Israeli troops mobilize as Gaza assault widens

300 were killed, hospital has been overwhelmed, but Israel closed the supply of drugs. This (Israel) is really terorrist !

Earlier, warplanes dropped three bombs on one of Hamas’ main security compounds in Gaza City, including a prison.

A prison? Isreal justifies bombing a prison? Why not just line them up and shoot them like pigeons. This is the actions of cowards taking advantage of the moment.

Why not just bomb a school with cluster bombs. Same thing. Cowards, lowly cowards. < :-)

Not so fun being on the receiving end is it, Gaza? Maybe you should have thought of that before allowing Hamas to fire thousands of rockets into Israeli cities.

Isreal continue to be horrible then, no change. Shiuu, they are always horrible regardless of the hamas rockets. depends where you get your new filtered from.

Yet Hamas leaders were forced into hiding

When they said they will fight to the last drop of blood I guess they were saying that their blood will be the last drop to spill.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has set up a rival government to Hamas in the West Bank, and condemned “the provocations that led to this situation as well as the disproportionate use of force.”

Wow. Did he really say that?

“We have one alternative which is to be steadfast and resist and then we will be victorious,” Hamdan said in Beirut.

...because it's been going well so far.

daydream: Cowards, lowly cowards

May I ask your opinion of Palestinian militants? Come on, daydream. Show us your outrage. ;)

it seems like Israel is going in this time to crush the Hamas terrorists. -good for them.

Not a good time to be a terrorist even though their odds of death are less than a civilian. =Civilians will always pay the highest price for any war.

The timing on this assault is interesting, to say the least.

Of course the U.S. is going to support the bombing, especially when a lame-duck administration misguided for 8 years by Bush/Cheney is virtually ignored by the rest of the world with just days left in office.

Israel has free rein to do what it wants to the Hamas terrorists.

Go, Israel, secure your borders and create peace and prosperity within them!

Yet Hamas leaders were forced into hiding" typical.

While not supporting what Israel is doing, is anyone surprised? I mean, how many times did they tell Hamas to stop those rockets? I don't want to hear "its someone's land, what are they to do?" Well, Hamas could probably do a lot more than those rockets and that is what they should have done. While we can all be horrified at this response, let it be a lesson that you can't just an antagonize your enemy. Either do something that is going to do some real damage or don't bother. I hope that some of the victims hold Hamas at least half responsible. Their tactics ain't working.

Supporting or castigating Israel's actions misses the point (which is that we've seen all this before). Next both sides will bring out dead women and children in an attempt to win the war in the battle for international public opinion and then reiterate their respective religious grievances.

We're in a rut and have to shift gears here. Specifically, Washington needs to recommit itself to the peace process. We almost had one under Clinton and resurrecting that would not be a bad place to start. Otherwise, we can expect an endless replay of Hamas provocation met with a disproportionate use of force by Israel (which hasn't enhanced their long-term security).

"Egyptian forces, some firing in the air, tried to push them back into Gaza"

The Egyptians don't want the Palestinians either.

If the plan is to make Gaza a part of Egypt then going into Gaza on an excursion is not the way to do it. Israel does not have a plan for Gaza so they have been keeping Gaza under an occupation since 1967. By having it under an occupation there will be a reaction to the occupation and then a reaction to the reaction. So it has been for 40 years and that is the plan of Israel. Israel has had Gaza under occupation, then blockade of Gaza waiting for the reaction and now they move in. If you annex Gaza and make it a part of Israel Israel will have to deal with 1,5 million Palestinians which are Palestinians who got their land stolen by the invaders. Israel´s plan has always been to take Palestinian land but only the land without the native people. Egypt does not want Gaza either because the people living in Gaza are Palestinians and they see it as Israel´s responsibility to look out for them as it was Israel who created the refugee problem. Israel due to expansion has made the reality of a 2 state solution impossible. So now their best hope is to keep them in enclaves, make life as difficult as possible and hope they leave. They will frame it in a way as it is chit for chat operation but for the people who are not brain washed by CNN will see the bigger picture as in the cause of the conflict which the Palestinians will keep reminding the Israelis.

Shame on Israel. I hope the Obama admin. takes back the carte blanche the US government has given them. Only after support -- or at least unconditional support -- is withdrawn will Israel cut back on the overkill, so to speak.

I don't really understand the "occupation/blockade of Gaza therefore Israel bad" meme.

First, as I recall, Israel threw out all the Jews who lived in Gaza and give it to the Palestinians who, rather than working to improve the economy, promptly set out to wreck any evidence of Jewish residence (ruining many possible sources of income in the process) and turned it into a rocket-launching platform to rain thousands of rockets down on Israeli cities. Not exactly the sort of thing I'd expect an "occupying power" to tolerate.

Second, since Gaza shares a border with Egypt, how is it that Israel any blame for closing its border with Gaza after they elected Hamas -- you know, the guys who make no secret of their goal to destroy Israel?

The Israeli reaction seems both logical and necessary.

Shame on Israel for going after the guys firing mortar shells at them for the last 3 weeks, Shame on them for waiting and waiting for Hamas to control its people, shame on them for letting their people die because they didnt want to listen to those opposed to everything say Shame on Israel.

Come on I think anyone can see they took a lot of abuse before they acted on it. Shame on all the people who think its ok for one side to bomb the crap out of innocents, and not ok for that side to respond in kind.

Obama supports Israel and is giving them the same go ahead all presidents of the US have since the ww2. Keep dreaming Obama is the peace loving none violent savior of the world.

Mr. Shiuu, you got it right.

It was a no-brainer what Islamo-fascist groups as Hamas were gonna use Gaza for as soon as Israel gifted them with it.

I don't understand why Israel thought this wouldn't horrendously turn around and bite them in their hind quarters as it immediately did.

Mr. Shiuu, you got it right.

It was a no-brainer what Islamo-fascist groups as Hamas were gonna use Gaza for as soon as Israel gifted them with it.

I don't understand why Israel thought this wouldn't horrendously turn around and bite them in their hind quarters as it immediately did. Then again, I still marvel at Sharia law which Britain has freely chosen to adopt. They don't see where that's goin' either. But the outside world can see how large numbers of British Muslims repay their country's many kindnesses and opportunities. Smooth move.

The last three Israeli targets: a university and a mosque. The genocide by Israel must be stopped by the world. Strewth, they love killing don't they. Whta kind of a religion does they follow?

As noted above, there are no Jews in Gaza. "Palestinians" can govern it however they please. If their government (Hamas) keeps them in crappy living conditions to score polical points, they only have themselves to blame. The Palestinians are deservedly going to get their clocks cleaned if they keep launching rockets into Israel.

Hamas came into Gaza and began assassinating members of the existing Fatah security "apparatus", denouncing them as conspirators and in some cases even executing the children of their rivals.

They wanted a showdown. Anybody with a brain in their head could have predicted this outcome.

USARonin Israel did not gift Gaza. It returned a part of an occupied land. No boday has the right to occupy other people land. The horrible truth is many believes the life of some people worth more than others, just look at the victim numbers from both sides and you can see that.

Mr. Shams, Israel gave up the land to Muslims.

The Muslims thanked the Israelis for their progressive thinkin' by usin' Gaza to shell and kill Israeli women and children.

Israel for some strange reason took "offence".

Mr. Shams, when Muslims learn to love their own children more than they hate Israeli children, then maybe they'll do something actually productive for themselves and their own.

I don't see this happenin' any time soon so I don't get disappointed.

As noted above, there are no Jews in Gaza. "Palestinians" can govern it however they please. If their government (Hamas) keeps them in crappy living conditions to score polical points, they only have themselves to blame. <br>

Israel was controlling the entrances of Gaza and prevented even medical assistance from going in.

The Palestinians are deservedly going to get their clocks cleaned if they keep launching rockets into Israel <br> And what would happend when Israel occupied other people's land?

Does Israel set up the Palestinians by funding the rocket launchers as an excuse to bomb them?

the goal was to halt Gaza rocket fire on Israel for good, but not to reoccupy the territory.

Its gonna be difficult. I think you cannot have one without the other.

Proxy, thats a fairly wild speculation.

Mr USARonin <br/> I can see that you are against muslims in general. <br/>

Mr. Shams, when Muslims learn to love their own children more than they hate Israeli children, then maybe they'll do something actually productive for themselves and their own. <br/> Didn't you see the photos of Israeli children writting messages on the rockets to be sent to kill "Muslims" children? <br/> There is hate in both sides, however as I said look at the numbers, check how many children were killed from both sides and you can understand what I mean. <br/> When people learn to respect others equally and do not steal other people lands then can achieve a better life.

Yes I know but it could make some sense if the goal was to draw out Hamas and then kill them all. Once they have been drawn out they are easier targets and fewer civilian casualties. I'm sure there are Israeli spies in Hamas, have they been egging on Hamas to lure them out? I'm surprised at how few civilian casualties there have been and how well targeted the Israeli attacks are.

I'm surprised at how few civilian casualties there have been and how well targeted the Israeli attacks are. <br/> Where are you getting your news from?

shams:

Israel was controlling the entrances of Gaza and prevented even medical assistance from going in.

From the article:

With the two-day death toll nearing 300 Sunday, crowds of Gazans breached the border wall with Egypt to escape the chaos. Egyptian forces, some firing in the air, tried to push them back into Gaza and an official said one border guard was killed.

Shams, you (and every other Hamas apologist) seem to ignore the border Gaza shares with Egypt. Why is that? Is the Egyptian border not closed? If closed, why is it that Hamas launches all of its rockets into Israel and never into Egypt? If not closed, why do people like you claim a "blockade" by Israel?

While we're on the subject, why is it that a closed border with Israel is viewed as justification for rocket attacks against Israeli civilians but those rocket attacks are never sufficient justification for air-strikes by Israel against Hamas?

shams It seems to me that the initial attack on the graduation ceremony was not a target of opportunity. I assume that the time and date had been set well in advance and that Israel knew when and where it was and timed their attack to kill as many Hamas as possible in one shot. Anyway, there is one lesson Palestinians can learn, if they fight they can hold on to their land. Over on the West Bank where the Palestinians are milder, they are losing a bit more land every day. And the lesson for Israel is that if they can pacify Hamas, they can slowly and surely divest the Palestinians from their land.

Mr.shiuu I am not ignorring the fact of Egyption border. If you are following the news you will see that Israel has made agreements with Egypt to close these borders too. Israeli officials made many visits to Egypt regarding this matter.

<br/>

While we're on the subject, why is it that a closed border with Israel is viewed as justification for rocket attacks against Israeli civilians but those rocket attacks are never sufficient justification for air-strikes by Israel against Hamas?

<br/> I do not justify the killing of any human being, but obviously you are justifying land occupation and the act of killing people to keep an occupied land. <br/> Both sides are violent but once again check both sides victims numbers. If you believe of equal humanity the numbers will tell you which side is worse.

200 is a lot for a day. Are you expecting Israel to be dropping bombs the size of Hiroshima or bomb the entire city of Dresden to dust with people trapped inside? If you first steal a country, then kill and expel their rightful citizens just to follow them and kill them in their refugee camps outside your stolen country and they do this knowing that they will have US support and the offensive is to win votes in the coming Israeli elections and these are the same people that cry about Hitler and his actions.

Mr. proxy <br/> Yes there were some targets belonging to Hamas and no doubt of the intelligence work, but still I do not agree with you on the number of civilian casualties. <br/>

there is one lesson Palestinians can learn, if they fight they can hold on to their land. Over on the West Bank where the Palestinians are milder, they are losing a bit more land every day.

<br/> I hate fighting very much but it is a fact that whenever there is an occupation there is a resistance especially in the middle east. This happend also in Europe during the Nazis invasion. I geuss I can say that the lesson is also that do not occupy others lands. <br/>

And the lesson for Israel is that if they can pacify Hamas, they can slowly and surely divest the Palestinians from their land.

<br/> I do not think that Israel wants to pacify Hamas at least not now. I believe that this attack has something to do with the coming Israeli election, and feel sorry that people have to die for gaining some elections.

SuperLib, I only get upset at Isreal, right?

adaydream at 04:49 PM JST - 25th December I can't believe that Hamas was as low as to fire rockets and mortors at religious celebrations. Sickening. No excuses. < :-)

adaydream at 10:54 AM JST - 27th December I want to see Palestine doing something here. We had the possibility of peace and persons with the brains of a tick intervene with their efforts. No one, either side can condone such actions committed by Isreal or Hamas/Palestine. < :-)

I'm not as one sided as you like to believe. But above in this article it says the Irealites bombed a prison. Sitting ducks. A target of opportunity to murder, pure and simple.

Wait a minute, maybe you'd be happier if we gave them another $173,000,000.00 special payment, above the $30,000,000,000.00 we already gave them. < :-)

I do not come from a background that is anti - Israel. But I cannot in any way or manner find it in my heart to support these killers in any way. take this:

Israel widened its deadliest-ever air offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers Sunday, pounding smuggling tunnels and a central prison, sending more tanks and artillery toward the Gaza border and approving a reserves callup for a possible ground invasion

Forgot to mention they bombed city centeres when people were shopping and children were leaving schools. Imagine that in your local when out buying a paper.

Moderator: Please do not post inflammatory comments.

Mr.shiuu I am not ignorring the fact of Egyption border. If you are following the news you will see that Israel has made agreements with Egypt to close these borders too. Israeli officials made many visits to Egypt regarding this matter.

In other words, when Egypt closes it border with Gaza, it's not really Egypt's fault because Israel made them?

Ha. Ha. Ha. Israel controls Egypt's foreign policy? Riiiiiight. Pull the other one.

Thanks, shams. Your example of the lengths people will go to excuse Arabs and blame Israel for the exact same act is hilarious.

In other words, when Egypt closes it border with Gaza, it's not really Egypt's fault because Israel made them?

Israel is bombing the Gaza Egypt border and making sure Egypt does not open up the border. It is an Israeli occupation so it is Israel which control the border with Egypt. Egypt is not occupying Gaza.

protests across the West Bank, in an Arab community in Israel, in several Middle Eastern cities and in Paris.

Haha. I guess the Muslim population in Paris is at a point where they're now listed with the rest of the Middle East.

Just supposing Israel decides to cede to the Palestinians the territory that they claim has been stolen from them. (In the interests of a lasting peace.)

What lands are we talking about? Is this 100% clear to all concerned?

If Israel does/did give such lands back, will/would that end the conflict?

If Israel does/did give such lands back, will/would that end the conflict?

Of course not. The Muslim Arabs have sought the destruction of Israel since its creation by the UN in 1948. It's about ridding the Middle East of the "Infidel". Giving back land Israel won in defensive wars isn't going to make a difference. The Muslim Arabs have 600 times the amount of land as Israel. Where are the Muslim Arabs to help their "Palestinian" brothers? Is the propaganda just too good to help them?

itcher:

Israel is bombing the Gaza Egypt border and making sure Egypt does not open up the border. It is an Israeli occupation so it is Israel which control the border with Egypt. Egypt is not occupying Gaza.

Neither is Israel. It evicted all the Jews from Gaza in 2005.

By the way, as the article points out, Egypt closed its border with Gaza after Hamas took power in June 2007. So, unless Israel's been bombing it continuously since then, your point about Israel forcing Egypt to keep the border closed makes no sense.

From the article:

Egypt, which has served as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians as well as between Hamas and its rival Fatah, has been criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza. The blockade was imposed immediately after the Hamas takeover in June 2007.

If Israel does/did give such lands back, will/would that end the conflict? <br/> I believe that this will end the conflict. Eygpt and Jordan are examples

So the International Parasites are building up to an occupation of the Gaza. This will be interesting.

The US-supplied "Israel" is going to get another whipping once they stop their heroic bombing and straffing of a defenseless people in an area (they think and hope) is out of supplies.

I mean come on people! What more evidence does on need to see who the terrorists really are? The Zionist West and those who have a 2nd home in "Israel" of course.

Ah well! Once the IDF tries to occupy the Gaza we'll have another 'Lebanon' where the "Israelis" get another rude awakening.

This is a fratricidal war. If only the "Zionists" didn't control politics in the West they'd be left to their own devices and have to compromise using diplomacy rather than the usual Jewish fare of genocide.

The ol' powder-keg is getting a few sparks on it again. I hope it blows. The real terrorists shall be known by their actions. (Oy vey).

lesson on terrorism: Never give into it. Israel has made many concessions and it has gotten nowhere.

Heh, heh... Yes, Mael, history shows time and time again how the Israelis are a bunch of nancy boys who're always gettin' their butts handed to them by all of those peace-lovin' Arab entities.

There is hate in both sides, however as I said look at the numbers, check how many children were killed from both sides and you can understand what I mean.

That argument sounds good but doesn't hold much water. The militants are firing a bunch of badly made rockets into Israel at random. Israel is forced to pinpoint specific targets in heavily populated areas. The numbers in no way prove how kind/brutal the other side is.

If Hamas and Israel switched weapons, do you think Hamas would be killing more or fewer innocents than Israel is? I think the answer to that question gives you better evidence as to the mindset of each side. The militants attack to the extent that they can and are only limited by the sophistication of their weapons. It has nothing to do with being kind of reasonable. If they could kill more they would...a lot more. People expect Israel to carry Hamas for a few rounds until they have the capability to kill just as many Jews which is absurd.

Compare what Israel does to Palestinians and what Palestinians do to other Palestinians:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_ofGaza(2007)

"After the re-ignition of the Fatah-Hamas conflict on June 10, Hamas militants seized several Fatah members and threw one of them, Mohammed Sweirki, an officer in the elite Palestinian Presidential Guard, off the top of the tallest building in Gaza, a 15-story apartment building. In retaliation, Fatah militants attacked and killed the imam of the city's largest mosque, Mohammed al-Rifati. They also opened fire on the home of Prime Minister Ismail Haniya. Just before midnight, a Hamas militant was thrown off a 12-story building."

"Human Rights Watch accused both sides with violations of international humanitarian law, in some cases amounting to war crimes.[15] The accusations include the targeting and killing of civilians, public executions of political opponents and captives, throwing prisoners off high-rise apartment buildings, fighting in hospitals, and shooting from a jeep marked with "TV" insignias.[14] The International Committee of the Red Cross has denounced attacks in and around two hospitals in the northern part of the Gaza strip."

It's time for the world to finally expose what the militants do to the Palestinian people. For whatever reason it's been kept under the rug for far too long.

Muslims also use "ambulances" and "weddin' parties" to move weapons and explosives into and out of Gaza, as well as tryin' to get them through Israeli checkpoints within Israel. It's a trick that never get old for the bad guys but of couse the Israelis are on to it.

One guy was upset because the Israelis were hinderin' Muslim ambulances.

No kiddin'. So would I.

well shucks pard'ner that'd get me a mite riled too, mebbe riled enough to roun' me up a posse an' fill them varmints full o' holes

If I can see daylight through 'em, then we're off to a good start.

How can people claim that the Palestinians are innocent when it was them that voted Hamas into power? Do you think that the Palestinian people thought that Hamas would send flowers and doves to Israel? Hell no, they knew exactly how Hamas would approach the "peace process". Zero peace ever under any circumstances. So now they what they voted for. Hamas erupts into violence and Israel responds within its means. I feel bad for the kids but when you have parents who dress them up as martyrs etc, you kind of lose heart for the plight of the Palestinians.

Hey, Mael, what do you think of Bobbafett's post?

Sarge old Buddy,

Mael has nothing to say because the truth hurts. and in regards to the awesome arsenal of Israel compared to the quassim rocket power of the Hamas boys....People who line in glasshouses should not throw stones.

Nandakamanda:

"

What lands are we talking about? Is this 100% clear to all concerned? If Israel does/did give such lands back, will/would that end the conflict? "

We are talking about all of Israel. Read the Hamas charter! And yes, it would end the conflict. It would also end existance of the state of Israel.