CNN is reporting at 1200 GMT that Israel has apparently hit with bombs, rockets or artillery a school and or a refugee center in Gaza.
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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency said the Asma Elementary school was clearly marked as a U.N. installation, Christiane Amanpour reports. It said over 400 people had been given shelter at the school when it was hit Monday night.
“Well before the current fighting, UNRWA had given to the Israeli authorities the GPS (global positioning system) co-ordinates of all its installations in Gaza, including Asma Elementary School,” the agency said in a news release.
Related:
Gaza Day 12: Egypt, France Renew Cease Fire Hope After Dozens Killed At Schools
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast
/01/06/israel.gaza/index.html
In other Gaza news, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert told French President Sarkozy to please block the cease fire resolution in the United Nations.
Olmert also relayed that request to the European Union and others.
Sarkozy has been on a Middle East trip to find ways to broker a cease fire.
But Olmert told him until Hamas in Gaza stop sending rockets into Isreal there can be no end to the fighting. He said Israel has acted in self defense….
Olmert also reminded Sarkozy that “Sometimes the need to find a compromise in the UN comes at Israel’s expense.”
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Un representatives in Gaza showed increasing alarm at the carnage.
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“There’s nowhere safe in Gaza. Everyone here is terrorized and traumatized,” said John Ging, the top U.N. official in Gaza, blaming the international community for allowing the violence to continue.
“I am appealing to political leaders here and in the region and the world to get their act together and stop this,” he said, speaking at Gaza’s largest hospital. “They are responsible for these deaths.”
Related:
Gaza: France’s Sarkozy Not Helping
Israeli Government spokesman Regev said it was all about Hamas and their rockets.
“Before the last cease-fire with Hamas began, Hamas had missiles with a range of 20 kilometers,” Regev said Tuesday. “By the end of the cease-fire, the range of the missiles grew to 40 kilometers. Israel does not want the next cease-fire to allow them to get missiles with a range of 60 kilometers.”
The human cost in Gaza continues to grow, moving more people toward the belief that a cease fire is absolutely necessary now.
The Associated Press said that on Tuesday at least 18 people were killed in shelling up and down the strip. Only two of the dead could be immediately confirmed as militants.
By John E. Carey
Wakefield Chapel, Virginia
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Related:
Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip
From the Associated Press:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/a
p_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians
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From The New York Times Tuesday:
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As European diplomats poured into the region seeking a cease-fire, Israel and Hamas spoke defiantly of victory. Phones in Gaza homes rang repeatedly with recorded Israeli military messages saying, “We are getting rid of Hamas.” That goes beyond the stated goals of Israel’s top leaders, who have emphasized that the operation is intended to stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel.
The Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, said after a meeting with officials from the Czech Republic, Sweden and France that Israel would “change the equation” in the region. She added that in other conflicts, “countries send in forces in order to battle terrorism, but we are not asking the world to take part in the battle and send their forces in — we are only asking them to allow us to carry it out until we reach a point in which we decide our goals have been reached for this point.”
Read the rest:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/w
orld/middleeast/07mideast.html?_r=1&hp
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By Anne Applebaum, The Washington Post
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There is no point in bemoaning the passivity of the Bush administration, the silence of Barack Obama, the powerlessness of Arab leaders or the weakness of Europe, as so many, predictably, have begun to do. It’s no outsider’s “fault” that the fighting continues, and pretending otherwise merely obscures the real issues. Diplomats might be able to slow its progress, but this war won’t be over until someone has won.
Read the rest:
http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
content/article/2009/01/05/AR20090105
02016.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
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By IBRAHIM BARZAK and STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press Writers
Israeli shells slammed into Gaza and ground forces edged closer to major population centers Tuesday, taking more civilian lives after Israel ignored mounting international calls for an immediate cease-fire.
Related:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106
/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians
Palestinians carry the bodies of three toddlers Ahmed, Mohamed, and Issa Samouni, who according to Palestinian medical sources were killed in an Israeli strike, during their funeral in Gaza City, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. Israeli forces pounded Gaza Strip houses, mosques and smuggling tunnels on Monday from the air, land and sea, killing at least seven children as they pressed a bruising offensive against Palestinian militants.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
January 6, 2009 at 5:45 pm |
The primary reason for the chaos and the constant fighting is ISRAEL and those jews in D.C that are more loyal to Israel than to America. The whole world is witnessing (a holocaust; mass killings of children who you say “are being used as human shields!!!” how stupid and inconsiderate, when the children are being killed in their homes. Families of 8, 9 or more are being decentegraded into ashes because of the Israeli bombardment (Just like the 1000’s that were killed in Lebanon in 2006…if your empty head remembers!). As I was saying, America is the only country objecting resolutions condemning Israelis for their cruel murders, and that, my friend (enemy), what makes America is the Biggest supporter of terror in the world. The Palestinians, since the creation of this zionist country, negotiated down to more than %85 of their original land. You, Israelis, are the ones that are never happy and keep building illegal settlements and violate ALL of the UN resolutions that call for removal of those settlements that are the source of true terrorism. Israel has proven to be a BAD NEIGHBOR for the past 100 years and was the source of most of the “true holocausts” in the world. They have earned the title of “children killers,” Today, the death toll in Gaza stands at +600 1/3 of which are children under 10. How do you justfy that? Other than the Evilness and the disreguard for human lives and humanity. Yeah, we do hate Israel more than anything, and thats because we’ve been their neighbors for a very long time and we know their “truth” more than anyone else. Their truth is that to them a non-jew is not worth a dime and is called a “goim”. Do you think they care how many children they behead? their agenda is to dominate the world (by leaching on the super power, USA) and make everyone their servant. They succeeded in America and most of Europe(proof: you can doubt the existance of God but you can’t doubt the existance of the holocausts….lol), but not in our terrirories! Death to the Zionists! Fak Peace! FAk BUSH!
January 6, 2009 at 5:54 pm |
I share your pain at the loss of civilian life, and I think that Israelis share your pain as well. But I think it is important to make several points here.
Surely there is a distinction targeting terrorists with unfortunate collateral damage (Israel) and targeting civilians with the intent of killing civilians (Hamas). Believe me, if Israel wanted to commit genocide, in bombing a thousand targets in the most densely populated area on earth, they would and could have killed far more than 500 people (75% of whom, according to the UN, are armed terrorists). I think Israel is trying to avoid civilian casualties and, with some unfortunate unavoidable exceptions, doing an outstanding job.
At that, surely if you have a problem with Israel firing at civilian centers, you would also condemn Hamas which is – you guessed it! – targeting civilian centers. Your silence in the face of Palestinian terrorism is telling…
Moreover, I would argue that your denial of Israel’s right to defend its civilians against lethal Hamas attacks – essentially having innocent Israelis and their children be sitting ducks for genocidal terrorists – is nothing short of genocidal itself.
The painful scenes that Palestinian children are witnessing are sad, but also important. Palestinian children are also learning an important life lesson – terrorism against innocent civilians doesn’t pay. Far from achieving independence and honor, it brings Palestinians suffering, humiliation and devastation. Instead of building rockets and training to be suicide bombers perhaps these children will do something more than their foolish parents – perhaps they’ll build themselves an economy, hospitals, and infrastructure and become something more than a hotbed for terrorism and hate.
Oh, and as for the “occupation.” Israel withdrew from Gaza two years ago. The Palestinians – in elections monitored by Jimmy Carter and the EU – elected Hamas. So what on earth is “occupation” other than yet another buzzword to excuse all Palestinian wrongs?
January 6, 2009 at 6:24 pm |
U.N. official: 30 dead after Israeli strike near school
What else is new? The cowardly Hamas goons fire rockets from the vicinity of the school. Israel will retaliate by hitting near that area. This is a tactic by these Hamas cowards. Of course the world will respond by condemning Israel. This is exactly what Hamas cowards want. This will be played again and again in the Arab press. And they are playing in the hands of Hamas. It is just right that Israel wipe these Hamas cowards off Gaza.
January 6, 2009 at 7:20 pm |
Israel responded to motor fire from within the school complex. Hamas is taking their children and using them as human shields. The loss of innocent lifes is regretable. The blame is squarely on Hamas.
January 6, 2009 at 7:22 pm |
The entire world should pray that Israel decimates Hamas, only then do the innocent people of Gaza have a chance to live
January 6, 2009 at 7:33 pm |
And Israel is the terrorists? if you want’s Israel to be wiped so you are the only terrorists (Oops, I ment you and the Hamas).
January 6, 2009 at 7:38 pm |
Ravino,
there is another option: maybe Israel is lying. I’m sure that once in a while they fire to the location where a rocket was launch, but who controls Israel after that. They can destroy building by building and argue “we saw a rocket” and nobody can confirm that. Why do you think the International media is forbidden in Gaza? Why do you think they bomb a UN building in Lebanon for 45 minutes, and after apologize for the “mistake”? They do this all the time. Hamas was launching rockets because Israel have them in a blockade for a long time. They get desperate and they go back to violence. What else can they do if Israel don’t care about Palestinian children? A blockade is as violence as a rocket.
January 6, 2009 at 8:13 pm |
Any country that doesn’t take collateral damage into account, and work to minimize it needs to be put in check. Here in the US, how long do you think our government could attack, say Detroit, if a Hamas group started firing out from there? The *first* civilian casualty will create a nationwide uproar, as it should. So why are we supposed to show a blind eye to Israels lack of concern for civilians in Gaza? Hamas, al Queda, etc obviously should be condemned for their repeated actions against civilians. However, Israel should also be condemned for it’s lack of concern for civilian casualties in Gaza, the US should be condemned for it’s lack of concern for civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. For there to be this double standard that Israeli or American citizens deserve more concern at their lost life, than other citizens of the world is hubrus at a dangerous level. It is my great hope that with the Bush administration out of office finally, we can reset our moral compass, and with hope, get Israel to reset theirs as well.
January 6, 2009 at 8:35 pm |
HAMAS ROCKETS ARE “NATURAL” RESPONSE TO THE 3-YEAR-OLD IMPRRESONMENT OF THE PALESTINIANS IN GAZA WOTHOUT ANY FOOD, WATER, ELECTRICITY NOR MEDICINE. NOONE, ABSOLUTELY NOONE CAN LIVE THE LIFE OF THE PALESTINIANS UNDER THE FULL SIEGE. The Palestinians finally realized that its a “jewish” nature to breach ALL promises. Peace talks with the Israelis have been going on for 100 years and all they get is unfilled promises and more and more illegal settlements. Hamas is a legitimate Resistance movement thats here to stay until you jews leave our land!!!! DEATH TO ISRAEL <===== thats just my conclusion.
January 6, 2009 at 8:55 pm |
JackOfHeart: Given that Israel has not existed for anywhere close to 100 years, how can you make the claim that the peace process has been going on that long?
Your conclusion is very faulty, as is what passes for “logic” in your posts. You use innaccurate information to draw incredibly bad conclusions, then get upset when others do not believe the propaganda you spout. Perhps the advice should be to keep you out of reach of others?
January 6, 2009 at 9:05 pm |
http://pogger.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/un-school-used-to-fire-mortars-at-israeli-forces-draws-counterfire/
There is a video here showing the Hamas terrorists firing rockets from the school area. The cowards are using their own people as human shields. They knew Israel would locate the site of the rocket fire and shoot back.
January 6, 2009 at 9:05 pm |
More people have died in the name of religion and God than anything else. Religion and God are truly to be blamed here. Who cares about a wall or a mosque??!!
Religion should be banned. Only then will we have peace in this world.
January 6, 2009 at 9:29 pm |
Why are you even surprised??? Hamas was firing rockets from a school but no children were in school just as no children and university students have been learning in all of the South of Israel for ten days! So what if the building is a school that is just used for propaganda and journalists have fallen into the trap of reporting uninformed and innacurate data. Keep it up…
January 6, 2009 at 10:06 pm |
In the past eight years, more than 5000 (FIVE THOUSAND) Kassam rockets have fallen on the town of Sderot. The people of Sderot have exactly 15 seconds to run for a bomb shelter before the missile lands.
January 6, 2009 at 11:42 pm |
The whole premise of civilian casualties being justified because Hamas is hiding amongst its people is complete bull. Israel has modern war technology, the ability to drop a bomb into somebodies living room window, but yet they cannot prevent the massacre of innocents. If we were to apply that logic why not just nuke the entire middle east? Iraq, Iran,Afghanistan, Pakistan, since there are terrorists within their boundaries. Osama Bin Laden is somehwere in there. Does that justify us wiping out whatever we have too to achieve our objective of taking out one man. I don’t think so.
What the world should acknowledge is that Israel is using the actions of a few to basically justify genocide. Something very familiar to them 60 years ago. What the people who defend this kind of action also need to realize is that Israel is the U.S.’ number one customer for arms, but I’m sure that has nothing to do with our stance. Please.