[finnman69]

CNN Breaking:
Israeli troops arrest Hamas Labor Minister Mohammad al-Barghouti in Ramallah, Palestinian sources told CNN.

[Dog]

Game on..

[NormsRevenge]

An Israeli tank manoeuvres at the border of Israel and Gaza strip June 28, 2006. Israeli artillery pounded the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday as troops and tanks prepared to widen an offensive designed to force Palestinian militants to release an abducted soldier. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (ISRAEL)

[Jet Jaguar]

AP News Alert

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinian security officials say Israeli troops arrest Hamas Cabinet minister in West Bank.

[austinaero]

"Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas deplored the incursion as a "crime against humanity."

Even in my most generous moments, I have a hard time thinking of these people as human. One of my many shortcomings, I suppose.

[MattinNJ]

A surprisingly unbiased report (sarc off)

[Diogenesis]

IDF prepare for battle at the Israeli-Gaza border June 28, 2006
after terrorists continued to release the abducted soldier.

---

A few hours earlier, IAF strike against terrorists' camp in southern Gaza.

[DejaJude]

I hate to say it, but wouldn't Hamas rather hand over 1 guy than have this happen?

[marron]

There should be a general roundup of Hamas leadership during this time, including those Hamas who have been elected to office.

No known Hamas member should be left at liberty by the time they finish.

Hamas has declared itself at war with Israel many times, and even yet has not disavowed war. And then there is the "missile attack" thing to consider. Missile attacks usually are shorthand for "act of war".

They should go through Gaza street by street engaging any and all who come out to play, while rounding up known members.

If the hostages are not returned alive, the fence should be moved forward a kilometer for each death, and the area left outside the new fence should be bulldozed clean and its former inhabitants pushed across the fence.

[Common Tator]

Air strikes and sonic booms shook Gaza on Wednesday as thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks penetrated the impoverished coastal strip

Dozens of Palestinian militants — armed with automatic weapons and grenades — took up positions, bracing for attack

Hmmm Dozens of Palestinians militants armed with AK 47s and Grenades against thousands of Israeli troops armed with tanks and artillery. Hmmmmm.

I think Israel is ready to really teach some Muslims a lesson. I think the Palestinians will kill the Soldier and the other hostages. If they do, I look for Israel to kill lots and lots of Palestinians in return.

They might just kill a lot of Syrians as well. This looks to me like a Major Israeli action.

[NormsRevenge]

Israeli left wing activists protest against the military operation in the Gaza Strip in front of Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv. Israel launched a ground and air assault on the Gaza Strip, vowing to used "extreme measures" to rescue a teenage soldier captured by Palestinian militants.(AFP/Gali Tibbon)

[NormsRevenge]

An Israeli soldier holds his ears as an Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell at the Gaza Strip from a stretch of farmland located near the Israeli Kibbutz Nahal Oz. The United States offered support for Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip, blamed Hamas for the incursion, and urged the Palestinian militant group to free a captured Israeli soldier.(AFP/David Furst)

[HarleyLady27]

WTG Isreal!!! Sit down and shut up U.S. This is their fight, their person that was kidnapped....you could take some lessons and guts from Isreal....Pay Attention U.S.

[DoughtyOne]

"...the impoverished coastal strip..."

What a load of B.S. It's impoverished because it's political figures have concentrated for fifty years on destroying Israel, and thereby their own chances for economic progress.

[RDTF]

why not 'kidnap' instead? That's how they play the game. Send in the mercinaries that won't play by the rules.

[Txsleuth]

bttt

[bnelson44]

UPDATE the latest news is that the IDF is distributing flyers in northern Gaza, warning residents in Beit Hanun to leave their homes. Israel is so concerned about Palestinian civilians, they are giving them advance warning. Afterwards, the Air Force fired missiles into a southern Gaza warehouse used to manufacture and store weapons for Hamas.

[Pox]

Israeli troops backed by tanks penetrated the impoverished coastal strip

Wah!

Palestinians filled up on basic supplies after warplanes knocked out electricity, raising the specter of a humanitarian crisis.

Sob!

The Hamas-led government's information ministry warned of "epidemics and health disasters" because of damaged water pipes to central Gaza.

Think of the Children!

Dozens of Palestinian militants — armed with automatic weapons and grenades — took up positions, bracing for attack.

Target Practice!

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas deplored the incursion as a "crime against humanity."

Oh, the Huge Manatee!

Civilians stockpiled food, water, batteries and candles after warplanes destroyed the coastal strip's only power plant, and main roads linking north to south.

The Children! Somebody think of the Children!

Gaza's economy was already in the doldrums before the Israeli assault, a result of five years of Israeli-Palestinian violence and an international aid boycott that followed Hamas' parliamentary election victory in January. The Israeli assault threatened to turn a bad situation into a disaster — underscoring the extent to which hopes have been dashed following the optimism that accompanied Israel's pullout.

Of course, it's those dastardly Israeli's fault, don'tcha know?

Palestinian plans for high-rise apartments, sports complexes and industrial parks in lands evacuated by Israel have given way to despair, with rising poverty, increasingly violent relations with Israel and a looming threat of civil war.

It MUST be the Israeli's fault!

Sayel said power will be out in Gaza for between three and six months, and that the power cut will affect hospitals and medical centers as well as households.

Won't somebody think of the Children!

No bias from the AP of course! /sarc

[Centurion2000]

Dozens of Palestinian militants — armed with automatic weapons and grenades — took up positions, bracing for attack.

Where's some pork fueled napalm when ya need it?

[edpc]

What about this?

Al-Aksa claims chemical capabilities By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

The Aksa Martyrs Brigades announced on Sunday that its members have succeeded in manufacturing chemical and biological weapons.

In a leaflet distributed in the Gaza Strip, the group, which belongs to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party, said the weapons were the result of a three-year effort.

According to the statement, the first of its kind, the group has managed to manufacture and develop at least 20 different types of biological and chemical weapons.

The group said its members would not hesitate to add the new weapons to Kassam rockets that are being fired at Israeli communities almost every day. It also threatened to use the weapons against IDF soldiers if Israel carried out its threats to invade the Gaza Strip.

"We want to tell [Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert and [Defense Minister Amir] Peretz that your threats don't frighten us," the leaflet said.

"We will surprise you with our new weapons the moment the first soldier sets foot in the Gaza Strip."