Israel hits two targets in Gaza in retaliation for rocket attack

[News_Editor]

Israel hits two targets in Gaza in retaliation for rocket attack

2011-01-05 07:38:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

GAZA (BNO NEWS) -- The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday struck two targets in Gaza in retaliation for a rocket attack into southern Israel, but no injures were reported in both attacks.

The strikes in Gaza followed a Qassam rocket attack in the city of Ashkelon in southern Israel, which did not result in injuries or damage.

Hours after the attack from Gaza, the first air strike targeted a building in central Gaza which was suspected to be used as a Hamas center. The IAF then hit a smuggling tunnel under the borderline between Egypt and the coastal settlement.

Hamas contradicted the information by the IAF and said that the attacks targeted a training base near the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. No injuries were reported in both sides of the story.

The Israeli government holds Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by most countries, solely responsible for maintaining the calm in the Gaza Strip and for any terrorist activity emanating from it. "The IDF will also continue to respond harshly to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel," it warned.

In 2010, the Israeli Security Agency reported a total of 150 rocket launches from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. It represented a significant drop from 569 laucnhes in 2009, although 407 of them were launched during Operation Cast Lead.

In the winter of 2008-2009, Israel launched a surprise airstrike against the Gaza Strip which marked the beginning of a three-week military conflict between Israel and Hamas, killing nearly 1,500 people and leaving thousands more injured and displaced. Israel stated its aim was top stop rocket fire from and arms import into Gaza.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-05

[isawwhatyoudid]

Crimes in 2010.

violations against Palestinians during 2010.

107 Palestinians were killed by Israel and 145 homes were demolished. The Israeli government also approved 16,479 homes in West Bank settlements. Additionally, four hundred Palestinians were arrested during invasions of Palestinian communities.

Among those killed by Israel during 2010, 10 were children, 4 women,2 political detainees in Israeli jails, and 9 Turkish nationals, who were killed during the Israeli navy attack on the aid ships going to Gaza.

The Israeli army confiscated 4,826 dunums of Palestinian land from different parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. During 2010, the Israeli government approved 16,479 new homes in West Bank settlements, with 13,000 already under construction.

The Israeli government demolished 145 Palestinian owned homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In addition, 190 huts, farmhouses and water cisterns were destroyed during 2010.

Moreover the PLO added that the Israeli government had issued demolition orders to 1334 Palestinian owned homes located in the West Bank and East Jerusalem

[beechguy]

Crimes in 2010.

violations against Palestinians during 2010.

107 Palestinians were killed by Israel and 145 homes were demolished. The Israeli government also approved 16,479 homes in West Bank settlements. Additionally, four hundred Palestinians were arrested during invasions of Palestinian communities.

Among those killed by Israel during 2010, 10 were children, 4 women,2 political detainees in Israeli jails, and 9 Turkish nationals, who were killed during the Israeli navy attack on the aid ships going to Gaza.

The Israeli army confiscated 4,826 dunums of Palestinian land from different parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. During 2010, the Israeli government approved 16,479 new homes in West Bank settlements, with 13,000 already under construction.

The Israeli government demolished 145 Palestinian owned homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In addition, 190 huts, farmhouses and water cisterns were destroyed during 2010.

Moreover the PLO added that the Israeli government had issued demolition orders to 1334 Palestinian owned homes located in the West Bank and East Jerusalem

Looks like those guys would learn after awhile, but by all means go ahead and launch some more rockets, it seems to be real productive.

Edited January 5, 2011 by beechguy

[isawwhatyoudid]

Cable from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv says Israeli officials wanted Gaza's economy 'functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis.'

Israel told U.S. officials in 2008 it would keep Gaza's economy "on the brink of collapse" while avoiding a humanitarian crisis, according to U.S. diplomatic cables published by a Norwegian daily on Wednesday.

Three cables cited by the Aftenposten newspaper, which has said it has all 250,000 U.S. cables leaked to WikiLeaks, showed that Israel kept the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv briefed on its internationally criticized blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The territory, home to 1.3 million Palestinians, is run by the Islamist Hamas group, which is shunned by the West over its refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence or accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals.

"As part of their overall embargo plan against Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed to (U.S. embassy economic officers) on multiple occasions that they intend to keep the Gazan economy on the brink of collapse without quite pushing it over the edge," one of the cables read.

Israel wanted the coastal territory's economy "functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis", according to the Nov. 3, 2008 cable.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-israel-aimed-to-keep-gaza-economy-on-brink-of-collapse-1.335354

[Ulysses G.]

Well that is a big surprise. An enemy sworn to your destruction is lobbing rockets at you every day, and you try to make things so difficult for them that they will cease and desist and negotiate for peace. This has to be the first time that anyone has tried that.

[JUDAS]

To be fair to Israel, the leaked document does not portray them in a bad light at all.

[beechguy]

Cable from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv says Israeli officials wanted Gaza's economy 'functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis.'

Israel told U.S. officials in 2008 it would keep Gaza's economy "on the brink of collapse" while avoiding a humanitarian crisis, according to U.S. diplomatic cables published by a Norwegian daily on Wednesday.

Three cables cited by the Aftenposten newspaper, which has said it has all 250,000 U.S. cables leaked to WikiLeaks, showed that Israel kept the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv briefed on its internationally criticized blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The territory, home to 1.3 million Palestinians, is run by the Islamist Hamas group, which is shunned by the West over its refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence or accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals.

"As part of their overall embargo plan against Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed to (U.S. embassy economic officers) on multiple occasions that they intend to keep the Gazan economy on the brink of collapse without quite pushing it over the edge," one of the cables read.

Israel wanted the coastal territory's economy "functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis", according to the Nov. 3, 2008 cable.

http://www.haaretz.c...llapse-1.335354

And apparently you think that plan is working, and it's ok that Hamas spends their money on weapons that aren't accomplishing anything, instead of medicine and food for their citizens.

Kind of reminds me of Sadam blaming the western powers for the Iraqi's starving, while he and his sons build some more palaces with the oil for food program money.

Edited January 5, 2011 by beechguy

[tmd5855]

You poke a dog with a stick it bites you back.

You say to everyone as you go to hospital. "Only have a stick, he has big teeth not fair".

Moral or lesson?

Leave sleeping dogs alone may be the best way forward. But maybe the status of a victim and sympathy is your intention

Edited January 5, 2011 by tmd5855