1/1 Latest News from Gaza: More suffocating bombings claim lives of children, women
1/1 Latest News from Gaza: More suffocating bombings claim lives of children, women; Israel defies peacemakers and prepares for invasion
Summary:
The scale of Israeli war escalated today by hitting more targets in various places across the occupied Gaza. The army opened the new year with more military fatal actions in Gaza leaving more people dead. Civilians are paying the price in Gaza--Casualties of Israeli heavy bombings reached 415 while wounded rise up to 2100 persons, includes senior Hamas leader killed in Israeli airstrike. Israel defies the international appeal to halt the attack and prepares for invasion and demanding international journalists and peace activists to leave Gaza soon. Protesters worldwide express anger at Israel, hundreds of protests for the past week across the World, and peace activists globally are calling for another massive protests at the coming weekend of January 2-3, 2009....
ACTIONS AGAINST MASSACRE! 1/2-1/3 Weekend of Worldwide Protests Against Israeli Attacks on Gaza! >>Read More
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It's official now. We've been told that the sturdy, wood construction of our boat, Dignity, is the reason we are still alive. Fiberglass would probably not have withstood the impact of the Israeli attack and under different circumstances, we might not be here to tell the story. Even at that, the report that came to us yesterday after the Captain and First Mate went back to Sour (Tyre) to inspect the boat was that it was sinking, the damage is extensive, and the boat will take, in their estimation, at least one month to repair >> Read More
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In the face of Israel's latest onslaught, the only option for Palestinian nationalism is to embrace a one-state solution >> Read More
1/1/09: UFPJ - Take Action to End the Assault on Gaza!>> Read More
1/1/09: More suffocating bombings claim lives of children, women
By Sameh A. Habeeb, A Photojournalist, Humanitarian & Peace Activist in Gaza Strip.
Gaza Strip,1, January, 2oo9- The scale of Israeli war escalated today by hitting more targets in various places across the occupied Gaza. The army opened the new year with more military fatal actions in Gaza leaving more people dead. Trauma cases raise up and more people are suffering from the air raids. Many facets of harmed people can be found in Gaza. You either find a hit house with a dead one of the family or a hit house in which its residents traumatized and panics.
Casualties of Israeli heavy bombings reached 415 while wounded rise up to 2100 persons. Many wounded are in critical condition and there is no ability to respond to their deteriorated cases.
Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister, Tsivi Livini, declared that Israel is only targeting Hamas members indicating that Gaza doesn't suffer from any shortages of humanitarian needs. However, the incoming humanitarian needs are not enough for the populations amounted of 1.5 million.
United nation debunks the allegation of Mrs. Livini and says the incoming materials are not enough. Gaza needs 100 vans of flour. Karin Abu zaid the general commissioner of UNRWA said also that around 20 thousand people face troubles in getting the food supplies.
*Main Israeli Military Actions in Gaza*
Now: Loud bombings in all Gaza City and north of Gaza. Naval fire, F16s, Apaches and tanks heavily bombs many targets and darkness prevail Gaza.
*Israel asks International journalists and peace activists to leave Gaza tomorrow.
*Israeli army broke into local radios and tunes some statement for people.
*Israeli F16s destroyed civic defense station and a local organization in the north of Gaza city of Bait Hanon. Many houses partially destroyed.
*Rockets of F16s hit a target in Al Zaytoun area in Gaza City. More bombings in some areas west of Gaza City.
*Heavy bombings in East of Gaza. A house next to an ex-Hamas member destroyed in Al shja'ya area. No news about conditions of house residents.
*Israeli F16s bombed the run Palestinian legislative Council. The air raid destroyed half of the premises and caused massive damage in some of the neighboring houses.
*Israeli heavy artillery takes part in the military operation by hitting many targets in Gaza. Many parts in the eastern areas of Gaza were shelled.
*A house destroyed mid of Gaza city, Al Sabra Quarter, leaving around 13 injured. Most of the wounded are women and children who also turned traumatized.
*Israeli F16s raided on the house of Nizar Rayan, a Hamas key leader. The house is based in Jabalia camp where thousands live in that small refugee camp.
*Nine Palestinians between children and women killed due to the bombing of Rayan's house. Some of the killed children were playing near the targeted house.
*Five houses partially damages while bombing Rayan's house and several other got deadly shrapnel.
*Israeli heavy F16s' rockets destroyed the Agricultural College of Bait Hanon, north of Gaza Strip.
*Israeli navy bombs Gaza shores and open its heavy fire on some buildings, boats and security offices. Many shells fall down behind some densely populated buildings north of Gaza.
*Trauma across the Nusairat Refugee Camp as Israel hit the house of Ahmed Abu Nader twice. The house was totally damaged while neighboring houses partially damaged.
*Israeli F16s raided on a house of Tawfiq Abu Al Ros, in Al Nusairat Refugee Camp. Many civilians injured.
* A house of Hani Abu Al Amrain in Al Shaikh Ridawan area bombed by Israeli Air forces. Medical sources reported that many wounded arrived at Al Shifa' hospital.
*A number of wounded resulted in a rocket hit a house for a Hamas member in Rafah.
*Israeli Air forced totally destroyed two mosques by heavy rockets in Khan Yonis and Rafah cties.
*Few vans of aids, food stuff and medical aids arrived into Gaza. Arab governments to send urgent medical and food aids to Gaza. Airborne assistance expected to land in Al araish Egyptian airport near Gaza.
*Neither fuel, nor gasoline nor Benzin in Gaza. Power cuts up to 21 hours. All aspects of life are not longer available in Gaza.
*Neither spare parts nor Gasoline available to operate pumps of fresh water. A great number of Palestinians don't have an easy access for fresh drinking water.
*Palestinian factions retaliate against Israeli air raids in Gaza. Around 50 homemade rockets fired into Israel with no casualties.
Day 5 of Israeli War On Gaza: 400 death toll to date wounded 2000
Report direct from Gaza 31 December 2008
Gaza Strip,31, December, 2oo8- Three hours later, a new happy year would be starting for the rest of the world. Palestinians in Gaza would receive it with blood, sadness and bombings. It seems Israeli air force, naval forces, rockets, shells would share them a high-tech bloody fireworks. War on the Gaza Strip continues raising casualties and effects in both sides. Bombings, rockets, heavy missiles of Apachi and F16s tear down many targets across the besieged strip. The number of victims still dramatically raising.
Many calls raised for a ceasefire. The Islamist Hamas Movement expressed its readiness for a truce in return of lifting siege and ending the recent launched War. The Hamas stance was conveyed to Russia which is trying to play role to end this War. Lately in Tuesday, Israel refused a French suggestion of 48-hour-truce.
Israeli Television said that troops would enter Gaza n Friday to pursue the ongoing War. Meanwhile, Hamas Primer, Ismail Hanya, said that Israli war on Gaza is against Arab, Islamic and free civilized countries.
Casualties of Israeli heavy bombings reached 400 while wounded rise up to 2000 persons. Around 210 a big number of them civilians. Around 210 in critical conditions and they are exposed to slow death due to lack of medicines.
*Main Israeli Military Actions in Gaza:*
* Al Nasir incubators of newly born babies affected by Israeli heavy bombings hit a shop of money transfer and exchange in the west north of Gaza City. A another Israeli air raid targeted money exchange shop mid of Gaza City.
*Heavy bombings hit the of Egyptian Palestinian borders destroying tunnels used for food smuggling.
*Israeli heavy artillery takes part in the military operation for the first time. Many parts in the eastern areas of Gaza were hit.
*Israeli Apache helicopters fired 5 rockets in Toffah neighborhood east of Gaza. Medical sources reported that several Palestinians injured.
*Three Palestinians injured in Israeli rocket hit a house in Khan Yonis City.
*Israeli air force bombed Ezbat Abd rabu area north of Gaza Strip.
*Israeli air force bombed Civic Administration office in Jabalia town, north of Gaza.
*Israeli navy bombs gaza shores and open its heavy fire on some buidlingd.
*A number of wounded resulted in a rocket hit a house for a Hamas member in Rafah. Few vans of aids, food stuff and medical aids arrived into Gaza.
*International Ngo's deliver aids and medical assistance for Gaza hospitals and the harmed families.
*10 Ambulances arrived in Gaza donated by Libyan government.
*Neither fuel, nor gasoline nor Benzin in Gaza. Power cuts up to 21 hours. All aspects of life are not longer available in Gaza.
*Palestinian factions retaliate against Israeli air raids in Gaza. Around 40 homemade rockets fired into Israel with no casualties.
*Israeli air force bombed sewage lagoon in north of Gaza and Coastal Municipalities Water in Gaza called on people to limit use of waster. Neither spare parts nor Gasoline available to operate pumps of fresh water. A great number of Palestinians don't have an easy access for fresh drinking water.
(From: Citizens For Legitimate Government, Itar-Tass, The Electronic Intifada)
Israel defies peacemakers and prepares for invasion --Security cabinet rejects EU-backed peace proposal as tanks mass on the border with Gaza 01 Jan 2009 Israel has defied a formidable international consensus in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza by opting to continue its unprecedented fierce air attacks on Hamas targets and stepping up preparations for a possible ground offensive.
Israel rejects Gaza truce calls 31 Dec 2008 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected international calls for a 48-hour truce in the Gaza Strip to allow in more humanitarian aid. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to stop peace talks with the Israelis if the strikes continued.
Palestinian official: Israeli offensive so far leaves 400 dead, 2,000 wounded 01 Jan 2009 The Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip continued on Thursday for the sixth day in a row, with warplanes striking at more targets in the Hamas-controlled territory. Mu'awia Hassanien, a Palestinian health emergency official, said the offensive had so far killed 400 Palestinians and left 2,000 wounded.
Israel accused of downplaying food crisis --Israel was last night accused of downplaying the humanitarian suffering in Gaza in order to justify continuing its military assault. 01 Jan 2009 The director of the World Food Programme operation said she was "furious'' when she learned Israel was claiming warehouses were full of supplies. Christine van Nieuwenhuyse said WPF stocks in Gaza showed a 30 per cent shortfall of dry goods such as flour and a much greater shortfall of 'ready-to-eat' goods which are in dire need in Gaza because of the acute shortage of power and gas for cooking. Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, speaking during a visit to Paris denied the 1.5 million-strong population of Gaza was suffering a humanitarian crisis.
Hamas leader killed in Israeli airstrike --Nizar Rayyan and his family die in raid on home as Israel rejects calls for a ceasefire 01 Jan 2009 A senior member of Hamas was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his home today, after Israel rejected any temporary halt to its bombing campaign. Nizar Rayyan, a strong advocate of renewed suicide bombings who had close ties to the military wing of Hamas, was killed with members of his family.
Gaza and the rise of the Fourth Reich By Hedieh Ghavidel 01 Jan 2009 The title of 'settlers' given to Israeli land-thieves is a very appropriate one. It is the same designation given to those in America in the 1800s who progressively murdered their way across stolen native land while claiming a manifest destiny from God in doing so. The German philosopher Hegel once said that history teaches that history teaches us nothing. While the Berlin wall has come down, Israel puts one up, and the hypocritical governments who purport to be democracies and to advocate human rights make mild and symbolic protests while allowing crimes against humanity to continue.
Bolton: Gaza raids precursor to Iran war 31 Dec 2008 Former top US diplomat John Bolton says Israeli strikes on Gaza have ignited a multi-front war which could lead to a US attack on Iran. Bolton, a former US ambassador to the UN, accused Iran of supplying arms and equipment to Hamas and making efforts to develop a nuclear bomb. "I don't think there's anything at this point standing between Iran and nuclear weapons other than the possibility of the use of military force possibly by the United States, possibly by Israel," Bolton told FoxNews. "So while our focus obviously is on Gaza right now, this could turn out to be a much larger conflict," said the hawkish US official, adding, "We're looking at potentially a multi-front war."
Iran on full alert in wake of Israeli raids 31 Dec 2008 Iran's Air Force is on alert after the country's president envisaged major regional developments in the wake of the Israeli raids on Gaza. The chief Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shah-Safi said on Wednesday that the ongoing critical situation in the Middle East has prompted the Iranian military to take necessary measures to ensure readiness in the event of the country becoming the target of an offensive.
Israel calls in thousands of reservists 31 Dec 2008 Israel has summoned 2,500 extra reserve forces who will join those stationed along Gaza amid talk of a ground incursion into the strip. The order raised the number of reservists Israel has mobilized for the Gaza operation to 9,200, Israel's Debkafile reported on Wednesday.
US 'not to stomach defeat in Gaza' 31 Dec 2008 Washington is reportedly "worried" that Hamas may gain in popularity if US-backed Israeli attacks on Gaza amount to a war of attrition. A new report has revealed that the 5-day-old Israeli military campaign against Gaza has made the Bush administration increasingly nervous as the number of Palestinian casualties continues to rise. Washington is extremely concerned that if the massive offensive against one of the most populated areas on earth does not lead to the fall of Hamas, support for the Palestinian group may increase, the Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday.
Israel rebuffs Gaza ceasefire calls 01 Jan 2009 Israel has rejected calls for a temporary halt to its attacks on the Gaza Strip, as the Palestinian president threatened to abandon peace talks in response to Israel's deadly "aggression" against Gaza. Mahmoud Abbas told the Palestinians in a television address on Wednesday that Israel's bombardment was "barbaric and criminal aggression".
Israeli troops dance as they await the order for a Gaza war 30 Dec 2008 In a muddy field overlooking the smoke-blackened Gaza Strip skyline on Tuesday, young soldiers from an Israeli tank unit linked arms with euphoric civilians and joined them in the hora, a circular dance, in anticipation of a possible ground invasion of the Palestinian territory. Far overhead, a pair of Israeli Apache helicopters fired on a target inside Gaza, unleashed diversionary flares and disappeared to the north.
IDF launches YouTube Gaza channel 30 Dec 2008 In the midst of its Gaza operations, the IDF is entering yet another conflict zone: the Internet. The Israeli army announced yesterday the creation of its own YouTube channel, through which it will disseminate footage of precision bombing operations in the Gaza Strip, as well as aid distribution and other footage of interest to the international community.
Sci-fi tanks meet prehistoric rockets in Gaza 30 Dec 2008 While Hamas is throwing rockets by hand, the Israeli military is unveiling [US-funded] high-tech weaponry like the new "Iron Fist", capable of exploding a missile before it's even reached its target. Will technology make all the difference in Gaza?
Israeli PM Olmert may send army to topple Hamas in Gaza 30 Dec 2008 Israel stepped up its bombing campaign against major Hamas centers in Gaza Tuesday as prospects grew that heavy ground forces might be sent in to topple the extreme Islamist regime there government. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert described the intense air bombardment -- the heaviest Israel has taken against any targets in Gaza since the 1967 Six Day War 41 years ago, as only "the first of several stages" of military action.
Five sisters killed in Gaza while they slept --Israel's target was the mosque next door. But the rocket attack claimed the lives of innocent children 30 Dec 2008 The five Palestinian sisters were fast asleep when a night-time Israeli airstrike hit the next-door mosque in Gaza. One of the walls collapsed on to their small asbestos-roofed home and they were all killed in their beds. The eldest sister, Tahrir, was 17 years old, the youngest, Jawaher, just four.
Gulf leaders tell Israel to end Gaza "massacres" 30 Dec 2008 Gulf Arab leaders called on Tuesday for an end to Israel's "massacres" [Why is the word massacres in quotes?] of Palestinians in Gaza but did not unite behind a Qatari call for an emergency Arab summit to discuss a joint stance. A communique issued after a Gulf summit suggested that the U.S.-allied rulers partly blamed the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas for the violence, which Israel says the militant faction provoked by firing rockets at southern Israeli towns.
Israel phones in warning to flee Gaza Strip strikes 30 Dec 2008 Residents at certain addresses in the Gaza Strip have been receiving unusual phone calls since the Israeli air assault began on Saturday - a request that they and their families leave their homes as soon as possible for their own safety. More unusual than the recorded message is the Arabic-speaking caller, who identifies himself as being from the Israeli defence forces, The Australian reports.
Assassination threats on Israeli leaders as Gaza assault continues 30 Dec 2008 Hamas last night threatened to assassinate Israeli leaders as the bombing of the Gaza Strip entered a third day and armoured forces were deployed along the borders of the Palestinian territory, The Australian reports.
McKinney relief boat hit by Israeli ship 30 Dec 2008 Former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, standing beside a damaged yacht, Tuesday accused the Israeli navy of ramming the vessel to halt the delivery of medical supplies to the embattled Gaza Strip. “Our mission was a peaceful mission,” McKinney told CNN after she and 15 others aboard the boat made it safely to the harbor in the Lebanese seaport of Tyre.
Protesters worldwide express anger at Israel --Demonstrations around world denounce Israel's deadly bombardment of Gaza Strip. 31 Dec 2008 Protesters denouncing Israel's deadly bombardment of the Gaza Strip returned to the streets Tuesday in demonstrations around the world to keep up the pressure for an end to the violence.
Demonstrator burns policeman's cap as thousands try to storm Israeli embassy in London 30 Dec 2008 Add to My Stories An anti-Israel protester snatched a policeman's cap and set it alight during a demonstration in West London last night. The man paraded the burning hat as thousands of demonstrators tried to reach Israel's embassy in Kensington. Others protested in Cardiff, Birmingham, Halifax and Sheffield. In London, some climbed the embassy gates and were restrained by police. Crowds chanted, 'Palestine must be free from the river to the sea.'
Hardline Iranian students break into British Embassy residence 30 Dec 2008 Iran's official news agency says dozens of hardline students have broken into the British Embassy residence in Tehran. The IRNA agency says the students accuse Britain of supporting Israel's air assault on the Gaza Strip. According to the agency, the students stormed the compound Tuesday evening and pulled down the British flag. IRNA says the students then hoisted a Palestinian flag at compound's entrance before police forced them to leave.
Australia: Thousands rally against Israeli Gaza attacks (WSWS) 31 Dec 2008 About 3,000 people demonstrated in central Melbourne yesterday against the Israeli military's bombardment of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The rally, called at short notice by the Palestinian Community Association and Justice for Palestine, was attended by a broad range of people.
Protest in Dearborn, Michigan denounces Israeli attack on Gaza By Tom Eley 31 Dec 2008 On Tuesday, a protest against the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip attracted approximately 5,000 people to Dearborn, Michigan, near Detroit. Another protest in New York City attracted several hundred. The size of the Dearborn demonstration far exceeded organizers' expectations. Even before its scheduled start time, the protest stretched eight city blocks, completely filling the sidewalk.
Iraq opens nearly 90 pct of its oil reserves to foreign firms --Among those bidding: Royal Dutch Shell PLC, BP PLC, ExxonMobil Corp., Chevron Corp. and Total. 31 Dec 2008 Iraq, the holder of the world's third-largest oil reserves, has opened nearly 90 percent of its reserves to international oil companies for development in two major bidding rounds this year. Iraq, with at least 115 billion barrels in reserves, plans to add 4 million to 4.5 million barrels a day to its current 2.4 million barrels per day capacity over the next four to six years. On Wednesday, Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani kicked off the country's second postwar bidding round, naming 11 oil and gas fields or groups of fields as eligible for development proposals.
Russia to send humanitarian supplies to Gaza Strip soon - Lavrov
MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke in favour of rallying the Palestinian forces, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after a telephone conversation between the Russian foreign minister and head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic movement Hamas Khaled Mashaal on Wednesday. The sides discussed in detail a sharply deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip after Israel had launched a large-scale military operation.
"Sergei Lavrov stressed the need for an immediate mutual ceasefire and expressed profound concerns over a dramatic humanitarian situation emerging in the Gaza Strip. Lavrov informed Mashaal about Russia's plans to send humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip soon," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"In reply to an address of the Russian minister Mashaal stated about his readiness to stop the armed confrontation, but along with lifting the blockade from the Gaza Strip. The Hamas leader outlined the movement's position on resuming the dialogue within inter-Palestinian reconciliation efforts," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
He also thanked Russia for additional humanitarian supplies and pledged to give the possible assistance in the evacuation of citizens from Russia and CIS states from the Gaza Strip, noting, "the conditions of the Gaza Strip blockade and the Israeli armed attack complicate the situation."
IS THE UN COMPLICIT IN ISRAEL'S MASSACRE IN GAZA? By Omar Barghouti, The Electronic Intifada, 1 January 2009
The UN's complicity in Israel's propaganda war is the latest, albeit hardly ever mentioned, dimension of the international organization's utter failure in defending its principles, foremost among which are the prevention of war and the promotion of peace, when performing such a duty is expected to stir the wrath of the US master and the uniquely influential Israel lobby. Not only has the UN Secretary-General betrayed the very Charter of the UN and all relevant international law principles by failing to even condemn Israel's massacre of civilians and targeting of civilian institutions and residential neighborhoods. Omar Barghouti comments for The Electronic Intifada.
I CAN'T HUG MY MOTHER IN GAZA By Ghada Ageel, Live from Palestine, 1 January 2009
There is nothing worse in life than being glued to the TV screen, watching one's nation being slaughtered on an hourly basis while able to do nothing. There is nothing more painful in this universe than hearing the tears and cries of one's mother on the phone and be unable to hug her, to wipe her tears or to comfort her with any words or means. Ghada Ageel writes from the UK.
"THE RADIO REPORTED THAT MY FRIEND WAS UNDER THE RUBBLE" By Dr. Haider Eid, Live from Palestine, 31 December 2008
I was lying in my bedroom when the first strike happened, around 1:30 in the morning. A strike isn't just one explosion, it's a series of explosions. Boom, boom, boom, boom. The whole building shook. I woke up and went to the bathroom first, and within 30 seconds the second strike hit. F-16s were bombing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, about 500 meters away. I could hear glass shattering everywhere. Dr. Haider Eid reports from the besieged Gaza Strip.
NEW YEAR IN GAZA: "OUR FIREWORKS ARE THE ISRAELI MISSILES" By Rami Almeghari, Live from Palestine, 31 December 2008
"Look outside, F-16 jet fighters are smiling for you, missiles are dancing for you, zannana [the Palestinian name for pilotless drones] are singing for you. I requested them all to wish you a happy new year." That was the text message received by Fathi Tobal, a Gaza City resident, on his mobile phone today. Tobal added ironically, "While other people around the world celebrate, it seems the Israeli air force is trying to save us the cost of fireworks." The Electronic Intifada correspondent Rami Almeghari reports on New Year's Eve in the besieged Gaza Strip.
"CIVILIANS ARE PAYING THE PRICE IN GAZA" By Haider Rizvi, The Electronic Intifada, 31 December 2008
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) - International aid groups, including several United Nations agencies, are warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza if Israel does not stop its military action there immediately. "The consequences of [further] military action by Israel would be disastrous," said Jeremy Hobbs, director of Oxfam International, a London-based aid organization that is providing food and water for Palestinians affected by the Israeli blockade. Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza depend on Oxfam and other international aid agencies for the basics of life -- clean water, food and sanitation. Before the recent Israeli bombing campaign, Gaza had been cut off from the outside world for 19 months.
THE CIVILIAN TARGETS OF ISRAEL'S BOMBING Report, Al Mezan, 31 December 2008
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) has continued its military operation in the Gaza Strip for the fifth day. Today, it targeted an ambulance and its medical crew with a missile, killing a doctor and an orderly and critically injuring its driver. According to Al Mezan Center's monitoring, the number of Palestinian casualties since the start of Israel's Operation Cast Lead at 11:30am on 27 December 2008 has risen to 315, of whom 41 were children and nine women.
EGYPT SEEN AS COMPLICIT IN GAZA ASSAULT By Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, The Electronic Intifada, 31 December 2008
CAIRO (IPS) - As the Palestinian death toll approaches 400, much of popular anger throughout the Arab world has been directed at Egypt -- seen by many as complicit in the Israeli campaign. "Israel would not have hit Gaza like this without a green light from Egypt," Hamdi Hassan, MP for the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition movement, told IPS. "The Egyptian government allowed this assault on Gaza in hopes of finishing off Hamas."
NEW BIRTH PANGS FOR THE MIDDLE EAST By Hasan Abu Nimah, The Electronic Intifada, 31 December 2008
No one can say with certainty what Israel's new aggression will unleash, but one can point to some likely outcomes. The attack on Gaza will not destroy Hamas, and even if Israel kills every person who ever supported Hamas, the attack will not end resistance. On the contrary, resistance will be strengthened throughout the region, undermining the notion that resistance is outdated or impossible and that the only remaining "strategic choice" for the Arabs is negotiation from a position of weakness. The Gaza attack will weaken and discredit even further the so-called "moderates" who did their best to extinguish any form of resistance and bet heavily on the failed peace process and its sponsors. Hasan Abu Nimah comments.
"IF THERE IS AN ISRAELI INVASION HOSPITALS WILL COLLAPSE" Report, The Electronic Intifada, 31 December 2008
GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - In Gaza's main hospital, the director's office is under virtual siege, according to an IRIN journalist in Gaza. Relatives of the injured are desperate to get their kin transferred to Egypt for emergency treatment. There is a fear here that the already overstretched healthcare system will collapse if Israel mounts a ground offensive into the tiny coastal strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians.
"PEACE PROCESS" BLOWN TO BITS By Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, The Electronic Intifada, 31 December 2008
CAIRO (IPS) - Formally, the Israeli-Palestinian "peace process" appears set to continue, in line with the last United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution. But the chances of finding a resolution are virtually nil in light of Israel's new campaign against the Gaza Strip. "Even before Israel's latest bombardment of Gaza, the so-called peace process was dead," Magdi Hussein, secretary-general of Egypt's Islamist-leaning Labor Party (officially frozen since 2000), told IPS. On Saturday, 27 December, Israel began a series of punishing air strikes throughout the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip, whose interior is controlled by Hamas.
RIGHTS ORGS: UN BODY MUST ACT TO END GAZA WAR CRIMES Intervention, various undersigned, 30 December 2008
Representing the Palestinian human rights community, we write to you with an urgent request for intervention by the UN Human Rights Council to put an end to the war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) as a result of the Israeli occupying forces' ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip.
BLOODIED IN GAZA AS THE WORLD SILENTLY WATCHES By Laila El-Haddad, Live from Palestine, 30 December 2008
"There is a complete blackout in Gaza now. The streets are as still as death." I am speaking to my father, Moussa el-Haddad, a retired physician who lives in Gaza City, on Skype, from Durham, North Carolina in the United States, where I have been since mid 2006 -- the month Gaza's borders were hermetically sealed by Israel, and the blockade of the occupied territory further enforced. Laila El-Haddad writes from the US.
