Dec 30 2008
Latest on the Gaza/Israeli Conflict - The Gaza Strip – Rocket Attacks on Israel - Ceasefire Called For
- Latest on the Gaza/Israeli Conflict - The Gaza Strip – Rocket Attacks on Israel - Ceasefire Called For
On its fourth day of air offensive, Israel continues on with its bombardment of Gaza. 360 Palestinians have now died, 1,600 are injured. 62 of the dead were civilians a United Nations agency stated. The total of Israeli people to have lost their lives is only four to date in this latest spate of rocket attacks.
Israeli has been heavily criticised for its brutal onslaught on Gaza and many countries leaders have spoken out against the excessive violence used by the Israelis. Many Gaza civilians have been the victims of the air strikes and innocent women and children have lost their lives in Israelis attempts to bring the rocket fire from Hamas under control.
Israel states that it does not want to re-take Gaza unless it is forced to by the actions of the Hamas but wants an end to the dangerous rocket fire which continually threatens and wears down the Israeli people.
The rockets which the Hamas are using are Cassan. The more powerful rocket is the long range Katyusha launcher which the Israelis are more worried about and this rocket launcher is able to deliver a devastating amount of explosives to an area target more quickly. It also can travel 10-13 miles.
The Katyusha appear to be smuggled in at the moment and military experts feel that the Hamas will not have more than a couple of dozen of these. They will originally have been smuggled in through the tunnels from Egypt.
The Cassan is a relatively easy rocket to make and it is being assembled within Gazza itself in basic workshops. Weapons Experts have stated that a 6th former would have no trouble making these with ease.
Two more rockets have just been launched out of the Gazza strip today and their target was the Southern Israeli town of Siderot, where a residential home has just been struck. There are no fatalities this time.
The air strikes are just the ‘First stage’ in several levels in Israel’s mission to get the Gaza rocket attacks to cease once and for all as approved by the Jewish state’s security cabinet. Israel has been living under the more or less constant threat of these rocket attacks from Hamas.
After a recent 6 month ceasefire Hamas once again started with the rocket attacks. In disproportionate retaliation some feel, Israel struck a deadly surprise last Saturday on the Jewish Sabbath with a major air onslaught against the Hamas.
There will be no truce until the rocket attacks by Hamas are stopped completely. Israeli fighter planes continued to strike targets in the Gaza strip for the 4th day as the Hamas are still refusing to ceasefire.The Foreign Minister states that the military option was the only option left open to them.
At the moment, Israeli flat-bed trucks, earthmovers, are at the stand-by for the next stage in the Gaza invasion. There is only so much that can be done by sea and air, and once all major buildings in Gaza are hit, Israel will need to move in by land to eradicate the Hamas rocket launching sites if the Hamas continue to decline the ceasefire.
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has called for a ‘Halt of Violence’ and a ceasefire to stop what is being called a ‘Humanitarian injustice’ against the Palestinians, when he spoke out in New York yesterday. He said that there will be emergency meetings of Arab Foreign Ministers in the next few days to try to come up with a quick fire solution.
The Hamas is an Islamic Resistance Movement that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and whose mission it is to defend Palestinians from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The Hamas took control of Gaza after being elected 18 months ago. In the past they were considered para- military, but as time goes on they are beginning to gain a power and strength and are becoming a full-on army and are today a force to be reckoned with. -
So many people living in so much destruction… it makes me sick
Interesting post from you as always. I wouldn’t keep up with any news if it wasn’t for your blog!
It’s so terrible that so many civilians have lost their lives; innocent people should not have to live in fear.
Your writing here is excellent as ever, and once more I thoroughly enjoyed your post. You’re a brilliant writer and always your blog entries have so much to offer.