“Operation Cast Lead” - Updates And Videos
*** UPDATE (12:22pm EST 1/4/09)
FOX:
UNITED NATIONS  DEVELOPING: Israeli President Shimon Peres rejected a call for an immediate cease-fire as Israeli forces pressed their offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Reuters reports.
Peres said, however, that Israel does not intend to occupy Gaza.
On Saturday, the U.S. blocked approval of a U.N. Security Council statement calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, diplomats said.
French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, the council president, said the 15 council members could not agree on a statement in closed discussions held after Israel launched a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip on Saturday. But he said there were “strong convergences” among the members to express concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the need for “an immediate, permanent and fully respected cease-fire.”
Libyan Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi said the United States during the discussions objected to “any outcome” on the proposed statement. He said efforts were made to compromise on a weaker press statement but there was no consensus.
Several other council members, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were closed, also said the U.S. was responsible for the council’s failure to issue a statement.
The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has designated Hamas a terrorist organization. U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the United States saw no prospect of Hamas abiding by last week’s council call for an immediate end to the violence. Therefore, he said, a new statement “would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success, (and) would not do credit to the council.” (CONTINUE)
FOX:
Israeli Ground Offensive Gains Momentum in Gaza
Israeli ground troops and tanks cut swaths through the Gaza Strip early Sunday, dividing the coastal territory into three parts and surrounding its biggest city in an effort to prevent Hamas militants from accessing weapons.
Palestinian medics told FOX News that 10 Hamas militants and 30 civilians – including a mother and her four children  have been killed in the ground offensive that launched late Saturday.
Israeli defense officials, however, said that an estimated 30 Hamas militants had been killed in the incursion so far.
Israel’s army also announced that a soldier died in the fighting on Sunday  the first Israeli fatality in the ground offensive. (CONTINUE)
*** UPDATE (2:35am EST - 1/4/09)
In Early Morning Light In Gaza
*** UPDATE (12:00am EST)
USA Tells UN To Fuck-Off:
United States blocks U.N. action on Gaza conflict
UNITED NATIONS — he United States late Saturday blocked approval of a U.N. Security Council statement calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel and expressing concern at the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas.
U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the United States saw no prospect of Hamas abiding by last week’s council call for an immediate end to the violence. Therefore, he said, a new statement at this time “would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success, would not do credit to the council.” (Fuck-Off!)
France’s U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, the current council president, announced that there was no agreement among members on a statement. But he said there were “strong convergences” among the 15 members to express serious concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the need for “an immediate, permanent and fully respected cease-fire.”
Arab nations demanded that the council adopt a statement calling for an immediate cease-fire following Israel’s launch of a ground offensive in Gaza earlier Saturday, a view echoed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Libya’s U.N. Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi, the only Arab member of the council, said the United States objected to “any outcome” during the closed council discussions on the proposed statement.
He said efforts were made to compromise and agree on a weaker press statement but there was no consensus.
*** UPDATE (7:43pm EST)
Israel is pigs and apes … Blah-Blah-Blah … Ham-ass welcomes their death … Blah-Blah-Blah … Give us Virgins, Allah
*** UPDATE (7:10pm EST)
*** UPDATE (6:45pm EST)
Bodies of Hamas leader’s children paraded as group promises ‘painful’ revenge for their deaths
The bodies of a senior Hamas leader’s small children were today ghoulishly paraded through the streets of Gaza as the group pledged to avenge their deaths.
Nizar Rayan, his four wives and 10 of his children were all killed by in an Israeli air strike on his home after he ignored warnings they should go into hiding.
In grisly scenes, mourners held up the bloodied bodies of the children to the cameras in a clear attempt to blacken Israel’s name and highlight its brutality.
Graphic images showed the young children’s uncovered faces as the victims were carried by thousands of angry Hamas supporters during the funeral procession. (CONTINUE)
France Being … French (But then, they do have those “Youths” to deal with … Soon they WILL run out of cars.)
PARIS, Jan 3 - France condemned an Israeli land assault in the Gaza Strip on Saturday just hours after the Czech presidency of the European Union said the action was “defensive, not offensive”.
The conflicting statements suggested disunity among European partners ahead of separate visits to the region by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and an EU delegation led by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.
France, which handed the EU presidency to the Czechs on Jan. 1, has led calls for a ceasefire and hosted a meeting of EU foreign minsters to reinforce the message on Tuesday. (CONTINUE)
EU presidency: Israel ground op in Gaza ‘defensive not offensive’
PRAGUE - European Union president, the Czech Republic, said Saturday an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza was “defensive, not offensive” action.
“At the moment, from the perspective of the last days, we understand this step as a defensive, not offensive, action,” Czech EU presidency spokesman Jiri Potuznik said.
Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg is leading an EU delegation to the region Sunday, and Potuznik said the presidency will wait to see the results of that visit. (CONTINUE)
Schwarzenegger: Every nation has right to defend itself
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed support for the ground operation in Gaza. After meeting with the Israeli consul general in Los Angeles, Yaakov Dayan, Schwarzenegger declared that “every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism and cold-blooded attacks on its people. Israel is no different and is right to defend itself against the unceasing violence of rocket attacks launched by Hamas.”
*** UPDATE (3:22pm EST)
Israel Pledges to Target Hamas, Protect Civilians
As troops moved south across the border into Gaza Strip late Saturday, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement calling it the “second phase” of Israel’s attempt to disable Hamas by force.
“The objective of this stage is to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Hamas in the area of operation, while taking control of some of rocket launching area used by the Hamas,” according to the statement, which was attributed to a defense spokesman.
The statement also affirms that the escalation has the backing of the Security Cabinet, adding that Israel has taken steps to protect Palestinian civilians. (CONTINUE READING)
*** UPDATE (2:44pm EST)
“Kurt TV” Video:
*** UPDATE (2:05pm EST)
FOX:
Israeli Ground Forces Cross Border Into Gaza Strip
Mike Tobin
DEVELOPING: Israeli ground forces have begun moving across the border into the northern Gaza Strip in an escalation late Saturday night of the weeklong offensive against Hamas, according to reports citing Palestinian witnesses and Israeli officials.
Witnesses in the Gaza Strip tell FOX News that troops are moving in — a development that Reuters described as a small column of Israeli military vehicles backed by combat helicopters. The incursion was confirmed to FOX News by Israeli defense officials.
Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip had intensified Saturday evening and tanks began repositioning themselves around the border despite international efforts to secure a cease-fire and avert a ground war between Israel and Hamas.
Israel launched the aerial campaign a week ago in a bid to halt weeks of intensifying Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza. The offensive has dealt a heavy blow to Hamas, but failed to halt the rocket fire.
*** BREAKING - UPDATE (1:35pm EST)
AP is reporting (via FNC) Israeli ground forces are now crossing the border into Gaza … they are popping flares in the sky so they can see … using night vision equipment … may see more infantry than armor as forces seek-out Hamas targets …
DEVELOPING
*** UPDATE:
IDF begins shelling northern Gaza for 1st time since op began
For the first time since the start of Operation Cast Lead, the IDF began firing artillery shells into northern Gaza on Saturday afternoon, IDF officials said.
According to reports, the artillery units were attacking targets in northern Gaza from where Palestinian terrorists had been firing rockets at southern Israel.
The shelling was seen as a possible signal that a ground invasion could be nearing.
Warplanes, gunboats and artillery units blasted more than 40 Hamas targets throughout Saturday, including Hamas’s central intelligence headquarters in Sha’ati, weapons storage facilities, training centers and Hamas leaders’ homes.
Air strikes that had waned during the day gathered pace after dark. One raid hit a mosque in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, killing 14 people and wounding 33, seven critically, according to a Palestinian health official.
Other Palestinian reports claimed that the mosque was hit by an artillery shell.
The IAF also hit the home of senior Hamas commander Abu Zacharia Al-Jamal. A Hamas spokesman announced that al-Jamal was killed in the attack, which would make him the third senior operative in the group to be targeted in the past three days.
In addition, Palestinians reported four dead in an IAF strike in the Rafah area.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Channel 2 Saturday night, “We will do all that is necessary to provide a different reality for southern Israel, which has been under constant attacks for the past eight years.”
Israeli defense officials said some 10,000 troops, including tank, artillery and special operations units, were massed on the Gaza border and prepared to invade. They said top commanders were split over whether to send in ground forces, in part because such an operation could lead to heavy casualties but also because they believed Hamas already had been dealt a heavy blow. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were classified discussions.
In Saturday morning attacks, the army struck the homes of two Hamas operatives, saying the buildings were used to store weapons and plan attacks. Hamas outposts, training camps and rocket launching sites also were targeted, it said.
The army also struck the American International School, the most prestigious educational institution in Gaza. The school is not connected to the US government, but teaches an American curriculum in English.
The airstrike demolished the school’s main building and killed a night watchman. Two other Palestinians were killed in a separate airstrike, while three others died of wounds sustained earlier, Gaza health officials said.
Earlier, the army dropped leaflets in downtown Gaza City ordering people off the streets. The warnings were followed by the air strikes.
Hamas also declared on Saturday that its members had foiled an attempt by IDF special forces to infiltrate the Gaza Strip, Israel Radio reported.
According to the report, a number of IDF soldiers were spotted in the outskirts of Gaza’s Shajaiyeh neighborhood close to the border with Israel. Hamas claimed that the soldiers retreated after they were targeted by six mortar shells.
The IDF denied the report, telling Army Radio that “this incident never happened.”
Earlier on Friday night, a Hamas television station said that the IAF on bombed an airport in the Gaza Strip. One person was reported dead in the attack, and five wounded.
*** UPDATE:
CNN:
Israel Drops “Warning” Leaflets On Gaza To ‘Get Out’
JERUSALEM — An Israeli airstrike hit a mosque in the northern Gaza village of Beit Lahiya on Saturday evening, killing nine people and wounding 60, according to Palestinian medical sources.
Leaflets signed by the commander of the Israeli military were dropped over northern Gaza on Saturday morning, warning residents to “leave the area immediately” to ensure their safety.
Israeli tanks and troops have massed on the Gaza border, and an Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman said ground forces are prepared to enter Gaza when they receive orders to do so.
“Due to the terrorist actions undertaken by terrorist elements from the region of your residences against the state of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to respond immediately in the region of your residences. For your safety, you are ordered to leave the area immediately,” the leaflets say.
The geographic area covered by the word “region” was not defined.
Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal promised bloodshed if Israeli ground troops enter Gaza.
“As for you, the soldiers of the enemy whose leadership are getting you ready to enter Gaza in a ground attack, you need to know that doom will await you and you will be killed, injured and captured,” Meshaal, speaking in Syria, told the Al Jazeera television network Friday.
“If the enemy got into Gaza, our people will fight from one street to the next, from one house to the other, and on every inch of the land.” (Continue Reading)
Fox News is reporting ‘Israeli tanks are “repositioning” on Gaza border …’ Developing
It’s On: Bush Gives His Blessing To Israeli Ground Op, And Updates Obama
DEBKAfile’s Washington source report that in a telephone conversation with prime minister Ehud Olmert, US president George W. Bush okayed Israeli air, sea and ground operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He promised the US would veto a resolution condemning Israel at the UN Security Council meeting next Monday. Early Saturday morning, Jan. 3, Day 8 of Israel’s Gaza operation, US and British media described the Israeli invasion as hours away.
In his weekly radio address - brought forward by a day, the US president spoke with exceptional firmness: “Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable,” he said. “This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas – a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for Israel’s destruction.”
He noted that “Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in a coup and routinely violated an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire…” and went on to define the exit point for Israel’s military operation:
“Promises from Hamas will not suffice,” he said. There must be “monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure that smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end.”
This left Israel the option of sustaining its military activity against Hamas until such a mechanism was installed. He implicitly criticized Egypt for failing to control the smuggling of rockets and other munitions through its territory.
In his radio address, President Bush noted that president-elect Barack Obama is being kept up to date on the latest developments. With just over two weeks left in power, the Bush administration is preparing to hand over the problem to his successor.
DEBKAfile’s military sources list 9 pointers to an imminent Israeli incursion:
1. Israel’s three decision-makers, the prime minister, defense minister Ehud Barak and foreign minister Tzipi Livni, met Friday, Dec. 2, and resolved “to keep up the military pressure on Hamas” – a decision that gives the IDF a free hand.
2. Hamas’ conduct Friday: After 9 Grad Katyusha rockets were fired against Ashkelon, destroying two buildings and injuring five Israelis, the tempo slowed to 40 launchings the whole day - half the week’s daily average. The Palestinian terrorists were evidently reserving stocks for a grand climax when Israeli tank and armored infantry crossed into Gaza.
3. Hamas threats have mounted to a new pitch: Damascus-based Khaled Meshaal, who is in hiding, warned Israel (in a taped speech) of a “black fate” if it invades Gaza, including more kidnapped Israeli soldiers. Underlying his words was the threat of guerrilla action behind Israeli lines to snatch hostages.
4. Israeli air strikes against the empty homes of Hamas leaders continued early Saturday after 45 were destroyed Thursday and Friday. Their objective is to demoralize the Hamas command echelon and break its will to fight.
5. The Hamas military wing reported thwarting an Israeli special forces’ attempt to steal into the Sejaya refugee camp in Gaza City early Saturday. This is the third such claim in three days. The IDF spokesman denied knowledge of the incident.
6. DEBKAfile’s military sources report mass-desertions by teenagers who form the backbone of Hamas’ fighting rank and file. They are going home to their parents.
7. Early signs that former Palestinian security officers unaffiliated with Hamas are getting together to seize control of Gazan districts in which Hamas rule has collapsed.
Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets from Friday night advising people living in the northern and eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City to leave their homes. Defiance of this curfew directive carried the risk of being shot.
8. Cairo forwarded an urgent request to Hamas leaders in Damascus to make known their conditions for a ceasefire.
9. The arrival in Damascus of the chairman of Iran’s national security council and nuclear negotiator Said Jalili for urgent talks with Syrian president Bashar Assad and the leaders of Hamas and Jihad Islami.
Bush’s speech followed his conversations with Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi leaders as well as Olmert. He said he was concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza and noted that “Hamas terrorists often hide within the civilian population which puts innocent Palestinians at risk.”
 |
|
