello, how are you?" they shouted and then squealed with embarrassed delight.
Their parents knew what it was like to take the bus to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem for the day.
But now these children are growing up behind a high wall. They have never been to Israel and never met a Jew.
The only thing they know about Israel is its drones and its missiles.
Seeing those children makes me feel very pessimistic that this conflict could ever find an end.
This is a strange conflict, between old enemies who know each other extremely well.
Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until 2005. Its military and intelligence services know every inch of this narrow strip of land, even the home telephone numbers of their enemies. But familiarity has not softened the anger here at the great historical injustice they believe has been inflicted on them by Israel.
"What do you mean when you say you are struggling against the occupation?" I asked one Gazan. "After all Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005?"
"We mean the occupation of Jerusalem, and Jaffa and Haifa and all the other places that belong to us," he said without hesitation.
A short distance away a group of young boys sat on a pile of rubble, chatting and smiling at the foreigner.
"Hello, how are you?" they shouted and then squealed with embarrassed delight.
Their parents knew what it was like to take the bus to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem for the day.
But now these children are growing up behind a high wall. They have never been to Israel and never met a Jew.
The only thing they know about Israel is its drones and its missiles.
Seeing those children makes me feel very pessimistic that this conflict could ever find an end.
12 mar 2012
Israel threatens an all-out war on Gaza
The Israeli occupation army has threatened to expand its aggression on Gaza Strip and increase its air strikes that could later turn into an all-out war.
Israeli war minister Ehud Barak vowed “severe reprisal” to the Palestinian firing of their locally made rockets on Israeli occupation targets adjacent to the Strip.
He said that Israel would continue to retaliate to the firing of rockets from Gaza and the army would strongly retaliate to any attempt to harm Israeli “citizens”.
Israeli army spokesman Yoav Mordechai said that his forces were prepared to launch a ground offensive on Gaza if the security conditions continued to deteriorate.
For his part, Israeli chief of staff Benny Gantz issued instructions to his armed forces to continue targeted killing of Palestinian resistance cadres and commanders involved in firing rockets at Israeli targets over the past three days.
An Israeli consultative meeting for security commanders claimed that 140 rockets were fired at Israel over the past three days.
Israel had started the violence in the region after assassinating leader of the popular resistance committees in Gaza on Friday.
Israeli war minister Ehud Barak vowed “severe reprisal” to the Palestinian firing of their locally made rockets on Israeli occupation targets adjacent to the Strip.
He said that Israel would continue to retaliate to the firing of rockets from Gaza and the army would strongly retaliate to any attempt to harm Israeli “citizens”.
Israeli army spokesman Yoav Mordechai said that his forces were prepared to launch a ground offensive on Gaza if the security conditions continued to deteriorate.
For his part, Israeli chief of staff Benny Gantz issued instructions to his armed forces to continue targeted killing of Palestinian resistance cadres and commanders involved in firing rockets at Israeli targets over the past three days.
An Israeli consultative meeting for security commanders claimed that 140 rockets were fired at Israel over the past three days.
Israel had started the violence in the region after assassinating leader of the popular resistance committees in Gaza on Friday.
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British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt Monday urged restraint following four days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and rocket attacks by armed Palestinian groups on Israel.
'I am deeply concerned by the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel,” said the minister in a statement. “I condemn any attacks targeting civilians. I urge all sides to exercise restraint, re-establish calm and avoid any further civilian casualties.' China calls on Israel to put an end to airstrikes on Gaza China has called on Israel to put an end to its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip after the |
Israeli premier vowed that the besieged enclave would be pounded “as long as necessary.
"China is concerned about the escalation of the situation in Gaza," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said in a press briefing on Monday.
"We call upon the Israeli side to stop air raids against Gaza. We hope parties concerned can stop firing immediately in order to avoid casualties of innocent civilians."
China’s reaction to Israel’s offensive against the blockaded region of Gaza coincided with a fresh wave of Israeli air raids on the impoverished area on Monday.
The raids claimed the lives of three more Palestinians, including a 15-year-old teenager, bringing the number of casualties to 21. Nearly 40 people were also injured in the Monday attack.
Benjamin Netanyahu warned a day earlier that Israel would continue its offensive against the blockaded enclave as long as it deems “necessary.”
The attacks began on Friday when Israeli jets launched air raids on the Gaza Strip, killing Zuheir al-Qessi, the head of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and fellow-member Mahmud Hanani.
Israeli warplanes and ground forces have frequently attacked Gaza since the end of the 22-day war on the territory in 2009. Most victims of the raids are civilians, including women and children.
"China is concerned about the escalation of the situation in Gaza," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said in a press briefing on Monday.
"We call upon the Israeli side to stop air raids against Gaza. We hope parties concerned can stop firing immediately in order to avoid casualties of innocent civilians."
China’s reaction to Israel’s offensive against the blockaded region of Gaza coincided with a fresh wave of Israeli air raids on the impoverished area on Monday.
The raids claimed the lives of three more Palestinians, including a 15-year-old teenager, bringing the number of casualties to 21. Nearly 40 people were also injured in the Monday attack.
Benjamin Netanyahu warned a day earlier that Israel would continue its offensive against the blockaded enclave as long as it deems “necessary.”
The attacks began on Friday when Israeli jets launched air raids on the Gaza Strip, killing Zuheir al-Qessi, the head of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and fellow-member Mahmud Hanani.
Israeli warplanes and ground forces have frequently attacked Gaza since the end of the 22-day war on the territory in 2009. Most victims of the raids are civilians, including women and children.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he was extremely worried by a recent flare-up in violence between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
"I am gravely concerned at the latest escalation between Gaza and Israel and once again civilians are paying a terrible price," Ban told the UN Security Council. He said rocket attacks on Israeli civilians were "unacceptable" and urged Israel to "exercise maximum restraint."
Israel has killed 23 Palestinians and injured at least 80 in a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Friday. Militants have responded with a volley of rockets into southern Israel, causing no casualties and injuring four.
Gaza's Hamas leadership, whose own cadres have kept out of the fighting, said on Sunday neighboring Egypt was working to stop the violence and was consulting with other militants.
A Palestinian official close to the mediation told Reuters Israel had agreed to a midnight ceasefire.
But Islamic Jihad insisted that any truce include an undertaking by Israel "to end assassinations".
Israel signaled no end to what it calls "preventive targeting" operations.
"If the Qassam (rocket) fire ends, the Israel Defense Forces will not continue (strikes), but the Israel Defense Forces will continue thwarting any attempted terrorist attacks," military spokesman Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai told Israel Radio.
He confirmed there had been contact with Egyptian mediators.
Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai told Army Radio: "Israel is not keen to see an escalation, Israel is not keen to hurt innocents, Israel is absolutely opposed to this.
"For now, it (fighting) is on this kind of scale. But if it will prove protracted, then without a doubt there will be a powerful, painful blow so that this will not continue."
The violence has raised international concern.
France called for "an instant return to calm and restraint in order to avoid an escalation which would risk once again harming civilians". Russia urged an end to the fighting and said "the use of any violence from which the civilian population suffers is totally unacceptable".
"I am gravely concerned at the latest escalation between Gaza and Israel and once again civilians are paying a terrible price," Ban told the UN Security Council. He said rocket attacks on Israeli civilians were "unacceptable" and urged Israel to "exercise maximum restraint."
Israel has killed 23 Palestinians and injured at least 80 in a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Friday. Militants have responded with a volley of rockets into southern Israel, causing no casualties and injuring four.
Gaza's Hamas leadership, whose own cadres have kept out of the fighting, said on Sunday neighboring Egypt was working to stop the violence and was consulting with other militants.
A Palestinian official close to the mediation told Reuters Israel had agreed to a midnight ceasefire.
But Islamic Jihad insisted that any truce include an undertaking by Israel "to end assassinations".
Israel signaled no end to what it calls "preventive targeting" operations.
"If the Qassam (rocket) fire ends, the Israel Defense Forces will not continue (strikes), but the Israel Defense Forces will continue thwarting any attempted terrorist attacks," military spokesman Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai told Israel Radio.
He confirmed there had been contact with Egyptian mediators.
Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai told Army Radio: "Israel is not keen to see an escalation, Israel is not keen to hurt innocents, Israel is absolutely opposed to this.
"For now, it (fighting) is on this kind of scale. But if it will prove protracted, then without a doubt there will be a powerful, painful blow so that this will not continue."
The violence has raised international concern.
France called for "an instant return to calm and restraint in order to avoid an escalation which would risk once again harming civilians". Russia urged an end to the fighting and said "the use of any violence from which the civilian population suffers is totally unacceptable".
Occupied Lives: Targeted Livelihoods
Ahmad, Malak and Wadea in front of ruins of the shop
By Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Ahmad Asad Mohamed al Ashqar 28 lives in Beit Lahiya, with his wife Camelia 27, and their four children Malak (6 ), Wadea (3), Maha (2), and Mohamed (1). Ahmad's father and stepmother also live with the family.
Two years ago Ahmad started to rent a shop and over time he has built a business selling food, drinks and household and cleaning products. He works every day from 7 AM to 12 PM and earns approximately 600 NIS each month (US$ 160). Ahmad is the sole breadwinner of the family and his income has to support 8 people. The house is small but as a result of his current job, he has been able to afford a separate room where the children and his parents sleep.
At 2:15 in the morning of 2 February 2012, only several hours after the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to the Gaza Strip, Ahmad's shop was completely destroyed by a single missile fired by Israeli air forces. Israel claimed the attack targeted a weapons storage facility. On examining the site, however, it is evident that no one was hiding weapons or manufacturing explosives on the premises.
There are no signs of secondary explosions, and the rubble of his shop is littered with the detritus of a typical shop. Furthermore, they have been no reports of fighting in the area for a number of years. The destroyed "weapons facility" was a shop – a civilian object – on which Ahmad and his family's livelihood depended.
At the time of the attack Ahmad was at home with his family and they had all been asleep for several hours. As a result of the attack, three civilians were injured: Mohammed Mustafa Mohammed Salman, 30, and Hayat Fadel Ibrahim Taha (3) and Wadea Mahmoud Asa'ad al-Ashqar (3). 13 neighboring boring houses and 4 cars were also damaged.
Hayat Fadel Ibrahim Taha, a three year old girl who lived in the house next to the shop was sleeping when the explosion occurred. Her father, Fadel Taha came into her bedroom, grabbed her and felt blood in his hand. "I was so scared she would die" remembered Fadel: "her face was covered in blood, resulting from glass shrapnel from the window." Almost ashamed, he recounted that since the night of the incident she has started to wet her bed again.
Just across the street, Wadea Ashqaar, Ahmad's son was also sleeping in his bed when the explosion blew out all the windows in the vicinity of the shop. Like Hayat, he was hit by glass falling from the window onto his face and his left ear. Malak, his older sister was really scared because she didn't know how to help him.
Camelia, Ahmad's wife, is very depressed. Ahmad describes her as: "staying at home all day, crying and refusing to go out". He says that: "we are really afraid for our children and our life now". Their four children, Mohamed, Malah, Wadea, and Malak are traumatized. "They cry a lot during the day and night. Wadea weeps a lot; he has trouble sleeping and wants to be with us in our bed every night". Even the oldest one, Malak, speaks while she's sleeping, "saying incomprehensible words".
"The bomb destroyed not only the shop, but our entire life" adds Ahmad. The grocery shop was 35m2, and all their saving and merchandise were inside when it was destroyed. Ahmad estimates his material losses at "around 10,000 Jordanian dinars, equivalent to around 15,000 US dinars, as well as goods, savings, and devices". After the incident, he tried to set up a new shop on a sidewalk but this installation is rough and ready, just a small tarp and some pieces of woods. He has only a few goods, and not enough money to replenish his stock, or space to sell them in. He lost his fridges and freezers and since the attack "can't afford his family expenses".
At the end of the interview, Ahmad tells us that he's very worried about his family's future. "Our life is totally destroyed, I can't offer my children enough for basics needs, neither health and nor education. The Israeli soldiers destroyed my life; I have nothing to live and nothing to live for. What did I do wrong...?"
Ahmad is not the only one who has seen their lives devastated by Israeli attacks. Since the beginning of this year 4 people were killed and 19 injured in the Gaza Strip. In the same two-month period 47 buildings have been either completely or partially destroyed.
The direct targeting of a civilian object is a war crime, as codified in Article 8(2)(b)(ii) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
By Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Ahmad Asad Mohamed al Ashqar 28 lives in Beit Lahiya, with his wife Camelia 27, and their four children Malak (6 ), Wadea (3), Maha (2), and Mohamed (1). Ahmad's father and stepmother also live with the family.
Two years ago Ahmad started to rent a shop and over time he has built a business selling food, drinks and household and cleaning products. He works every day from 7 AM to 12 PM and earns approximately 600 NIS each month (US$ 160). Ahmad is the sole breadwinner of the family and his income has to support 8 people. The house is small but as a result of his current job, he has been able to afford a separate room where the children and his parents sleep.
At 2:15 in the morning of 2 February 2012, only several hours after the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to the Gaza Strip, Ahmad's shop was completely destroyed by a single missile fired by Israeli air forces. Israel claimed the attack targeted a weapons storage facility. On examining the site, however, it is evident that no one was hiding weapons or manufacturing explosives on the premises.
There are no signs of secondary explosions, and the rubble of his shop is littered with the detritus of a typical shop. Furthermore, they have been no reports of fighting in the area for a number of years. The destroyed "weapons facility" was a shop – a civilian object – on which Ahmad and his family's livelihood depended.
At the time of the attack Ahmad was at home with his family and they had all been asleep for several hours. As a result of the attack, three civilians were injured: Mohammed Mustafa Mohammed Salman, 30, and Hayat Fadel Ibrahim Taha (3) and Wadea Mahmoud Asa'ad al-Ashqar (3). 13 neighboring boring houses and 4 cars were also damaged.
Hayat Fadel Ibrahim Taha, a three year old girl who lived in the house next to the shop was sleeping when the explosion occurred. Her father, Fadel Taha came into her bedroom, grabbed her and felt blood in his hand. "I was so scared she would die" remembered Fadel: "her face was covered in blood, resulting from glass shrapnel from the window." Almost ashamed, he recounted that since the night of the incident she has started to wet her bed again.
Just across the street, Wadea Ashqaar, Ahmad's son was also sleeping in his bed when the explosion blew out all the windows in the vicinity of the shop. Like Hayat, he was hit by glass falling from the window onto his face and his left ear. Malak, his older sister was really scared because she didn't know how to help him.
Camelia, Ahmad's wife, is very depressed. Ahmad describes her as: "staying at home all day, crying and refusing to go out". He says that: "we are really afraid for our children and our life now". Their four children, Mohamed, Malah, Wadea, and Malak are traumatized. "They cry a lot during the day and night. Wadea weeps a lot; he has trouble sleeping and wants to be with us in our bed every night". Even the oldest one, Malak, speaks while she's sleeping, "saying incomprehensible words".
"The bomb destroyed not only the shop, but our entire life" adds Ahmad. The grocery shop was 35m2, and all their saving and merchandise were inside when it was destroyed. Ahmad estimates his material losses at "around 10,000 Jordanian dinars, equivalent to around 15,000 US dinars, as well as goods, savings, and devices". After the incident, he tried to set up a new shop on a sidewalk but this installation is rough and ready, just a small tarp and some pieces of woods. He has only a few goods, and not enough money to replenish his stock, or space to sell them in. He lost his fridges and freezers and since the attack "can't afford his family expenses".
At the end of the interview, Ahmad tells us that he's very worried about his family's future. "Our life is totally destroyed, I can't offer my children enough for basics needs, neither health and nor education. The Israeli soldiers destroyed my life; I have nothing to live and nothing to live for. What did I do wrong...?"
Ahmad is not the only one who has seen their lives devastated by Israeli attacks. Since the beginning of this year 4 people were killed and 19 injured in the Gaza Strip. In the same two-month period 47 buildings have been either completely or partially destroyed.
The direct targeting of a civilian object is a war crime, as codified in Article 8(2)(b)(ii) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
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IDF aims to disprove Palestinian claims alleging residential building was hit in IAF strike in Jabalya; Footage shows weapon delivery to premises
The IDF released footage of an IAF strike on an Islamic Jihad munitions warehouse in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Jabalya Monday. The strike took place in the early hours of Monday morning, following Grad rocket fire on Beersheba. The Palestinians alleged that the IAF was targeting what Israel believed was a hideout used by a senior Islamic Jihad operative, but hit a residential building by mistake, injuring dozens of innocent people. However, the IDF's |
footage shows a truckload of weapons being delivered to the building. The IDF stressed that the precision fire ensured that the building did not collapse – as reported by the Palestinians.
The footage also clearly shows residual blasts caused by the munitions stored in the building.
The IDF stressed that any strike was carefully planned to avoid any harm to innocent civilians.
The footage also clearly shows residual blasts caused by the munitions stored in the building.
The IDF stressed that any strike was carefully planned to avoid any harm to innocent civilians.
12 mar 2012
Abu Mutlaq, 24
Two Palestinians were killed Monday evening in Israeli shelling east of Gaza City, bringing the death toll in Gaza to 25 since Friday, medics said.
Bassam al-Ajla and Muhammad Thaher were killed in an airstrike on the Shujaiyeh neighborhood, medical officials told Ma'an. They were members of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, a Ma'an reporter said.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said warplanes targeted a "terror squad" that was preparing to fire a rocket at Israel. The squad had fired rockets at Israel in recent days, she added.
Israeli aircraft simultaneously shelled an area near Beit Lahiya wounding two Palestinians and struck an open area north-west of Gaza City, a Ma'an correspondent said. Israel also bombed a tunnel near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, he added.
In a statement, the Israeli army said its warplanes targeted two rocket launching sites in northern Gaza and a "terror tunnel" in the south.
The shelling comes amid intense efforts by Egyptian mediators and diplomats to broker a ceasefire following four days of heavy Israeli shelling on the Gaza Strip.
The latest escalation began Friday evening when Israel killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committees in an airstrike near Gaza City. Since Friday, 25 Palestinians have been killed and at least 80 injured including militants, civilians and children.
Earlier Monday, two Islamic Jihad militants were killed in strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and a 65-year-old man and his 30-year-old daughter were killed in Israeli shelling in Beit Lahiya in the north. A 15-year-old boy was also killed in Beit Lahiya on Monday but the Israeli army denied responsibility for his death.
Militants in Gaza have fired a barrage of rockets over the border in response to the shelling, causing no casualties in Israel.
Armed factions affiliated with Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Fatah said they fired projectiles into southern Israel on Monday.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said 42 rockets landed in Israel on Monday, reaching as far north as Gedera. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that rockets landed 40 kilometers south of Tel Aviv.
The violence has drawn condemnation from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who called for restraint. The Arab League also urged the United Nations to intervene and stop the conflict.
But Israel signaled that it would not halt what it calls "preventive targeting" operations aimed at stopping rocket fire and cross-border attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members of his Likud party in Parliament: "The Israeli army will continue to attack the terrorists in Gaza with strength and determination."
He also said the Israeli military was prepared to widen its operations and continue them for as long as necessary.
A senior Israeli military official told the Israeli news site Ynet on Monday that the army was prepared for any situation, including a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
"We have everything we need and are ready to step it up if needed. There are many measures that we haven't employed yet," the army official added.
Two Killed in Latest Israeli Airstrike on Gaza
Two Palestinians were killed Monday in the latest Israeli airstrike on north Gaza City, according to medical sources.
They said one Palestinian was immediately killed and the second died in hospital.
The dead Palestinians were identified as Bassam al-Ejleh and Muhammad Daher, both from Saraya al-Quds, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Israeli warplanes had also hit other areas in northern Gaza Strip and smuggling tunnels in Rafah, in the south, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The death toll in Gaza since Israel started its airstrikes has climbed to 25, including a student, an elderly man and his daughter. More than 80 were injured, most of them civilians and several were reported in critical condition.
Two Palestinians were killed Monday evening in Israeli shelling east of Gaza City, bringing the death toll in Gaza to 25 since Friday, medics said.
Bassam al-Ajla and Muhammad Thaher were killed in an airstrike on the Shujaiyeh neighborhood, medical officials told Ma'an. They were members of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, a Ma'an reporter said.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said warplanes targeted a "terror squad" that was preparing to fire a rocket at Israel. The squad had fired rockets at Israel in recent days, she added.
Israeli aircraft simultaneously shelled an area near Beit Lahiya wounding two Palestinians and struck an open area north-west of Gaza City, a Ma'an correspondent said. Israel also bombed a tunnel near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, he added.
In a statement, the Israeli army said its warplanes targeted two rocket launching sites in northern Gaza and a "terror tunnel" in the south.
The shelling comes amid intense efforts by Egyptian mediators and diplomats to broker a ceasefire following four days of heavy Israeli shelling on the Gaza Strip.
The latest escalation began Friday evening when Israel killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committees in an airstrike near Gaza City. Since Friday, 25 Palestinians have been killed and at least 80 injured including militants, civilians and children.
Earlier Monday, two Islamic Jihad militants were killed in strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and a 65-year-old man and his 30-year-old daughter were killed in Israeli shelling in Beit Lahiya in the north. A 15-year-old boy was also killed in Beit Lahiya on Monday but the Israeli army denied responsibility for his death.
Militants in Gaza have fired a barrage of rockets over the border in response to the shelling, causing no casualties in Israel.
Armed factions affiliated with Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Fatah said they fired projectiles into southern Israel on Monday.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said 42 rockets landed in Israel on Monday, reaching as far north as Gedera. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that rockets landed 40 kilometers south of Tel Aviv.
The violence has drawn condemnation from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who called for restraint. The Arab League also urged the United Nations to intervene and stop the conflict.
But Israel signaled that it would not halt what it calls "preventive targeting" operations aimed at stopping rocket fire and cross-border attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members of his Likud party in Parliament: "The Israeli army will continue to attack the terrorists in Gaza with strength and determination."
He also said the Israeli military was prepared to widen its operations and continue them for as long as necessary.
A senior Israeli military official told the Israeli news site Ynet on Monday that the army was prepared for any situation, including a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
"We have everything we need and are ready to step it up if needed. There are many measures that we haven't employed yet," the army official added.
Two Killed in Latest Israeli Airstrike on Gaza
Two Palestinians were killed Monday in the latest Israeli airstrike on north Gaza City, according to medical sources.
They said one Palestinian was immediately killed and the second died in hospital.
The dead Palestinians were identified as Bassam al-Ejleh and Muhammad Daher, both from Saraya al-Quds, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Israeli warplanes had also hit other areas in northern Gaza Strip and smuggling tunnels in Rafah, in the south, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The death toll in Gaza since Israel started its airstrikes has climbed to 25, including a student, an elderly man and his daughter. More than 80 were injured, most of them civilians and several were reported in critical condition.
Nayif Shaaban Qarmout 15
Israeli airstrikes killed two Islamic Jihad militants and three civilians on Monday, bringing the death toll since Friday to 23 people, medics and Ma'an's correspondent said.
An airstrike on Monday afternoon in Beit Lahiya killed Muhammad al-Hasoumi, 65, and his daughter, Fayza Al Hasoumi 30, medical spokesperson in Gaza Abu Salmiya said.
Earlier, hospital officials said a 15-year-old schoolboy was killed in a separate air strike during the day on Monday. Nayif Shaaban Qarmout was killed in Beit Lahiya, north Gaza, Ma'an's correspondent said.
Witnesses said that the 15-year-old was playing with friends in a play ground near his school when an Israeli missile hit the area.
Five others were injured and taken to Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
Early Monday, two Islamic Jihad militants, Raafat Abu Eid, 24, and Hamadah Salman Abu Mutlaq, 24, were killed in Khan Younis, Ma'an's correspondent said. Abu Eid was killed when an airstrike targeted a vehicle he was traveling in.
Two other militants sustained injuries and a female passerby was also injured in the attack.
Abu Mutlaq, 24, was killed near a mosque in a village east of Khan Younis after warplanes fired at him. Three others were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
Earlier, Israeli airstrikes had hit two homes in the northern Gaza Strip, injuring 33 civilians, most of whom were women and children, Abu Salmiya said.
Most sustained moderate injuries, with one critically injured, and were transferred to hospital.
A 17-year-old girl and another man were also injured as Israeli missiles struck a home in Gaza City, Abu Salmiya said.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said aircraft had carried out six strikes on Monday. At least 20 rockets have been fired at Israel on Monday, she said.
The army targeted "a weapons storage facility and four rocket launching sites in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a rocket launching site in the southern Gaza Strip," a statement said.
Israel's army denied, however, that there had been any military activity in the northern Gaza Strip at the time of 15-year-old Nayif Shaaban Qarmout's death.
Gaza's Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said late Sunday that neighboring Egypt was working to stop the violence and was consulting with militant factions but added that Israel would have to first stop its air strikes.
The latest round of violence flared on Friday when an Israeli airstrike killed two militant leaders in Gaza.
Israel accused them of planning a cross-border attack via Egypt, although an Egyptian official said Sunday that the Sinai is "fully under control."
"This is an attempt by Israel to give justification for the offensive against Gaza," he said.
On Sunday, PLO official Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned Israel's latest military escalation.
"The Israeli government has acted with impunity for its unilateral violations for far too long. The illegal, cruel siege of the Gaza Strip, along with all other violations of international law must come to an end."
The PLO official called on the international community to take serious measures to halt Israel's policy of extrajudicial executions and the continued killing of innocent civilians.
Israeli airstrikes killed two Islamic Jihad militants and three civilians on Monday, bringing the death toll since Friday to 23 people, medics and Ma'an's correspondent said.
An airstrike on Monday afternoon in Beit Lahiya killed Muhammad al-Hasoumi, 65, and his daughter, Fayza Al Hasoumi 30, medical spokesperson in Gaza Abu Salmiya said.
Earlier, hospital officials said a 15-year-old schoolboy was killed in a separate air strike during the day on Monday. Nayif Shaaban Qarmout was killed in Beit Lahiya, north Gaza, Ma'an's correspondent said.
Witnesses said that the 15-year-old was playing with friends in a play ground near his school when an Israeli missile hit the area.
Five others were injured and taken to Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
Early Monday, two Islamic Jihad militants, Raafat Abu Eid, 24, and Hamadah Salman Abu Mutlaq, 24, were killed in Khan Younis, Ma'an's correspondent said. Abu Eid was killed when an airstrike targeted a vehicle he was traveling in.
Two other militants sustained injuries and a female passerby was also injured in the attack.
Abu Mutlaq, 24, was killed near a mosque in a village east of Khan Younis after warplanes fired at him. Three others were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
Earlier, Israeli airstrikes had hit two homes in the northern Gaza Strip, injuring 33 civilians, most of whom were women and children, Abu Salmiya said.
Most sustained moderate injuries, with one critically injured, and were transferred to hospital.
A 17-year-old girl and another man were also injured as Israeli missiles struck a home in Gaza City, Abu Salmiya said.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said aircraft had carried out six strikes on Monday. At least 20 rockets have been fired at Israel on Monday, she said.
The army targeted "a weapons storage facility and four rocket launching sites in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a rocket launching site in the southern Gaza Strip," a statement said.
Israel's army denied, however, that there had been any military activity in the northern Gaza Strip at the time of 15-year-old Nayif Shaaban Qarmout's death.
Gaza's Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said late Sunday that neighboring Egypt was working to stop the violence and was consulting with militant factions but added that Israel would have to first stop its air strikes.
The latest round of violence flared on Friday when an Israeli airstrike killed two militant leaders in Gaza.
Israel accused them of planning a cross-border attack via Egypt, although an Egyptian official said Sunday that the Sinai is "fully under control."
"This is an attempt by Israel to give justification for the offensive against Gaza," he said.
On Sunday, PLO official Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned Israel's latest military escalation.
"The Israeli government has acted with impunity for its unilateral violations for far too long. The illegal, cruel siege of the Gaza Strip, along with all other violations of international law must come to an end."
The PLO official called on the international community to take serious measures to halt Israel's policy of extrajudicial executions and the continued killing of innocent civilians.
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The parents of a militant mourn next to his body at the scene of an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip March 12, 2012
Israeli airstrikes killed two Islamic Jihad militants and a 17-year-old boy on Monday, bringing the death toll since Friday to 21 people. Raafat Abu Eid, 24, was killed in Khan Younis when an airstrike targeted a vehicle he was traveling in. Two other militants sustained injuries and a female passerby was also injured in the attack, a Ma'an correspondent said. Hamadah Salman Abu Mutlaq, 24, was killed near a mosque in a village east of Khan Younis after warplanes fired at him. He was an Islamic Jihad militant. Three others were injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Nayif Shaaban Qarmout, 17, was killed in Beit Lahiya, north Gaza, as Israeli warplanes launched an attack, Ma'an's correspondent said. Five others were injured and taken to Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Medical spokesman in Gaza Adham Abu Salmiya said that Israeli airstrikes hit two homes in the northern Gaza Strip, injuring 33 civilians, most of whom were women and children. Most sustained moderate injuries, with one critically injured, and were transferred to hospital. |
A 17-year-old girl and another man were also injured as Israeli missiles struck a home in Gaza City, Abu Salmiya said.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said aircraft had carried out six strikes on Monday. At least 20 rockets have been fired at Israeli on Monday, she said.
The army targeted "a weapons storage facility and four rocket launching sites in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a rocket launching site in the southern Gaza Strip," a statement said.
Gaza's prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said late on Sunday that neighboring Egypt was working to stop the violence and was consulting with militant factions but added that Israel would have to first stop its air strikes.
The latest round of violence flared on Friday when an Israeli airstrike killed two militant leaders in Gaza.
Israel accused them of planning a cross-border attack via Egypt, although an Egyptian official said Sunday that the Sinai is "fully under control."
"This is an attempt by Israel to give justification for the offensive against Gaza," he said.
On Sunday, PLO official Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned Israel's latest military escalation.
"The Israeli government has acted with impunity for its unilateral violations for far too long. The illegal, cruel siege of the Gaza Strip, along with all other violations of international law must come to an end."
The PLO official called on the international community to take serious measures to halt Israel's policy of extrajudicial executions and the continued killing of innocent civilians.
Israeli airstrikes kill three Palestinians in Gaza: Medics
Medical sources say three Palestinians, including a teenager, have been killed in new Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll from the Israeli air raids in the past few days to 21.
A 17-year-old Palestinian child was killed in the latest attack against northern Gaza on Monday.
The medical sources also said two other Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza earlier on Monday.
Nearly 40 more Palestinians were also injured in the Israeli aerial attacks against Gaza during the early hours of Monday.
In addition to the Monday airstrikes, 18 Palestinians were also killed in Israeli attacks conducted within the period of March 9 to 11.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blatantly said on Sunday that the Tel Aviv regime will continue airstrikes against Gaza “as long as necessary.”
Meanwhile, China urged the Tel Aviv regime to stop its airstrikes on Gaza on Monday.
“China is concerned about the escalation of the situation in Gaza,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said.
“We call upon the Israeli side to stop air raids against Gaza. We hope parties concerned can stop firing immediately in order to avoid casualties of innocent civilians,” Weimin added.
The Jordanian government also condemned the “barbaric aggression” of the Tel Aviv regime on Sunday.
In addition to Jordan and China, Turkish activists from the Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People held a demonstration in the capital Ankara to condemn the Israeli airstrikes on Sunday.
Israel imposed a war on the Gaza Strip in December 2008-January 2009. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the conflict.
BREAKING NEWS: ISRAEL GAZA ATTACK Press TV: Palestinian child killed in fresh Israeli airstrike in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza: Medics
Medical sources say two Palestinians have been killed in new Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll from the Israeli air raids in the past few days to 20.
The latest attacks were carried out against the city of Khan Yunis during the early hours of Monday.
Nearly 40 more Palestinians, including nine children, were also injured in earlier Israeli aerial attacks against Gaza on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blatantly said on Sunday that the Tel Aviv regime will continue airstrikes against Gaza “as long as necessary.”
Meanwhile, the Jordanian government condemned the “barbaric aggression” of the Tel Aviv regime on Sunday.
In addition to Jordan, Turkish activists from the Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People held a demonstration in the capital Ankara to condemn the Israeli airstrikes on Sunday.
Israel imposed a war on the Gaza Strip in December 2008-January 2009. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the conflict.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said aircraft had carried out six strikes on Monday. At least 20 rockets have been fired at Israeli on Monday, she said.
The army targeted "a weapons storage facility and four rocket launching sites in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a rocket launching site in the southern Gaza Strip," a statement said.
Gaza's prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said late on Sunday that neighboring Egypt was working to stop the violence and was consulting with militant factions but added that Israel would have to first stop its air strikes.
The latest round of violence flared on Friday when an Israeli airstrike killed two militant leaders in Gaza.
Israel accused them of planning a cross-border attack via Egypt, although an Egyptian official said Sunday that the Sinai is "fully under control."
"This is an attempt by Israel to give justification for the offensive against Gaza," he said.
On Sunday, PLO official Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned Israel's latest military escalation.
"The Israeli government has acted with impunity for its unilateral violations for far too long. The illegal, cruel siege of the Gaza Strip, along with all other violations of international law must come to an end."
The PLO official called on the international community to take serious measures to halt Israel's policy of extrajudicial executions and the continued killing of innocent civilians.
Israeli airstrikes kill three Palestinians in Gaza: Medics
Medical sources say three Palestinians, including a teenager, have been killed in new Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll from the Israeli air raids in the past few days to 21.
A 17-year-old Palestinian child was killed in the latest attack against northern Gaza on Monday.
The medical sources also said two other Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza earlier on Monday.
Nearly 40 more Palestinians were also injured in the Israeli aerial attacks against Gaza during the early hours of Monday.
In addition to the Monday airstrikes, 18 Palestinians were also killed in Israeli attacks conducted within the period of March 9 to 11.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blatantly said on Sunday that the Tel Aviv regime will continue airstrikes against Gaza “as long as necessary.”
Meanwhile, China urged the Tel Aviv regime to stop its airstrikes on Gaza on Monday.
“China is concerned about the escalation of the situation in Gaza,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said.
“We call upon the Israeli side to stop air raids against Gaza. We hope parties concerned can stop firing immediately in order to avoid casualties of innocent civilians,” Weimin added.
The Jordanian government also condemned the “barbaric aggression” of the Tel Aviv regime on Sunday.
In addition to Jordan and China, Turkish activists from the Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People held a demonstration in the capital Ankara to condemn the Israeli airstrikes on Sunday.
Israel imposed a war on the Gaza Strip in December 2008-January 2009. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the conflict.
BREAKING NEWS: ISRAEL GAZA ATTACK Press TV: Palestinian child killed in fresh Israeli airstrike in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza: Medics
Medical sources say two Palestinians have been killed in new Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll from the Israeli air raids in the past few days to 20.
The latest attacks were carried out against the city of Khan Yunis during the early hours of Monday.
Nearly 40 more Palestinians, including nine children, were also injured in earlier Israeli aerial attacks against Gaza on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blatantly said on Sunday that the Tel Aviv regime will continue airstrikes against Gaza “as long as necessary.”
Meanwhile, the Jordanian government condemned the “barbaric aggression” of the Tel Aviv regime on Sunday.
In addition to Jordan, Turkish activists from the Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People held a demonstration in the capital Ankara to condemn the Israeli airstrikes on Sunday.
Israel imposed a war on the Gaza Strip in December 2008-January 2009. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the conflict.
11 mar 2012
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Israeli forces Sunday stormed a Palestinian house in the old city of the Southern West Bank city of Hebron and attacked its residents, according to security sources.
They said that Israeli forces stormed the house of Ishaq al-maharbeh, fired tear gas bombs inside it before storming the house and locking the family inside while searching it. 'United States does nothing to stop Israeli crimes' The Israeli regime has started a new wave of military attacks against the besieged Gaza Strip, bringing the Palestinian death toll to 18 since Friday. Press TV has conducted an interview with Mukhaimer Abu Saada, professor at al-Azhar University, to share his opinion on this issue. Egypt in 'race against time' to stop Gaza escalation Egypt is working extensively to prevent the escalation of cross-border violence between Gaza and Israel, the Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority said Sunday. "Egypt is in a race against time in order to halt hostilities as soon as possible to avoid further escalations," Yasser Othman told Ma'an. Egypt is in contact with both sides in the hope that they respond positively "to avoid undesirable developments," the ambassador said. |
The Egyptian official stressed that Israel's offensive is "unjustifiable, and a breach to the truce sponsored by Egypt."
Responding to Israeli claims that the offensive was launched to thwart a militant operation from the Sinai, Othman said that the peninsula is "fully under control."
"This is an attempt by Israel to give justification for the offensive against Gaza," he said.
Responding to Israeli claims that the offensive was launched to thwart a militant operation from the Sinai, Othman said that the peninsula is "fully under control."
"This is an attempt by Israel to give justification for the offensive against Gaza," he said.
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Eighteen Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip since Friday.
A 12-year-old child and a 52-year-old man were killed in four Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City early on Sunday. The latest round of Israeli attacks has brought the Palestinian death toll to 18 since Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday the Tel Aviv regime will continue airstrikes against Gaza “as long as necessary.” More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed during the December 2008-January 2009 Israeli war against Gaza. Gaza residents still live in what is known to be the “world's largest open-air prison” as Israel remains in full control of the airspace, territorial waters and border crossings of the Palestinian land. _____________________ At least one explosion rocked Gaza just now. Drones anad apaches above. To sum up what has happened in the last hour: Israeli warplanes have targeted a place in Khanyounis leaving -at least- one women wounded . Occupation has kidnapped a fisherman in the middle of the sea about half an hour ago . We still hear ambulances rushing to the places targeted from time to time . Israeli drones didn't leave Gaza skies since Friday, still roaming all over the Strip |
Woman, child injured in fresh Israeli raid
A fresh Israel air raid near the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Sunday evening wounded a child and a woman, local sources said.
They told the PIC reporter that an Israeli reconnaissance plane fired a missile at Qudaih street in Abassan Al-Kabira east of Khan Younis, which fell near a house and injured the woman and the child.
The sources said that the explosion damaged the house and spread fears in the region to which ambulance teams rushed to evacuate the casualties.
They told the PIC reporter that an Israeli reconnaissance plane fired a missile at Qudaih street in Abassan Al-Kabira east of Khan Younis, which fell near a house and injured the woman and the child.
The sources said that the explosion damaged the house and spread fears in the region to which ambulance teams rushed to evacuate the casualties.
Israeli airstrikes kill 2 in Gaza
Ayoub Useila, 12
Israeli airstrikes early Sunday killed two people in the Gaza Strip, including a 12-year-old boy, as cross-border violence continued for a third day.
Medical spokesman in Gaza Adham Abu Salmiya said Ayoub Useila, 12, was killed in Jabalia refugee camp. His seven-year-old cousin was injured in the attack and taken to Kamal Udwan hospital in Jabalia, north Gaza.
Israeli warplanes also fired on the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, killing Ahmad Deib Salim, 24. He was a known militant, Abu Salmiya said.
The Israeli army said that it had targeted a "terrorist squad" preparing to fire rockets from northern Gaza. It also confirmed a direct hit on "two rocket launching sites, in the northern Gaza Strip, used by terror organizations."
On Saturday evening, Israel's army said that it had targeted a "weapon storage facility" in northern Gaza.
Six more projectiles were fired from Gaza on Sunday, an Israeli police spokesman said.
Israeli airstrikes early Sunday killed two people in the Gaza Strip, including a 12-year-old boy, as cross-border violence continued for a third day.
Medical spokesman in Gaza Adham Abu Salmiya said Ayoub Useila, 12, was killed in Jabalia refugee camp. His seven-year-old cousin was injured in the attack and taken to Kamal Udwan hospital in Jabalia, north Gaza.
Israeli warplanes also fired on the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, killing Ahmad Deib Salim, 24. He was a known militant, Abu Salmiya said.
The Israeli army said that it had targeted a "terrorist squad" preparing to fire rockets from northern Gaza. It also confirmed a direct hit on "two rocket launching sites, in the northern Gaza Strip, used by terror organizations."
On Saturday evening, Israel's army said that it had targeted a "weapon storage facility" in northern Gaza.
Six more projectiles were fired from Gaza on Sunday, an Israeli police spokesman said.
Ayoub Useila's 7-year-old cousin
Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees, said it had fired most of the rockets and mortars.
Sunday's attacks brought to 17 the number of Palestinians killed since Friday, when Israeli missiles killed two militant leaders.
Gaza militants responded to the targeted assassination with more than 100 rockets since Friday, injuring six Israelis, one of them seriously.
Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees, said it had fired most of the rockets and mortars.
Sunday's attacks brought to 17 the number of Palestinians killed since Friday, when Israeli missiles killed two militant leaders.
Gaza militants responded to the targeted assassination with more than 100 rockets since Friday, injuring six Israelis, one of them seriously.
Ahmad Deib Salim, 24
A Palestinian official speaking on condition of anonymity said Egypt had begun mediating a ceasefire on Sunday. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry had no comment.
Fresh Israeli attack kills 12-year-old boy in Gaza
Palestinian medical sources say that a 12-year-old boy and another Palestinian have been killed in separate Israeli airstrikes against the Gaza Strip.
The raids happened early Sunday, bringing the death toll from Israeli airstrikes to 18 since Friday.
The boy identified as Ayoub Assaleya was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip. Another Palestinian was killed in a separate strike in Gaza City, according to medics.
The new killing came after a series of attacks left at least 16 Palestinian dead and 30 more injured in the past two days.
Israeli Minister of Military Affairs Ehud Barak reiterated that Israeli troops will continue their attacks on the coastal strip.
The Israeli military frequently bombs the Gaza Strip, saying the actions are being conducted for defensive purposes.
However, disproportionate force is always used in violation of international law, and civilians are often killed or injured.
Majd @majds Palestinian kid Ayyoub Aseileh (12 years old) murdered in Israeli air strike today morning
Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza
Israeli aircraft on Sunday killed two Palestinians, one a 12-year-old boy, medical sources in Gaza said, as cross border violence continued for a third day.
Medics said the boy was killed by an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip. A Palestinian militant was killed in a separate strike in Gaza City, they said.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed strikes were carried out but gave no further details.
New Israeli attack kills 12-year-old child in Gaza: Medics
Palestinian medical sources have announced that a 12-year-old child has been killed in a new Israeli airstrike against the Gaza Strip.
One Gazan killed, another wounded in Israeli airstrike
At least one Palestinian has been killed and one more injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip, Press TV reports.
According to Palestinian medical sources, Israel attacked eastern Gaza in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A total of 16 Palestinians have been killed since Friday afternoon, when Israeli warplanes, drones, and tanks began carrying out a series of attacks targeting different areas across the Gaza Strip.
The leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Al-Qaisi, was one of the Palestinians killed on Saturday. An Israeli drone struck his car in the Tel el-Hawa neighborhood west of Gaza city.
Thousands of mourners, many chanting calls for revenge and firing automatic weapons into the air, buried the victims on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Saturday that "the Israeli army will hit anyone planning to attack Israeli citizens."
Barak said Israel would continue to develop the capabilities of the Iron Dome defense system, designed to intercept rockets and artillery shells fired from a range of between four and 70 kilometers
Israeli war planes and ground forces have frequently attacked Gaza since the end of the December 2008-January 2009 war on the people of the Gaza Strip. Most of the victims of the attacks are civilians, including women and children.
PRC says militants survived Israeli airstrike
The Popular Resistance Committee that militants from the group's armed wing had survived an Israeli airstrike on Saturday evening.
The group said that one militant from the An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades sustained light injuries in the attack, which targeted the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza.
A Palestinian official speaking on condition of anonymity said Egypt had begun mediating a ceasefire on Sunday. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry had no comment.
Fresh Israeli attack kills 12-year-old boy in Gaza
Palestinian medical sources say that a 12-year-old boy and another Palestinian have been killed in separate Israeli airstrikes against the Gaza Strip.
The raids happened early Sunday, bringing the death toll from Israeli airstrikes to 18 since Friday.
The boy identified as Ayoub Assaleya was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip. Another Palestinian was killed in a separate strike in Gaza City, according to medics.
The new killing came after a series of attacks left at least 16 Palestinian dead and 30 more injured in the past two days.
Israeli Minister of Military Affairs Ehud Barak reiterated that Israeli troops will continue their attacks on the coastal strip.
The Israeli military frequently bombs the Gaza Strip, saying the actions are being conducted for defensive purposes.
However, disproportionate force is always used in violation of international law, and civilians are often killed or injured.
Majd @majds Palestinian kid Ayyoub Aseileh (12 years old) murdered in Israeli air strike today morning
Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza
Israeli aircraft on Sunday killed two Palestinians, one a 12-year-old boy, medical sources in Gaza said, as cross border violence continued for a third day.
Medics said the boy was killed by an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip. A Palestinian militant was killed in a separate strike in Gaza City, they said.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed strikes were carried out but gave no further details.
New Israeli attack kills 12-year-old child in Gaza: Medics
Palestinian medical sources have announced that a 12-year-old child has been killed in a new Israeli airstrike against the Gaza Strip.
One Gazan killed, another wounded in Israeli airstrike
At least one Palestinian has been killed and one more injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip, Press TV reports.
According to Palestinian medical sources, Israel attacked eastern Gaza in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A total of 16 Palestinians have been killed since Friday afternoon, when Israeli warplanes, drones, and tanks began carrying out a series of attacks targeting different areas across the Gaza Strip.
The leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Al-Qaisi, was one of the Palestinians killed on Saturday. An Israeli drone struck his car in the Tel el-Hawa neighborhood west of Gaza city.
Thousands of mourners, many chanting calls for revenge and firing automatic weapons into the air, buried the victims on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Saturday that "the Israeli army will hit anyone planning to attack Israeli citizens."
Barak said Israel would continue to develop the capabilities of the Iron Dome defense system, designed to intercept rockets and artillery shells fired from a range of between four and 70 kilometers
Israeli war planes and ground forces have frequently attacked Gaza since the end of the December 2008-January 2009 war on the people of the Gaza Strip. Most of the victims of the attacks are civilians, including women and children.
PRC says militants survived Israeli airstrike
The Popular Resistance Committee that militants from the group's armed wing had survived an Israeli airstrike on Saturday evening.
The group said that one militant from the An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades sustained light injuries in the attack, which targeted the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza.
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Israel has launched a major military attack on the besieged Gaza Strip under the auspices of the United States in an attempt to empty the Palestinian leadership.
Press TV has interviewed Ralph Schoenman, author of the Hidden History of Zionism from Berkeley who shares his insight about what is exactly behind this latest Israeli assault based on factual reports. What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview. Press TV: There is death and destruction in Gaza yet we see silence by the international community. Why do we see such silence when the West in particular claims to be the flag bearer of human rights and democracy? Schoenman: Let me make clear to you that this was a process initiated by |
the Israelis whp killed top Palestinian leader al-Qaesi and two of his aides and this is not the first such attack. They assassinated Kamal al-Nairab, al-Qaesi's predecessor in August and indeed the Israeli assault was a deliberate process of armed attack with the intention of assassinating political leaders of Hamas and of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
The US State Department's immediate response was to condemn the Palestinians as terrorists for the response on the part of the Palestinian people to these assassination attacks.
I should point out to you that the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has published a report: The US has sent over 600,000 teargas canisters to Israel and more than 670 million weapons including rounds of ammunition and tear gas, chemical weapons and related equipment over a period of nine years.
Israel in targeted assassination has killed 2,969 unarmed Palestinians including 1,128 children with US weapons in violation of the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Control Act.
In reality, in the US Memorandum of Understanding with Israel, the US pledged 30 billion dollars in additional military assistance to Israel and a 25-percent increase in the average annual military aid over previous years - 3.1 billion in US military for the fiscal year 2012 alone.
So we have to understand that this event is a deliberate attack on the part of the Zionist state with complete backing of the US. The Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta reaffirmed America's "security commitment to Israel including financing for missiles and fighter jet weapons" in a speech during the AIPAC conference recently.
What we're seeing here is a coordinated operation and indeed there is a report by the Agence France Press a few hours ago that the US has "offered Israel new arms if they wait on the attack on Iran until just after the elections" - advanced weaponry, which is spelled out.
So, this attack on Gaza and on the Palestinian leadership and on the Palestinian people is a deliberate provocation to increase the scale of violence and to facilitate renewed attacks on the part of Israel against leaders of the Palestinian people specifically targeted for assassination.
The US State Department's immediate response was to condemn the Palestinians as terrorists for the response on the part of the Palestinian people to these assassination attacks.
I should point out to you that the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has published a report: The US has sent over 600,000 teargas canisters to Israel and more than 670 million weapons including rounds of ammunition and tear gas, chemical weapons and related equipment over a period of nine years.
Israel in targeted assassination has killed 2,969 unarmed Palestinians including 1,128 children with US weapons in violation of the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Control Act.
In reality, in the US Memorandum of Understanding with Israel, the US pledged 30 billion dollars in additional military assistance to Israel and a 25-percent increase in the average annual military aid over previous years - 3.1 billion in US military for the fiscal year 2012 alone.
So we have to understand that this event is a deliberate attack on the part of the Zionist state with complete backing of the US. The Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta reaffirmed America's "security commitment to Israel including financing for missiles and fighter jet weapons" in a speech during the AIPAC conference recently.
What we're seeing here is a coordinated operation and indeed there is a report by the Agence France Press a few hours ago that the US has "offered Israel new arms if they wait on the attack on Iran until just after the elections" - advanced weaponry, which is spelled out.
So, this attack on Gaza and on the Palestinian leadership and on the Palestinian people is a deliberate provocation to increase the scale of violence and to facilitate renewed attacks on the part of Israel against leaders of the Palestinian people specifically targeted for assassination.
