Posted on 12/27/2008 10:43:16 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli warplanes and helicopters pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 205 people in the bloodiest one-day death toll in 60 years of conflict with the Palestinians.
Militants in the Gaza Strip, who have launched dozens of rocket attacks against Israel since a truce expired just over a week ago, fired more salvoes that killed one Israeli man and wounded several others.
Both sides said they were ready to stage wider assaults, threatening to plunge the region into a crisis that could leave stalled talks over Palestinian statehood in tatters.
Black smoke billowed over Gaza City, where the dead and wounded lay scattered on the ground after Israel bombed more than 40 security compounds, including two where Hamas was hosting graduation ceremonies for new recruits.
At the main Gaza City graduation ceremony, uniformed bodies lay in a pile and the wounded writhed in pain. Some rescue workers beat their heads and shouted "God is greatest." One badly wounded man quietly recited verses from the Koran.
More than 700 Palestinians were wounded in all, medics said.
Israel said the operation, dubbed "Solid Lead," targeted "terrorist infrastructure" following days of rocket attacks on southern Israel that caused damage but few injuries. An army spokeswoman said Hamas leaders could be targeted.
"There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.
The rocket attacks increased pressure on Israeli political leaders to act as a February 10 election approaches.
The army did not set a timeframe but the mayor of Ashkelon, an Israeli city in range of Hamas's rockets, said military planners saw the operation lasting "more than a week."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Your on your own now Israel. Thank those NY Jews for funding and electing an anti-zionist.
Pray for W, America and Our Troops
Hmm. Let’s see what happens.
I think the lesson from the 2006 Lebanon War was that you can’t win just with air power. I hope Israel has studied things very well, although I think Hamas is significantly weaker than Hezbollah.
There is no “moderate” wing to Hamas. Any moderates have long since joined Fatah. Notice how the West Bank (which is on the East...I always get those confused) has actually been fairly calm lately under Fatah’s leadership. Until Hamas is destroyed, long-term peace is not possible.
the “Palestinian Dream”
Silence! I do not want competition!
It’s very likely that is exactly the content of the cargo....
Give ‘em Hell Zahel (IDF)
The death count is going up quicker than Al Franken’s stolen vote tally.
Depends on how you define ‘humanitarian supplies.’
Yeah, I kind of knew that. Trying to joke it off.
Geographically, I'm kind of in between those.
I'm no World Citizen, though. ;-)
Remember the "Green Hemet Guy"?
Just saw Jeff Dunham last night. His live shows are far from PC!
Dunno, but I'm a thinkin' they just got a little taste of it themselves.
I'm not sure if even Netanyahu is capable of telling those self righteous gum flappers to go f--- themselves.
Amen!
He may not be able to...his island is without power I think!
no, power has been restored in the meantime.
SHHHH! He’s trying to catch a wave, hide something or collect some money.
Turn up the virgin machine, we going to need a lot of them.
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