29/12/2008 / PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - ISRAEL
I'm
personally very impressed with the Israeli attack. It's a well planned
strategy; they're attacking specific targets, so it will be over in a week or
two. And the vast majority of casualties are Hamas - at least that's what's
reported. The message needs to be sent. Just today someone was killed by a
Hamas rocket. It can't go on. My guess is that, afterwards, everyone will be
angry at first, of course, but things will calm down and Hamas will lose support.
Israel
will attack until they achieve their goal."
Gaza City looks like a ghost town. No one goes out, the streets are empty. I went
out to buy some groceries for my children from a shop that was still open and
came back immediately. They bombed the police station not far from here. My
friend phoned to tell me they also destroyed my boat last night, which is
docked in the Port
of Gaza.
Yesterday
we all got together, along with others from surrounding towns, for a
demonstration. Towards the Israeli wall, the soldiers started using teargas to
try to get rid of the protestors, who responded by throwing rocks. The Israelis
then went on to fire rubber bullets, and then real bullets ones; first into the
air, and then at the crowd. Three were hit: Mohammed Srour in the foot, Mohammed
Khawaja in the head, and Arafat Khawaja in the chest. He fell down in front of
my eyes. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance, which the Israelis shot at
with voice bombs. He died later. He was 22 and studied at the American University
in Jenin. Mohammed Khawaja, who was 19 and still at school, is clinically dead.
He's got one brother and six sisters and his mother and father had already been
killed.
The
demonstrations here are a good representation of the situation in Palestine in general.
They're not organised at all and groups go in different directions and squabble
over which flag to raise. I saw one guy raised on someone's shoulders, chanting
about national unity, and holding up the Fatah,
Hamas and Popular Front
[for the Liberation of Palestine] flags. Then somebody handed him a Palestinian flag, which he'd forgotten...
Is the Israeli intervention justified?
The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, launched this weekend, has already killed over 300 Palestinians - some of them members of Hamas, others, civilians. Our Observers, from Gaza to Jerusalem, tell us about the escalating violence and question the legitimacy of the attack.
What do you think about the intervention? Give your opinion (insulting or hateful comments will be deleted).
This footage was shot by the International Solidarity Movement, who reported that a pharmacy in the Hi Alijnina district of Rafah, south Gaza, was bombed at 7am on Saturday morning.
"Things will calm down and Hamas will lose support"
Ariel Woolf is a rabbinical school teacher from Efrat, near Hebron.
I'm
personally very impressed with the Israeli attack. It's a well planned
strategy; they're attacking specific targets, so it will be over in a week or
two. And the vast majority of casualties are Hamas - at least that's what's
reported. The message needs to be sent. Just today someone was killed by a
Hamas rocket. It can't go on. My guess is that, afterwards, everyone will be
angry at first, of course, but things will calm down and Hamas will lose support.
Israel
will attack until they achieve their goal."
"After the failure in Lebanon, they really want to finish this job"
Eyad El Sarraej is a psychiatrist and human rights activist from Gaza City.
Gaza City looks like a ghost town. No one goes out, the streets are empty. I went
out to buy some groceries for my children from a shop that was still open and
came back immediately. They bombed the police station not far from here. My
friend phoned to tell me they also destroyed my boat last night, which is
docked in the Port
of Gaza.
Hamas is only sending a few rockets in retaliation because it's simply no match. I think they're waiting to score some targets when Israel sends the infantrymen in on foot. The situation will escalate and the Israelis will have to kill a lot of people. After the failure in Lebanon [in 2006] they really want to finish this job - I think this will go on for four to six weeks. They'll occupy Gaza until the Security Council is called on to send an international force. I'm interested in how Obama will react to this - if he doesn't agree with the Bush administration it could have a grand impact."
Eyad says that people are being treated in hospital corridors in Al-Shifa hospital, pictured here. Photo posted with accounts of the chaos on the ISM website.
"This could easily explode into a third intifada"
Lisa Goldman is a journalist and blogger from Tel Aviv.
I am against the attacks on Gaza because they won't work. Neither air force bombardments nor a ground invasion will stop the Qassams. In fact, the IAF and IDF attacks will make life more dangerous and disturbing for the residents of Sderot and the western Negev, because Hamas and Islamic Jihad will respond by increasing their rocket barrages. (...) Meanwhile, the home front command has absolutely no plan to provide protection for civilians living in the western Negev. (...). Palestinians are demonstrating all over the West Bank - and they are directing their fury at Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, branding them as collaborators with Israel for not speaking out forcefully against the attacks on Gaza. This could easily explode into a third intifada."
Read Lisa's post in full here.
"He fell in front of my eyes (…), he died later"
Seventeen-year-old Salam Jamal Kanaan lives in Naalin, a Palestinian village cut off from its farming fields by the Israel wall.
Yesterday
we all got together, along with others from surrounding towns, for a
demonstration. Towards the Israeli wall, the soldiers started using teargas to
try to get rid of the protestors, who responded by throwing rocks. The Israelis
then went on to fire rubber bullets, and then real bullets ones; first into the
air, and then at the crowd. Three were hit: Mohammed Srour in the foot, Mohammed
Khawaja in the head, and Arafat Khawaja in the chest. He fell down in front of
my eyes. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance, which the Israelis shot at
with voice bombs. He died later. He was 22 and studied at the American University
in Jenin. Mohammed Khawaja, who was 19 and still at school, is clinically dead.
He's got one brother and six sisters and his mother and father had already been
killed.
Since this morning his family has tried to move move his body to somewhere they can proceed with funeral arrangements, but in vain. The Israeli soldiers have banned residents from going out and the press from coming in. It would be very complicated to get the body to the cemetery. We're all destroyed."
This footage, shot by the International Solidarity Movement, was taken when Arafat Hawadja was shot and rushed to hospital. The following photos of the incident were taken by Keren Manor at Activestills.org
"Most people are inside glued to their televisions and going to the hospital to donate blood"
Ghassan Abdullah is computer specialist from Ramallah.
The
demonstrations here are a good representation of the situation in Palestine in general.
They're not organised at all and groups go in different directions and squabble
over which flag to raise. I saw one guy raised on someone's shoulders, chanting
about national unity, and holding up the Fatah,
Hamas and Popular FrontHere in Ramallah there are lots of Palestinian security forces around, and in the small streets now, rather than the boulevards. That's strange. Everything's been closed - while usually shops keep their doors ajar, they were all shut over the weekend. Most people are inside glued to their televisions and going to the hospital to donate blood."
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Comments
Why Does The Media Get Taken In By This Hamas Propaganda
Submitted by Antiochean (not verified) on Thu, 08/01/2009 - 18:11.I am sorry to see innocent people suffer, but why does the media not see that the cowardly terrorists are deliberately hiding amongst women and children? Why do they report, with inferred regret that so few Israelis have been killed?
Israel has been bombed for many years and the world does nothing to help, I bet France would see it differently if the Swiss started lobbing a few thousand rockest into Jura!
Unregistered user
A strong solution must be found
Submitted by Unregistered user on Fri, 09/01/2009 - 10:54.Powerfull Israel,
What are you fighting? Human live? Can you please kill every body in the wolrd? I do think that this is the best solution for you to stay alone in the world. Dear all help otherwise a strong solution will be found because the situation must change.
Best regards to every body who are thinking now on what can be the solution on the strong situation in gazza.
Unregistered user
The strong solution will be found at all cost
Submitted by Bienfait (not verified) on Fri, 09/01/2009 - 10:46.Powerful israel, what are you struggling? Human life? Can you please kill every body in the world? I think this is the best solution for you to stay alone in the world. Dear all help. If not verry soon a strong solution will be found because the situation must change.
Best regards to evey body who are thinking on the solution now
Unregistered user
Look at the facts
Submitted by Antiochean (not verified) on Fri, 09/01/2009 - 12:58.Stop the terror from Gaza and peace will ensue
Hamas love terror that is the problem.
Unregistered user
i don't understand why no
Submitted by sheillena (not verified) on Thu, 08/01/2009 - 08:59.i don't understand why no one is helping not as a muslim or a jew but as a human. Please someone do something say something make a difference, please its breaking my heart, i can't sleep or eat i am emotionalLY drained.
Unregistered user
genocide in Gaza
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 18:25.If the world could see what is happening in Gaza I know somebody would try to help those poor Palestinians. I watch Aljazeera and the pictures of the women and little kids being slaughtered is horrendous. It breaks my heart to see a mother or father bury a little baby who is innocent of all the hate that comes from that area. Our American tax dollars are paying for Israel to kill. More than 700 deaths so far and thousands of injured that Israel won't let doctors or the United Nations in to help. Even the schools are being bombed. If the U.S. won't stand up to Israel, the rest of the world should. All this is doing is creating a good solid reason for people to become anti American and anti Israel.
Unregistered user
LIES IN THE MEDIA
Submitted by Antiochean (not verified) on Thu, 08/01/2009 - 18:02.I watch Aljazeera----
And you expect to see the truth!
Unregistered user
what? Fox is the best? Or
Submitted by JusticeForAll (not verified) on Thu, 08/01/2009 - 22:52.what? Fox is the best? Or CNN? or BBC?
Israel and united states are the most unjust and unfair countries of the world. without justice there will be no peace.
if terrorism is defined as "using force against civillians and terrorizing them to achieve own goals and killing innocent non-combatants" then U.S and Israel are the biggest terrorists of the world.
There is no Hamas terrorism, only Israeli and U.S terrorism, which kills thousands of innocent civilians annually. more than all so-called 'terrorist' organizations combined.
I cant believe how israelis can justify such barbaric MURDERS of innocent people! They are not human, they are beasts!
Unregistered user
And the murder of Israeli
Submitted by watermia (not verified) on Fri, 09/01/2009 - 18:24.And the murder of Israeli citizens by Hamas? Does that not count as murder, or terrorism?
Israel's response is unjust and extreme, but it was also provoked.
Unregistered user
You really belive these lies
Submitted by Antiochean (not verified) on Fri, 09/01/2009 - 12:56.These are verifiable facts:
* HAMAS are Terrorists
* Hamas use civilians as human shields
* Hamas have been sending thousands of rockets into Israel
* Hamas want Israel anhialated
* The UN agencies are used by Hamas to spread untrue reports and properganda
* If Hamas puts down it's arms, there will be peace.
* If Israel puts down it's arms, there will be no Israel!!
* Israel works hard to protect the innocent
* Hamas uses the Innocent to protect themselves
Unregistered user
This is NOT genocide
Submitted by Antiochean (not verified) on Thu, 08/01/2009 - 18:00.Israel is trying very hard to look out for innocent people.
Hamas is happy to have their own people killed - It is great publicity for a terrorist!!
Unregistered user
the massacre of gaza
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 04/01/2009 - 13:17.How could a military offensive takes place in the most dense area of the world. Specific targets with 99% of collateral damage among civilians. This will only spur hatred and a vast wave of world antisemitism. the world is watching what the 'only democracy in the middle east" is doing. have we seen the slightest pictures from the so-called targets of hamas in israel? have we seen 1% of what is inflicted on palestiniens?
This is the beginning of the decline of Israel - refuseniks are rising (israelis soldiers who refuse to serve in the territories) - the jewish population outside israel is scared and voices its opposition to this ujust war. Israel has became a master of unjustified and disproportionate responses (lebanon 2006 - gaza 2008-09. Its population is torn and getting more and more paranoid, and its youth will be more traumatized by being perpetators of the atrocities in Gaza than their parents were by the Holocaust.
Unregistered user
War in the east
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 04/01/2009 - 06:12.I think that if we all do not stop this murder and discontent serious things are to come, far greater than we have ever seen.
That means both sides must make a VOW to stop right now.
Unregistered user
War in the east
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 04/01/2009 - 06:12.I think that if we all do not stop this murder and discontent serious things are to come, far greater than we have ever seen.
That means both sides must make a VOW to stop right now.
Unregistered user
IS RA EL
Submitted by stephen (not verified) on Sat, 03/01/2009 - 16:06.Once again the world just sits thier and watches what some would say is murder in the 1st degree. Israel should have had sanctions put against them by the UN many years ago but we know the UN is a week organiasation more so gutless to deal with this as some of the member partys to the un actualy sell weapons to israel..eg the US. This whole mess is concieved from the belief that israel exists as a homeland and country for the jewish people, i still have yet to find this factual information after 20 years of research, what i did find out is that the name israel is made up from 3 old dietys that come form eygyp..ISIS AMEN RAY AND EL....IS RA EL...my thoughts and feelings go out the people of palastine, and as for the people of israel if you had any connection with god like you say you do get out into the streets and protest aginst your own government this is murder and the whole world can see it for what it is.
Unregistered user
desproportionate?
Submitted by adrian winter (not verified) on Wed, 31/12/2008 - 20:01.if the israeli response had been proportional, jews around the world would have blown themselves up in arab cities and israel would have indiscriminately launched thousands of rockets at random for years.
Unregistered user
The roll call of
Submitted by Tcherkessi (not verified) on Thu, 08/01/2009 - 14:31.The roll call of disproportionate attacks reads (with many, many omissions) something like this:
Tantura
Qibya
Kfar Qassem
Khan Yunis
Qana
Tom Hurndall
Ian Hook etc. etc.
Unregistered user
International Solidarity Movement is not a credible source.
Submitted by David Guy (not verified) on Wed, 31/12/2008 - 19:57.The International Solidarity Movement is by their own admission committed to the "liberation" of Palestinians "by any means necessary," including "legitimate armed struggle." Its members have temporarily taken over Israeli military checkpoints, interfered with the arrests of Palestinians charged with terrorism, and attempted to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes containing subterranean tunnels for weapons smuggling. They take direction from Palestinians and effectively are an auxiliary wing of the Palestinian campaign of violence against Israel and active participants in the Palestinian propaganda war against Israel.
Linking to ISM on France 24 without informing readers of their lack of neutrality in this conflict gives them a credibility they do not deserve while simultaneously reducing France 24's credibility.
Unregistered user
Using ISM footage may be justifiable
Submitted by Leyla Guler (not verified) on Fri, 02/01/2009 - 09:37.France24's use of International Solidarity Movement footage may be due to Israel's barring bona fide journalists from entering Gaza. It is my understanding that journalists are only briefed at the Sderot Media Center, which is functioning like a bona fide propaganda center for Israel. I would still like to see France24's response to the point you raise and hear out their views. ISM could be deemed to be a good enough source for video footage.
Unregistered user
RE: ISM footage
Submitted by Sophie Team ... on Fri, 02/01/2009 - 11:59.We did respond to David Guy's other comment yesterday, specifying that the ISM is not an "Observer" (a trusted contact), but it can be a source of material.
Sophie Team ...
Who's to Blame for Gaza Conflict
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 31/12/2008 - 19:29.This is a very sad and tragic state of human affairs. It is one more of many examples around the world where humans act like animals. This conflict represents the feelings of hatred of each side toward the other. This could stop if both sides decide to behave with nobility and could agree that peace was more beneficial than bloodshed. Otherwise, it will continue until one of the participants is either dead or gives up. There is no point in assigning blame.
Unregistered user
I completley agree with you!
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 04/01/2009 - 06:15.I completley agree with you! Bravo
Unregistered user
Who Is To Blame?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 31/12/2008 - 22:11.Why is this difficult to determine? Who has been shelling Israel with rockets daily as the World 'watched' with closed vision?
Can anyone honestly see this happening to the USA, UK, France, Canada without retaliation.
Israel has been more than generous in delaying response.
Unregistered user
Israelis here traumatized as Hamas rockets are still coming...
Submitted by M. Gosselin (not verified) on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 15:27.Israelis here traumatized as Hamas rockets are still coming in at 40 to 50 a day.
Southern Israel, January 7, 2009) --
"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." (Deuteronomy 20:1-4)
* First and foremost, the situation is very intense here. Hamas has fired more than 500 rockets at innocent Israeli civilians over the past ten days or so. They are coming in at 40 to 50 rockets a day. More than 500,000 Israelis live within range of these instruments of terror, and many are traumatized by the fear of injury and death, not only for them but for their children as well.
* Six Israeli soldiers have died in the fighting so far. Israelis throughout the country are mourning their loss, name by name, family by family. That said, Israelis are also overwhelmingly relieved that their government is finally taking strong action against Hamas after some 2 1/2 years of doing virtually nothing.
* Some 1.5 million Palestinians who live on the Gaza Strip are being held hostage by Hamas. Hundreds are dead and thousands have been injured because of Hamas' evil reign of terror that finally provoked an Israeli response. The latest example came Tuesday when Hamas fighters fired mortars at Israeli forces from a U.N. school. This forced Israel to bomb the school to suppress the attacks. In the end, some 42 Palestinians - including the terrorists - died, and more than 50 were injured.
* Where is the world outrage against Hamas? The Palestinian people desperately want and need to be liberated from Hamas, and would privately welcome Israeli success against the terror leaders.
* Rather than mounting pressure on Hamas to stop the rockets, international pressure is steadily and aggressively mounting on the Israeli government to agree to a temporary ceasefire before the Hamas leadership and terror infrastructure in Gaza are crushed. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday, teaming up to push for a ceasefire resolution they hope will end the fighting immediately. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice immediately said the U.S. supports the Mubarak-Sarkozy plan.
* Hamas is increasingly desperate for a ceasefire. Its top leaders are being killed. Scores of its best trained fighters are being killed. Its arms depots and government buildings are being bombed to smithereens. So are its vital smuggling tunnels along the Egyptian border. Reports the Jerusalem Post: "Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip said on Monday that the general feeling was that Hamas does not exist any longer as a governing body. 'All their government institutions have been destroyed,' said a Gaza City reporter. 'The Hamas leaders are now behaving like al-Qaida's Osama bin Laden and [his deputy] Ayman Zawahiri. Their only public appearances are through recorded messages aired on Arab TV stations.'"
* Preciously for this reason, now is no time to let up on Hamas. Israel should absolutely refuse to agree to the Mubarak-Sarkozy plan. As currently drafted, the agreement does not even suggest -- much less mandate -- the creation of an international force to prevent Hamas from re-arming. Even if it did, why should Israelis believe such an international force would be effective? The U.N. force in southern Lebanon is doing absolutely nothing to prevent Hezbollah from re-arming. To the contrary, it is now believed that Hezbollah has more than 30,000 rockets and missiles aimed at Israel, far more than ever before.
* The Israeli public has been duped by such international nonsense before, and thankfully they want no part of it. A new poll here by Channel 2 news finds that 81% of Israelis believe their government has done the right thing by sending ground forces into Gaza to stop the rockets and crush Hamas, and a stunning 60% of Israelis oppose talking to Hamas to obtain a cease-fire.
* That's certainly the sense I have after talking to Israelis here -- they want victory and they define victory as the destruction of the Hamas military and political leadership and the liberation of southern Israel from the constant threat of Hamas rocket, missile and mortar fire. Anything less than the accomplishment of these goals, they tell me, would make the situation worse because it would effectively be a victory for Hamas a defeat for Israel. Israelis don't want to see a single soldier of theirs die, but they believe now is the time to intensify the attack on Hamas, not let up.
* Regardless of how the public feels, however, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his government may very well accept a temporary and premature ceasefire. They accepted a premature ceasefire in Lebanon in 2006, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak signalled from the earliest hours of this conflict he wanted a quick ceasefire. The next few days will be critical to see what kind of resolve the Olmert government has this time around.
Unregistered user
Yes, Who is to Blame?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 01/01/2009 - 00:38.The blame game goes on and will continue to go on long after I'm gone. Israelis don't enjoy living in fear of rocket attacks or suicide bombers, bus explosions, negative world opinion, fear of getting killed for no good reason, etc. Palestinians don't enjoy looking into the face of those who pushed them off their lands, living in refugee camps, unable to reunite families, being treated without dignity, and fear of getting killed for no good reason. Israelis say it's their land given to them by God. The Palestinians say no, we were here first. Israelis say well we will shoot you if you throw stones at us. Palestinians say...and on and on. When will it end? Never because each side remembers the last injury. There is no room for mercy, forgiveness, and healing. It will take no less than a miracle to bring each side to honest negotiations for peace. I do believe in miracles so I will continue to wait.
Unregistered user
Israel has done a lot to end
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 01/01/2009 - 15:08.Israel has done a lot to end this magic circle of death-revenge. But it takes 2 for Tango, and only one to start a war:
Israel pulled out from the Gaza strip three years ago - the occupation is over in Gaza. How come the missiles havent't? How come the Hamas did not responde in any trust-building actions?Hamas, as opposed to Israel, isn't willing to compromise. It wants to completely destroy the state of Israel. A couple of years ago Hamas spokeman said that if Israel withraw from the Gaza strip and the West Bank, Hamas is willing for a ceace fire agrement for 25 years... Afterwards, it will continue in it's mission to destroy Israel...
Unregistered user
Who is to blame question
Submitted by Leyla Guler (not verified) on Fri, 02/01/2009 - 09:41.Cenk Uygur has some balanced ideas on this question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyaBWyNFZfA&e
Unregistered user
My views
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 31/12/2008 - 17:17.Hamas started the whole thing, so it is only fair that they taste what they planned and tried to do to the Israelis. I say to let them continue fighting until hamas realize the good in Israelis that tried to prevent a bloodshed and that the Hamas stupidely provoked.
Now is the time to finish with the hamas once for all and let the willing palestinians negociate for a lasting peace after they recognize Israel's right to exist peacefully in security.
Unregistered user
Islam and Gaza
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 31/12/2008 - 11:49.Surely any Palestinians who die under the Israeli attacks are Martyrs.
They will sit next to Allah in heaven and the men will have the benefits of the 72 virgins, not sure how the women will feel about it but then again women don't count for much in the Islamic protocols.
Unregistered user
Where was the international pressure?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 31/12/2008 - 10:50.Where was the international pressure on Hamas to stop firing rockets?? This situation would have never happened if Hamas had been pressured internationally to stop its firing of rockets.
Unregistered user