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12/30 Latest News from Gaza: Escalation goes on; death toll up to 390 in Gaza |
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12/30 Latest News from Gaza: Escalation goes on; death toll up to 390 in GazaSummary:After Fourth days of assault, no end in sight for Gazans. Gaza humanitarian crisis is deepening, escalation goes on as Israeli air force launching their heaviest bombardments in Gaza, the death toll is now up to 390. For the past several days there's over hundred worldwide protests against the massacre and the U.S. backing Israel, peace activists in Hawaii begin to urge Obama (currently vacation there) to speak out while activist relief boat, with Cynthia McKinney on board, 'rammed' by Israeli war ship. With World powers calls for Israel to end Gaza attack--includes a strong statement from the President of the UN General Assembly against Israel, Israel and the U.S. pro-Israel lobbist groups desperately spinning their lies. With Israel rejecting truce appeals, and the rumor of possible ground forces to attack Gaza, many economist warn that Israel's war on Gaza may cripple their economy, media also begin questioning the timing of their attack: who gains from Gaza crisis? Questions are now being asked about whether the war is linked to Israeli elections, due to be held in six weeks. The early poll was called after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was charged with corruption...
Feature Videos:12/29: Gaza humanitarian crisis deepening (Russia Today TV)
Israels deliberate targeting of civilian buildings such as mosques and universities in Gaza is deepening the humanitarian crisis in the Hamas-controlled area, says eyewitness Eva Bartlett from the International Solidarity Movement. (Russia Today TV)
http://www.activistvideo.org/views.asp?id=536
12/29: Who gains from Gaza crisis? (Russia Today TV)
Israel has pledged to fight Hamas to the death. Defence Minister Ehud Barack has said that the ongoing air strikes on Gaza are a war to the bitter end against Hamas militants. Four Israelis and 360 Palestinians have been killed since the attacks began on Saturday. Many in Israel are asking why now. Hamas, they say, has been firing Qassam rockets at them for eight years. Questions are now being asked about whether the war is linked to Israeli elections, due to be held in six weeks. The early poll was called after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was charged with corruption. (Russia Today TV)
http://www.activistvideo.org/views.asp?id=535
Feature Articles:12/30: Reports form Worldwide Protests Against Massacre in Gaza >> Read12/30: Israel’s lie machine is working flat out + PR Statements from Pro-Israel group defending attack Gaza >> Read12/30: Jewish Opposition to Israeli Attacks >> Read12/30: URGENT! BOAT CARRYING CYNTHIA MCKINNEY & 14 OTHER CIVILIANS TO GAZA ATTACKED >> ReadGaza: Appeal for Emergency Donations >> Read  | Photo Album: December, 2008 - Massacre of Gaza by Israel (Dec 27-30,2008) >> View |
 | Smoke rises after an Israel air strike in Gaza December 30, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Escalation goes on; death toll up to 390 in GazaGaza Strip, 30 Dec, 2008- Israeli air force still launching the heaviest bombardments in Gaza ever. The fourth day of Israeli military operation started with heavy bombings took place west of Gaza City in addition to killing 2 children and around 10 in various places in Gaza to raise death toll to 390 while wounded people up to 1 thousand and 700 most of them civilians.The Israeli announced decapitation strategy of targeting Hamas movement and avoiding civilians clearly unveiled. The F16s targeted a group of governmental building using tons of explosion resulting in killing at least 4 Palestinians. The bombings lasted for 30 minutes echoed across Gaza City causing great trauma and panic for civilians. Total damage stormed the buildings while partially destroyed some neighboring populated buildings.Israeli warplanes, drones, artillery machines, and apache helicopters broadly took part in the nightly raids. Israeli air raids destroyed a sport club and a building inside the Islamic University of Gaza IUG. IUG was hit Monday night and 2 building were destroyed. One of the destroyed building was the laboratory funded by Islamic Development Bank estimated of millions of dollars.The bombings continued for the whole night in separated areas in Gaza Strip. Many civic targets were bombs including mosques in Khanyonis City. Old man was killed in south of Gaza in Rafah City.A run-Hamas police station was hit in El Burej refugee camp mid of Gaza and another one in Bait lahia. The naval forces participated in bombing Gaza destroying many buildings and premises on the coastal areas. Information office I linked to Popular Resistance Committees based in a residential building was hit and medical sources reported some that some people wounded in the raid.Tuesday morning two female children aged 4 and 11 years killed in North of Gaza while they were on a donkey-driven carriage. The bombing of these children debunks the Israeli allegation of only targeting Hamas militants. They were bombed by High-tech F16 in daylight.A boat sailing from Cyrprus to Gaza loaded with 3 tons of medical aids was not far away from Israeli army fire. The boat was hit despite it was not loaded with weapons for Hamas which is clearly deflate the Israeli propaganda. The boat was exposed to fire of Israeli naval gunboats and partial damage took place in the body of the boat. The relief boat still in the territorial waters and it's seeking a seaport to anchor.On the midday of Tuesday, a new phase of the military operation started. F16s started to break the sound barrier of Gaza. Raids of sonic bombs occurred causing a trauma and panic atmosphere across Gaza residents.The death toll has reached 390 with more than 1,700 injured, 2 hundreds are in critical conditions while there is a severe shortages in medicines. Medical sources announced a collapse in medical sector and Gaza hospitals. Muhamad El Khozndar a doctor at Al Sehfa' hospital said on a local radio station that Gaza hospitals are no longer working properly. Bandaging stuff, medical tools, medical machines and general cleaning unavailable at the hospitals. Additionally, windows of the hospitals crashed due to a nearby bombings hit a mosque.The early hours of Tuesday night witnessed a set of Israeli missiles west of Gaza City. Medical reports said a number of injured arrived to Al shifa' hospital including some casualties. Many tanks shelled the norther eastern area of Gaza City.It's remarkable that humanitarian stage in Gaza is totally collapsed and disastrous as aspects life vanished. All oil derivatives of fuel, gasoline and cocking gas unavailable in Gaza due to a siege imposed two years ago. Bread, milk, rice, sugar, cooking oil are not available and what is inside Gaza is limited quantities stored at homes.Add to that, it is very dangerous for people to leave their house in search of food supplies. Any mobile car, bicycle or walking persons turned to targets for Israeli military machine.
Main Military Actions in Day 4Sameh A. Habeeb, B.A.
Photojournalist & Peace Activist
Humanitarian, Child Relief Worker
Gaza Strip, Palestine*Casualties of Israeli heavy bombings reached 360 while wounded rise up to 1800 persons, a big number of them civilians. Around 200 in critical conditions and they are exposed to slow death due to lack of medicines.*Israel started the day with 20 heavy missiles of F16s. The bombardments targeted governmental offices and damaged some houses nearby. The sound of bombings echoed in all Gaza city resulting in a panic status and trauma for children. *Two siblings aged 4 and 11 years killed in Israeli air raid north of Gaza town of Bait Lahia.*Many houses shelled in the early morning in the North of Gaza. Victims of the north area are 60 alone.*Neither fuel, nor gasoline nor Benzin in Gaza. Power cuts up to 21 hours.*Israeli navy fired on the dignity boat and hurting it. The boat was to deown and now it has gone to Lebanon ports. The boat was loaded with 3 tons of Medical aids needed to Gaza hospitals.*Medical sector collapsed in Gaza. Doctors request medical airplane to evacuate wounded people who are slowly dying. Only 10 wounded left to Egypt due to lack of Ambulances equipped with ICU. *Windows of Al shifa' hospital destroyed in bombings nearby while stormy and rainy weather in*Two Israelis killed in Palestinian homemade rockets.More Latest Developments:12/27: The President of the UN General Assembly on Gaza Airstrikes >> Read
12/31: Quartet calls for immediate cease-fire in Gaza, southern Israel >> Read
12/29: Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees Urges Labor/Education >> Read
Israel pounds Gaza for 4th day, rejecting truce appealsXinhua Net (China)
www.chinaview.cn  2008-12-30 23:21:00 JERUSALEM, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Tuesday rejected worldwide appeals for a truce as its air strikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip went on for a fourth day. The operation, dubbed Cast Lead, continued early Tuesday, with at least 10 people killed and 40 others wounded when Israeli war planes bombed a series of Gaza targets, according to Palestinian reports.
The death toll on the Palestinian side has so far risen to more than 380 killed and more than 1,600 others have been injured in the ongoing air strikes. Despite Israel's devastating air assaults, Hamas militants continued to fight back, pelting Israeli territory with rockets and mortar shells. The United Nations and many countries repeatedly urged Israel to stop the bloodshed but Israeli officials rejected any truce with Hamas, warning that the country was ready for "long weeks of action." Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue military action in Gaza "until all the goals are met." The IDF operation would intensify "as much as needed to meet the goals we set for ourselves, to bring quiet to the South," Israel Army Radio quoted Barak as saying. The operation also aims "to strike a severe blow to Hamas," he said, "in order to bring about an end to firing and other operations against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers." Earlier Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the military operation is so far "the first phase in a series of steps approved by the cabinet." Olmert made the remarks while meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres to brief him on the most recent developments in the operation. Peres said Hamas is the party responsible for creating the current situation in the Gaza Strip. "Israel is not fighting against the Palestinian population, only against the terror organization that has etched on its flag the continuation of violence and the undermining of regional stability," he said. "There isn't a person in the world who understands what the goals of Hamas are and why they continue to fire rockets. The firing defies reason and logic and it doesn't stand a chance," Peres added. With Israeli forces gearing up for a possible ground incursion into the Gaza Strip, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said the military has "made preparations for long weeks of action." "We are ready for a prolonged conflict and for weeks of combat," Vilnai said in broadcast remarks. After a meeting overnight Monday with IDF Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and other leaders of the security establishment, Olmert stressed that Israel would strike Hamas with an "iron fist" but would treat Gaza civilians with "kid gloves" in its humanitarian effort, local daily Jerusalem Post reported. During the meeting, security officials said the IDF had given telephone warnings to about 90,000 people living near Hamas facilities targeted by the Israeli air force. They stressed that the sites were bombed only after civilians had left their homes. Israel let about 100 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies from Jordan, Turkey and international aid groups into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, said the report, adding that five new ambulances donated by Turkey were allowed into the Hamas-ruled enclave. Israel launched massive air raids against the Gaza Strip on Saturday, while Hamas shelled Israeli territory after a six-month ceasefire that ended Dec. 19.
Israel ground forces ready to attack Gaza30/12/2008 04:09:15 PM GMT
al JazzeraThe Israeli ground forces are ready to begin a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli military spokesperson says.
"The ground forces are ready," Avital Liebovitz told AFP on Tuesday. "Everyone is in place on the ground.
"The option (of a ground operation) exists. It is possible that we will apply it but for the moment we are only hitting from the air and the sea," she added.
The Israeli regime stopped an international aid boat -'The Dignity'-which was carrying medical supplies to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
Israel has been carrying out violent airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday killing at least 360 Palestinians and wounding 1600 others.
HRF/RA Source: Press TV
War on Gaza may cripple Israel economy30/12/2008 04:09:15 PM GMT
al JazzeraEconomists have warned that the Israeli economy would be threatened if the invasion of the Gaza Strip is prolonged or the scope widened.
Israeli began the launch of massive air strikes on Gaza on Saturday. Over 310 Gazans have so far been killed and nearly 1550 people have been wounded.
The estimated daily cost of the military operations is expected to stand at tens of millions of shekels (dollars).
According to Israeli daily Haaretz, Israeli economists have acknowledged that the costs of the attacks on the Gaza Strip would skyrocket if Tel Aviv calls up large reserve forces or launches a ground attack.
The Israeli Defense Ministry has refused to comment on the warning.
The treasury has also warned that the Israeli stock market is in a bad shape, rejecting the possibility that it may be able to deal with the army in a generous way.
One institutional investor said that the "market will fall apart" if the attacks continue.
The Israeli stock market is in a volatile situation due to the global financial meltdown. If attacks continue, foreign investments are also expected to be hit.
Israeli stocks fell on Sunday due to the continuation of Israeli air raids against Gaza.
Shares in Bank Leumi Le-Israel Ltd. plunged to their lowest in five years.
TA-25 Index decreased 1.43 percent to close at 625.84.
Tel Aviv's benchmark stock index has lost 49 percent in 2008 -- the biggest fall since 1992.
DB/AA Source: Press TV
DAY FOUR OF ISRAEL'S WAR ON GAZA: Death toll climbs towards 400
FALLING INTO THE MORAL ABYSS By Titus North, The Electronic Intifada, 30 December 2008
It does Israelis no more good to control Palestinian land,
exploit its resources, and inflict misery on its people
than it did the US any good to do the same to Iraqis. Most
of us know that the crimes our country committed in Iraq
were detrimental to our future, so why would we support
the Israeli government when it engages in the same
self-destructive behavior. My question to Israel's
"friends" in US Congress would be, "is that what friends
are for?" Titus North comments for The Electronic Intifada.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10073.shtmlISRAELI ELECTIONEERING WITH BOMBS By Jonathan Cook, The Electronic Intifada, 30 December 2008
Of the three politicians who announced the military
assault on Gaza to the world on Saturday, perhaps only the
outgoing Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has little to
lose -- or gain -- from its outcome. Flanking the Israeli
prime minister were two of the main contenders for his
job: Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister and the new leader
of Olmert's centrist party, Kadima, and Ehud Barak, the
defense minister and leader of the left-wing Labor Party.
The attack on Gaza may make or break this pair's political
fortunes as they jostle for position against Benjamin
Netanyahu's right-wing party, Likud, before a general
election little more than a month away. Jonathan Cook
analyzes.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10074.shtmlISRAELI SHELLING BADLY DAMAGES HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICESPress release, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, 30 December 2008
At about 1:50am Tuesday, 30 December 2008, Israeli F-16
fighter jets shelled a Palestinian police site in Gaza,
which is 70 meters away from the Gaza Community Mental
Health Programme's (GCMHP) main building in Sheikh Ejleen
on Gaza Beach. The shelling was part of the vicious
military attacks that the Israeli army launched on Gaza
starting 27 December 2008. This harsh shelling caused
massive destruction in the GCMHP's main building.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10072.shtmlWHY WOULD ISRAEL BOMB A UNIVERSITY?By Dr. Akram Habeeb, Live from Palestine, 29 December 2008
Last night, during the second night of Israel's
unprecedented attack on Gaza, I was awakened by the
deafening sound of intensive bombardment on the Islamic
University of Gaza (IUG). Of course Israeli politicians
and generals would claim that IUG is a Hamas stronghold
and that it preaches terrorism. As an independent
professor, not affiliated with any political party, I can
say that IUG is an academic institution which embraces a
wide spectrum of political affinities. Dr. Akram Habeeb
writes from the besieged Gaza Strip.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10069.shtml"THEY ARE WRONG TO THINK WE ARE THE TERRORISTS"By Eman Mohammed, Live from Palestine, 29 December 2008
Saturday was supposed to be a normal day -- at least as
close to normal as we are allowed to enjoy in Gaza. Where
else but in Gaza are students killed in air strikes on
their classrooms? From my desk in my university classroom
we could see the smoke from Israel's bombing and hear the
most terrifying sound of non-stop explosions. Eman
Mohammed writes from the besieged Gaza Strip.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10067.shtmlGAZA WITHOUT ELECTRICITY, WATERReport, The Electronic Intifada, 29 December 2008
GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - As a result of a
major Israeli offensive on 27 December against the Gaza
Strip a dire humanitarian situation looms, according to
aid officials. Gaza had been teetering on the edge of such
a crisis even before the Israeli offensive: humanitarian
access to Gaza has been severely restricted by Israel
since early November. Now infrastructure in several areas
has been destroyed, leaving residents without electricity
and water.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10068.shtml
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