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Most of the fatalities were among members of the security forces of Hamas, the Islamic group that controls Gaza, but a few civilians were also among the dead, including children. Scores more Palestinians were wounded.
The reaction to the punishing attacks was swift and varied. A spokesman for President Bush called on Israel to avoid inflicting civilian casualties, although he did not call for a halt to the attacks on Hamas. Egypt condemned the raid and opened its border crossing so that the wounded could be treated, and a spokesman for Javier Solana, the foreign policy chief of the European Union, condemned Israel’s action and called for an immediate halt to the strikes.
For its part, Israel said the strikes would not only continue, but that they would be intensified.The air attack came after days of warnings by Israeli officials that Israel would retaliate for intense rocket and mortar fire against Israeli towns and villages by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.
On Wednesday alone, more than 60 rockets and mortars were fired, some reaching further than previously. While the rockets are meant to be deadly, and several houses and a factory were hit, sowing widespread panic, no Israelis were killed or seriously injured in the recent attacks.A shaky Egyptian-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas started to break down in early November. Hamas had originally agreed to a six-month lull, and declared it officially over when the six-month period expired on December 19.
Though Israel had been threatening to end its policy of restraint that saw only limited strikes against rocket launchers and squads in recent days, the timing of the raid came as a surprise to Gazans. It came in mid-morning, when official buildings and security compounds were filled with personnel and children were at school, and not, as many had anticipated, at night.
Expecting some kind of Israeli response, the Hamas leaders in Gaza had already been in hiding for two days.
In a statement issued immediately after the raid, the Israeli military warned that “This operation will be continued, expanded and intensified as much as will be required.”
“We face a period that will be neither easy nor short, and will require determination and perseverance until the necessary change is achieved in the situation in the south,” Ehud Barak, the Israeli Defence Minister, said.
In Waco, Texas, where President Bush is vacationing, a White House spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said: “Hamas must end its terrorist activities if it wishes to play a role in the future of the Palestinian people. The United States urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza.”
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt said in a statement, “Egypt condemns the Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip and blames Israel, as an occupying force, for the victims and the wounded.”
At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, scores of dead bodies were laid out in front of the morgue waiting for family members to identify them. At the Gaza City police station, at least 15 traffic police who had been training in a courtyard were killed on the spot.
The Israeli PM Ehud Olmert appealed to the Gazans to reject Hamas and the rocket launchers in an interview with the Al Arabiya Arabic satellite television station on Thursday.
In Israel, the authorities seemed braced for yet more rocket fire from Hamas. The Home Front Command declared a “special situation” in all communities up to 12 miles from the Gaza border, Israel Radio said. Bomb shelters in all those communities have been opened, and residents have been asked not to congregate out of doors and to remain in protected areas, the radio said.
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WELL DONE ISRAEL! ISRAEL IS GOD'S APPLE. DON'T MESS WITH ISRAEL.INDIA MAKE FRIENDSHIP WITH ISRAEL. ISRAEL WILL HELP INDIA.
Mr Sambar,I am sorry if I hurt you.But I ask the same question you asked me.Why are you so one sided?.Please do not mind but your comments only indicate that you do not have moral courage to accept reality.Again ,as a real patriot I would say that there is no excuse for innocent killings.I think you will realize the matter if you do not allow your emotions of hatred to direct you against the reality.shame on you and your collateral damage concept.
Well done Israel. You have shown commitment to defend your people. You didn't initiate this recent spate in violence. The civilian casulaties is regrettable but this is really the unfortunate reality of war which is why democracries having civilian governments seek war as only the last option.India has to draw lessons from Israel even though India is no Israel and Pakistan is no Palestine when it comes to military might . Nonelthelss ,the sentiment India must draw is that, it is supreme responsibilty coming from a collective consience of a nation to not to look away from war if its thrust on you. As Lord Krishna said to Arjuna in Mahabharat "Arujun , yudh kar , yeh dharam yudh hai".
Israel has once again flexed its muscles against the aggressive islamic terrorists. Every nation should be feel proud for this act, instead of condemning in the name of "secularism" and "humanity". Where did these "secular" and "humanity" go in 26/11. Atleast, we can compromise ourselves that there is one remaining in the world to give a fitting reply against terrorism - one and only israel. India should learn from them.
India's worthless politicians can learn a thing or two from Israel about protecting the country and its culture. First step in fighting terrorism, forget vote bank politics. Then this cancer can be cured. We did succeed against Sikh terorism, was it because a major politician was a victim of it? Then will we resolve to fight Islamic terrorism if some major 'secular' politician thriving on muslim votes becomes its big victim?
The worst thing you can do for peace is not to address violence or protect yourself. India did not attack pakisthan nor the terrorists. So there were casulaties. The terrorists have human rights as they are alive. Their innocent victims do not have any rights as they are dead. So Israel is right . The sin of loss of innocent lives goes to Hamas not israel because Hamas should have thought about those innocents on both sides when it started firing the rockets.
Those who welcome this state sponsered terrorism by Israel either ignorant or hate monger, the Land belong to Palestine and Israelis were driven out because of their wild behaviour etc, the days are very near when the status quo will be maintained. Our Indian guys feel India should act like Israel, when the israel ship will drwoned then the supporter will also drown along with them.
well done israel...i'm amazed to read the comments by indian muslims here though...
Masada will never fall again.Well done, israeli brothers.We also remember the treacherous treaty of hudaybia.ShalomJai Hind
Well done Israel!! That’s how you should pay off your debt to the people who gave you shelter after Hitler had peacefully eradicated your nation. It is more on the Palestinian side that they did not develop a very well defence and military infrastructure. Can Israel dare attack Iran? - NO, because Iran can very well defend itself.
declare israel as terrorist state it is israelis who have captured palastine land killing of innocent people is condemed what if any body capture a part of india will indians fight to get it back will it call terrorist or freedom fighter if plastine people are terrorist then bahgat singh rajguru sukdev sardarpatel were all terrorist
I don't understand why the champion of Humanaterian of the world cry loud when Israel attack Hamas but keep quit when Hamas attack Israel. I think for them only Hamas and Palestain people are only human beings and others are animal and there is no inhuman act commited by hamas if they kill the. If terrorist kills inocent indian then they fills better that is a rough mindset.
Mr. Manmohan Singh....chudiya utariye....Learn something from Israel...This is the only language "islamic terrorist" understand. Hijada ban ke jine se mardo ki tarah marna kai guna behtar hai.
Now we know the scammer Madoff's 50 Billion went to, buying missiles and ammo so that Israelis can slaughter women and children...if Hamas is at fault then go kill them...why kill innocents...Shame on Israel...
isrealies are absolutely right in attacking.Hamas and thier supporters should be burnt to ashes.Jai Hind,Jai israle.
I fully support Israel's actions. It will come under the category of self-defense and it is agreeable. Israel is not India and they are very open and straight forward on what has to be done to protect their people and the country. Otherwise, they might have even survived in a location being surrounded by Arab neighbors. The civilian deaths are collateral damage. Haven't you heard of the statement - Nothing is wrong in war and love?
Read this NEWS:The vast majority of the casualties are terror operatives; most of whom were wearing uniform and working on behalf of terror organizations,Then tell who are innocent!
AS PER ISRALEI PRINICIPLES, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN THEIR ATTACK.OFFENCE IS THE BEST DEFENCE.EVEN THE BIGGER STATE LIKE INDIA IS ATTACKED BY SILLY PAK MUSLIM TERRORIST,HOW CAN A SMALL COUNTRY LIKE ISRAEL EXIST WITH OUT ATTACKING THESE CRIMINIALS,TELL CAN THEY PREACH GANDHISM TO THEM.MANY ISLAMIC BOOKS TEACH TO KILL THE UN BELIEVERS!
Attack on any nation or on any humanbeing is inhuman.The whole universe should oppose these kind of attacks irrespective of caste and creed.Bloodshed of innocent people are really pain ful for a person who is sensible.O people stop violence
It was Hamas which initiated the rocket attack agianst Israel. One of the hamas rockets misfired and hit the palestinians. Now sorry israel is not india. Do not lift your hand and say collateral damage when you first threw the stone. The palestinians could have sided with Mr. Abbas if they wanted peace, but they chose hamas. Once you chose violence dont shed tears. The land belongs to the jews. If you look at history they were there more than 3000 years ago. Just because people can creep in, multiply , slowly drive away the local population, become a majority doesnt mean the lands become theirs for. e.g as done in Kashmir.Hamas and terrorists do not understand the language of peace.Israel gave land back in gaza strip, but the thing it got in return was Rocket attacks.
What a shameful.I condemn not only Israel but alsocomments from some terrorist nature persons here.To kill even a single innocent is no excuse.No excuse by naming them collateral damage.Shame.What feelings you would be having if a member of your own family would have died
This is the only lngauage the Palestinians understand and Isreal knows it very well.
IT IS THE MOST SHAMEFUL ACT BY ISRAEL ,, KILLING INNOCENT GAZAN PUBLIC THROUGH RECKLESS POUNDING OF PUBLIC PLACES UNDER THE PRETEXT OF STRICKING TERROR INFRASTRUCTURE . THIS IS STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM AGAINST WEAK PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FOR LONG DUE TO ISREALI ATTROCITIES . SOME OF OUR IGNORANT FRIENDS ARE PRAISING ISREALI ACTS OF TERROR AND ARE SUPPORTING AN OPPRESSOR / AGGRESOR. . PALESTINE WAS A BRITISH COLONIAL STATE GIVEN TO WHITE JEWS TO CREATE ISREAL IN 1948 THRO U.N ACT . THESE SETTLER JEWS DISPLACED THE LOCAL INHABITANTS PALESTINIANS OUT OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY , AND THE IRONY IS SOME OF OUR INDIAN FRIENDS ARE REJOICING , INSTEAD OF FEELING THE PAIN OF THE OPPRESSED PALESTINIANS . WHAT A SHAMEFUL ATTITUDE OF THESE SICK MINDS , VERY SORRY TO SAY . SECONDLY , ISRAELI ACT ON WEAK PPL WHO HAVE NOTHING ,
Way to go Israel - please teach our EUNACH LEADERSHIP how to protect its citizens and countrymen. They are just making money and eating away the tax payers monies. I am so ashamed of our leaders dont know what did they learn and how has India landed with all these FOGGIES
well done Israel