The patience of Israel reached its end today. After being barraged by more than 200 missile attacks this past week alone, the IDF struck back by bombing every Hamas security installation in Gaza. The strikes have so far killed hundreds and a ground invasion may be coming.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli warplanes retaliating for rocket fire from the Gaza Strip pounded dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of airstrikes Saturday, killing more than 200 people and wounding nearly 400 in the single bloodiest day of fighting in years.
Most of those killed were security men, but an unknown number of civilians were also among the dead. Hamas said all of its security installations were hit, threatened to resume suicide attacks, and sent at least 70 rockets and mortar shells crashing into Israeli border communities, according to the Israeli military. One Israeli was killed and at least six people were hurt…
The offensive began eight days after a six-month truce between Israel and the militants expired. The Israeli army says Palestinian militants have fired some 300 rockets and mortars at Israeli targets over the past week, and in recent days, Israeli leaders had threatened to launch a major offensive…
Israel left Gaza in 2005 after a 38-year occupation, but the withdrawal did not lead to better relations with Palestinians in the territory as Israeli officials had hoped.
Instead, the evacuation was followed by a sharp rise in militant attacks on Israeli border communities that on several occasions provoked harsh Israeli military reprisals.
Hamas can’t be surprised by the strikes. It was Hamas that declared a ceasefire this past week — one that it never really recognized, continuing to attack Israel at a time that was supposed to be peaceful. Israel threatened retaliation days ago and the missile attacks continued. Now Hamas will pay the price for its actions.
Hamas insists on a war of annihilation and won’t accept any other solution. Let them have it.
Watch for Hamas to trot out the dead women and children for the cameras to show the world just how barbaric the Israelis are; even as the media ignores the fact that the terrorists had been firing on Israel for years on end with the intent to kill and maim Israelis. Israel targeted the terrorists; Hamas targets everyone, including Palestinians with their actions.
That’s an important point as you watch media coverage over the next few days. Watch as you hear every story about a child being killed in the strikes of those eviiiil Israelis. Never mind the Israeli children that have been killed in the constant barrage of missile attacks from Hamas.
But NYT’s eerily familiar art suggests it’s only a matter of time before the green helmet guy or one of his colleagues shows up with war crimes evidence, despite the best efforts of Israel to avoid killing innocents…
PowerLine points to propaganda photos of Hamas militants firing rockets and the damage they caused.
Anyone notice that the attacks from Gaza were barely covered by the Credentialed Media? Tiny stories, deep in websites and papers. And, of course, this story tends to focus on how badly the Palestinians were hurt.
Stay tuned.
by Stephan Tawney on Sat, Dec 27, 2008