Israel–Gaza conflict (3 Viewers)

[MissSarajevo]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli warplanes retaliating for rocket fire from the Gaza Strip pounded dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of airstrikes Saturday, killing at least 155 and wounding more than 310 in the single bloodiest day of fighting in recent memory.


Hamas said all of its security installations were hit and responded with several medium-range Grad rockets at Israel, reaching deeper than in the past. One Israeli was killed and at least four people were wounded.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said "the operation will last as long as necessary," but it was not clear if it would be coupled with a ground offensive. Asked if Hamas political leaders might be targeted next, military spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich said, "Any Hamas target is a target."
• Click here for photos.


The strikes caused widespread panic and confusion in Gaza, as black clouds of smoke rose above the territory, ruled by Hamas for the past 18 months. Some of the Israeli missiles struck in densely populated areas as children were leaving school, and women rushed into the streets frantically looking for their children. Most of those killed were security men, but civilians were among the dead.

FOXNews.com - Israel Launches Unprecedented Series of Strikes on Gaza - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

 

[stazi]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

yes. terrorists. tsup troll.


fucking terrible. this is really going to make civillians from both sides fear for their lives. and "hamas target" my arse - how could innocents not be hurt?

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

A real thread rather than the troll one offered before.

Israel hammered Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 225 people in retaliation for rocket fire, in one of the bloodiest days of the decades-long Middle East conflict.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said "Operation Cast Lead" against the Islamist movement, which has also left some 700 wounded, will continue "as long as necessary".

"The battle will be long and difficult, but the time has come to act and to fight," he said.

Exile Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal called in Damascus for a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israel and promised suicide attacks after a four-year hiatus.

Following the mid-morning bombings, in which some 60 warplanes struck more than 50 targets over the span of just a few minutes, Hamas fired several dozen rockets, killing one Israeli.

Israeli air strikes continued sporadically throughout the day and into the evening.

"We will not stand down and we will not cave in even if (the Israelis) should eradicate the Gaza Strip or kill thousands of us," Ismail Haniya, who heads the Hamas government, said in a defiant radio address.

Meshaal called for a "military intifada against the enemy" and said "resistance will continue through suicide missions".

Hamas has not carried out a suicide attack in Israel since January 2005.

The White House said only Hamas could end the cycle of violence by putting a stop to the rocket fire on Israel.

"These people are nothing but thugs, and so Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas," spokesman Gordon Johndroe said at George W Bush's Texas ranch, where the president is preparing to spend the new year.

"If Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel, then Israel would not have a need for strikes in Gaza," Johndroe said. "What we've got to see is Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel."

"The United States hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire; we want the ceasefire restored. We're concerned about the humanitarian situation and want all parties concerned to work to make sure the people of Gaza get the humanitarian assistance they need," said Johndroe.

He was referring to a six-month truce mediated by Egypt, which ended on December 19, with Hamas refusing to renew it.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged Israel will do its utmost to avert a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is under a crippling Israeli blockade.

"The people in Gaza do not deserve to suffer because of the killers and murderers of the terrorist organisation," he said, referring to Hamas.

He insisted that Israel had only hit Hamas targets, including command structures and rocket-manufacturing installations.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate halt to the violence, as did the European Union, Russia, Britain and France, while several Middle Eastern states and the Arab League slammed Israel.

In Gaza, thick clouds of smoke billowed into the sky. Mangled, bloodied and often charred corpses littered the pavement around Hamas security compounds, and frantic relatives flooded hospitals.

Medics said civilians had been hit, but the majority of the victims appeared to be members of Hamas, branded a terror group by Israel and the West.

Hamas said the strikes destroyed its security structures across Gaza and killed three senior officials - the Gaza police chief, the police commander for central Gaza and the head of the group's bodyguard unit.

Dr Moawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services, put the toll at 210 dead and 700 injured, 140 of them seriously.

The bombing came after days of spiralling violence, with militants firing rockets and Israel vowing a fiery response.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who brokered the six-month truce, slammed the "Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip" and blamed "Israel, as an occupying force, for the victims and the wounded".

The bombardment set off angry demonstrations in Israel's Arab towns and in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as protests in countries around the region.

It came less than two months ahead of Israeli elections on February 10.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the head of the governing Kadima party and one of the front-runners for the premier's chair, said that "today there is no other option than a military operation".

Violence in and around Gaza has flared since the truce ended, and it escalated dramatically on Wednesday.

Israel has generally responded to attacks by tightening the blockade it imposed after Hamas seized Gaza from forces loyal to secular Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in June 2007. But on Friday it allowed the delivery of dozens of truckloads of humanitarian aid.

At least 225 dead as Israel hammers Gaza - World - smh.com.au

Absolutely disgraceful. No-one with a brain support Hamas firing rockets indiscriminatly into Israel but this isn't retaliation, it's a needless over reaction from Israel. Israel is a cancer upon the world and in doing this it only serves to hasten and enhance violence against itself.

Godspeed Mahmoud.

 

[katie tully]

Re: Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

Yay! Go team Israel.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Re: Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

Also less civilians.

Soon there will be less dirty Israelis, I imagine, as Arabs don't sit there and take it. That's something to look foward to. Let's hope there's lots of grizzly pictures of wounded and dead Israelis that I can whack off to.

 

[katie tully]

Re: Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

And even if they weren't terrorists, they could have been.

 

[sam04u]

Re: Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

Israel's attack on Gaza which has now been ongoing for over a year has now progressed to a direct strike, with F16's and artillery which massacred hundreds of innocent Palestinians.

The international community has to act now or else they're pretty much giving Israel the green light to do whatever they want.

 

[katie tully]

Re: Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

Israel's attack on Gaza which has now been ongoing for over a year has now progressed to a direct strike, with F16's and artillery which massacred hundreds of innocent Palestinians.

The international community has to act now or else they're pretty much giving Israel the green light to do whatever they want.

Basically, yes.

If they want to wipe the Arabs off the face of the planet, who are we to stop them? Sam, be reasonable. If the Arabs were to blow Israel off the map, would you want us to intervene and stop them?

 

[Aryanbeauty]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

Well done Israel.

Even Palestinian President is actually happy cause Israel have done the job for him in eliminating 200+ of his sworn enemy

 

[$hiftyIceQueen]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

Gah. Hate Israel. I don't get how anyone could support what they're currently doing.

 

[-Anfernee-]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

Gah. Hate Israel. I don't get how anyone could support what they're currently doing.

They are just trying to defend their rightful territories from terrorists..yeah, they are such monsters!!

 

[stazi]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

Gah. Hate Israel. I don't get how anyone could support what they're currently doing.

I don't think anyone rational could support the most recent attack, but they could easily support their situation

 

[zstar]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

So the Israeli's bombed themselves?

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

They are just trying to defend their rightful territories from terrorists..yeah, they are such monsters!!

An acceptable action by any measure, but not to such a large extent for such a small reason. This is the international equivilent of punching someone in the face for poking ones shoulder.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Re: Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

Yes.

 

[Riet]

Re: Rockets fired into Israel killing 0: Israel fires rockets killing 225 people

why don't the palestinians just STFU and not elect a group that wants the destruction of israel to lead them?

 

[$hiftyIceQueen]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

They are just trying to defend their rightful territories from terrorists..yeah, they are such monsters!!

Israel is defending itself? From what? Killing over 200, and wounding over 700, is them protecting themselves from Hamas? How many of these people were actual militants of Hamas?

Pleaseee. They shouldn't even be in the place to begin with.

I don't think anyone rational could support the most recent attack, but they could easily support their situation

They've been killing the Palestinians since forever, and saying they're only attacking the terrorists. Such bullshit. Oh and the attack that's on atm, they say won't be over and they'll be continuing it for a while. How will this will help everyone involved? They brag on about wanting peace in the area but they're the ones killing the most civilians...

I seriously don't blame the Palestinians for wanting to fight back after all the crap they're dealing with.

 

[stazi]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

Israel is defending itself? From what? Killing over 200, and wounding over 700, is them protecting themselves from Hamas? How many of these people were actual militants of Hamas?

Pleaseee. They shouldn't even be in the place to begin with.

They've been killing the Palestinians since forever, and saying they're only attacking the terrorists. Such bullshit. Oh and the attack that's on atm, they say won't be over and they'll be continuing it for a while. How will this will help everyone involved? They brag on about wanting peace in the area but they're the ones killing the most civilians...

I seriously don't blame the Palestinians for wanting to fight back after all the crap they're dealing with.

Actually yes, most of the time only terrorists/militant groups are harmed. The Israelis mainly use targeted strikes only going for targets. The Palestinians aim to have as many civilian casualties as posisble.

 

[rasengan90]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

That will teach them for sending rockets into the Negev.

 

[$hiftyIceQueen]

Re: Israel killed 155 Terrorists in Gaza Airstrike

Actually yes, most of the time only terrorists/militant groups are harmed. The Israelis mainly use targeted strikes only going for targets. The Palestinians aim to have as many civilian casualties as posisble.

Like in Lebanon how they only attacked the militants?

They're just dropping bombs whenever they like, and nobody really cares about what happens because it's 'Israel' and they 'have a right to defend themselves from terrorists'.

This time they attacked mostly militants, but they don't always do that. What about when they randomly kidnap children because they're 'terrorists'?

&the palestinians attack anyone they can reach, they can't exactly get to the PM of Israel no matter how much they try..