Post by Paddy by Grace on Jan 4, 2009 12:46:48 GMT -7
Israel begins ground offensive, Reuters roots for Hamas
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024214.php
January 3, 2009
Israel begins ground offensive, Reuters roots for Hamas
And Reuters reports on the destruction of a mosque in which women and children were praying with no mention (of course) of Hamas' practice of using civilians as human shields, and only scant and skeptical reference to their practice of hiding weapons and munitions in mosques. "Israel hits Gaza from land, sea and air," by Nidal al-Mughrabi for Reuters, January 3 (thanks to Michael):
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces hit the Gaza Strip from land, sea and air on Saturday, stepping up their offensive against Hamas in the Palestinian enclave as tanks and troops waited on the border for a possible ground offensive.
In the bloodiest incident of the day, an air strike on a mosque killed 11 Palestinian civilians, including children, and wounded dozens as they prayed, Hamas officials said.
Hamas kept up its rocket attacks on southern Israel in defiance of international calls for it to halt such actions.
As the Israeli offensive entered its second week, prospects of a ceasefire any time soon looked dim.
"I hope the results of this operation will bring about quiet in the long term. The moment they fire, we will respond with great force," Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Israeli TV.
"It could be that several operations will be needed in this regard."
Witnesses said the air strike on the mosque in the town of Beit Lahiya took place as people prayed inside. At least 11 civilians were killed and 50 wounded, Hamas and medical officials said.
Rescuers pulled people from the debris and the bodies of victims lay in pools of blood, the witnesses said.
An Israeli military spokesman had no immediate comment. Israel has targeted mosques previously saying that Hamas had used them as command posts and fire bases....
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024214.php
January 3, 2009
Israel begins ground offensive, Reuters roots for Hamas
And Reuters reports on the destruction of a mosque in which women and children were praying with no mention (of course) of Hamas' practice of using civilians as human shields, and only scant and skeptical reference to their practice of hiding weapons and munitions in mosques. "Israel hits Gaza from land, sea and air," by Nidal al-Mughrabi for Reuters, January 3 (thanks to Michael):
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces hit the Gaza Strip from land, sea and air on Saturday, stepping up their offensive against Hamas in the Palestinian enclave as tanks and troops waited on the border for a possible ground offensive.
In the bloodiest incident of the day, an air strike on a mosque killed 11 Palestinian civilians, including children, and wounded dozens as they prayed, Hamas officials said.
Hamas kept up its rocket attacks on southern Israel in defiance of international calls for it to halt such actions.
As the Israeli offensive entered its second week, prospects of a ceasefire any time soon looked dim.
"I hope the results of this operation will bring about quiet in the long term. The moment they fire, we will respond with great force," Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Israeli TV.
"It could be that several operations will be needed in this regard."
Witnesses said the air strike on the mosque in the town of Beit Lahiya took place as people prayed inside. At least 11 civilians were killed and 50 wounded, Hamas and medical officials said.
Rescuers pulled people from the debris and the bodies of victims lay in pools of blood, the witnesses said.
An Israeli military spokesman had no immediate comment. Israel has targeted mosques previously saying that Hamas had used them as command posts and fire bases....