Israel vows lasting Gaza campaign
Israel says it is ready for “long weeks of action” as it continues its fiercest air assault on Gaza for decades to stamp out militant rocket attacks.
Palestinian officials say 10 people died in the latest attacks, taking the death toll to over 360 since Saturday. Four Israelis have died in rocket fire.
Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit rejected any ceasefire until the threat of rockets was removed completely.
A UN human rights monitor accused Israel of “shocking atrocities”.
Richard Falk – the special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories – said the international community must put more pressure on Israel to end its attacks on Gaza.
“Israel is committing a shocking series of atrocities by using modern weaponry against a defenceless population – attacking a population that has been enduring a severe blockade for many months,” Mr Falk said in a BBC interview.
The UN says at least 62 of the Palestinians killed so far have been women and children, and it is calling for an investigation into attacks which causing heavy civilian casualties.
Coastal clash
Israeli jets attacked targets linked to the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, for a fourth day, hitting a number of government buildings and security installations.
See detailed map of attacks
Forty people were said to have been wounded in Tuesday’s raids.
“The Israeli army must not stop the operation before breaking the will of the Palestinians, of Hamas, to continue to fire at Israel,” Mr Sheetrit told Israel Radio.
The Israeli military “has made preparations for long weeks of action,” added Matan Vilnai, a deputy defence minister, in another interview.
One air strike on Tuesday killed two sisters, the oldest aged 11, riding in a donkey cart in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, Palestinian medical sources said.
Separately, Israeli naval vessels confronted pro-Palestinian activists seeking to break the Gaza blockade by boat about 45 miles (70 kilometres) off the Israeli coast in international waters.
The activists said one vessel had rammed them after they ignored warnings to turn back. Their boat, carrying 3.5 tonnes of medical aid, is now trying to reach Lebanon.
Israel has massed forces along the boundary with Gaza and political leaders have not ruled out ground operations.
The Egyptian-Gaza border was sealed on Tuesday morning after trucks carrying aid and some wounded Palestinians were allowed to cross on Monday.
European Union foreign ministers are scheduled to to meet in Paris later (1730 GMT) to discuss the escalating crisis.
The meeting, hosted by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, is expected to consider the idea of an humanitarian aid corridor, and how to bring additional aid to Gaza’s beleaguered 1.5m population.
Angry protests
Dozens of centres of Hamas strength, including security compounds, government offices and tunnels into Egypt, have been hit since Israel started its massive bombing campaign on Saturday morning.
Israel says its aim is to end the rocket attacks by Hamas-linked militants – of which there have more than 60 since Monday morning.
There have been angry protests against the offensive in many cities across the Arab world and in several European capitals.
The strikes began less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.
Analysts say Israeli political leaders were under pressure to act against rocket fire with a general election looming in early February.
Israel dismantled its strategic settlements and military bases in Gaza in 2005 but has kept tight control over access in and out of the narrow coastal strip and its airspace.
Gaza is a refugee camp. The human beings that are imprisoned in Gaza have had their homes stolen from them. Israel could not do this without money and military equipment from the citizens of the United States. Shame on us for allowing ourselves to be deceived by our media and Government.
The U.S. needs to come clean to why we help Israel, why we start wars, Why is America such a power trip, why do we kill our own children, why don’t we use the cures, Why Can’t we Tell People there is nothing backing up the DOLLAR except Americans LABOR. When will the Powers That Be relize their follies and know there is something bigger than you and I. You want me to support troops who shoot innocent people..women and children..The United states government is are own true enemy…all they do is lie to us for years…tell us what to do….what to buy….take in Soduim Floride…why does America love and worship the NAZI’s . We are the axis of evil…we are the terrorists for not telling our countries people what the Government does behind our backs…. People WAKE UP….Bill Oreilly..You are a human disease….Bush ….a sick man…Cheney..is a straigh thief….You will all understand one day… the free man is making his return. I wish CNN would also start telling the truth..All we have is Lou Dobbs…..Replace Obama with a real man Ron Paul. Americans do your own reserch and understand what the United States Government really is! Some one or something please help us.
hat Tater
Israel wants to weaken Hamas before the change of power in the US. It is a gamble that shows the insecurity and worries in the zionist government. Hamas will emerge stronger from this because it is not really a terrorist organization, but a religious nationalist movement, more people will join now.
On the other hand many think that Israel will be defeited in the long run, because this war just as the war in Lebanon in 2006 is helping to recruit the minds for the cause of removing the corrupt dictators in Arab countrie, such as Hosni Mubarak and the Saudi family. The corrupt cowardly Arab leaders are the real obstacle to the peace process.
Hamas and its allies are the enemies of Western civilization.
The harder and the earlier it is hit, the better for us all.
Israel, like their ally the USA, has no support from the World community and will continue that way. They want to keep the parts of their territories that were taken by force from Muslim countries.
The Israelis claim this is a war against Hamas, not the Palestinians, but how the hell was a mosque in Gaza hit by a bomb?
Leave your response!
Sponsored Links
Save Darfur Links
Site Navigation
News
Ongoing Conflicts
Special Topics
Recent Posts
Recent Comments