Ashot Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 I don't know if we have a topic for this yet or not... if we do I would like to ask a Moderator to merge! January 15, 2009, 2:48 Israeli troops push further into Gaza Violence in Gaza continues as Israeli troops are pushing further into the city, with street fights raging in several suburbs. The U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, is heading to Egypt to push for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Both sides have up until now resisted calls from the UN. Israeli military insist the operation will continue until Hamas rocket fire and arms smuggling into Gaza are stopped. While the Hamas leaders say they are “approaching victory”. Israeli war planes struck 60 targets on Palestinian territory on Tuesday. In return, 14 rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel. Some of the attacks took place during a humanitarian ceasefire that is implemented for three hours each day to allow the humanitarian aid reach Gaza. Palestinian officials say more than 1000 people – half of them civilians – have been killed since the beginning of Israel's onslaught 19 days ago. 90.000 Palestinians have fled their homes becoming refugees. Israel confirms death of 14 its citizens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashot Posted January 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hamas and Israel ignore UN ceasefire call Fighting in Gaza shows no signs of letting up. With both Hamas and Israel ignoring UN ceasefire demands, Egypt is hosting frantic peace talks. Israel has said that it is close to achieving its objectives of stopping Hamas rocket attacks, and that to stop now would be a waste of the gains made so far. And Hamas says it wasn’t consulted and insists Israel first must end its economic blockade of Gaza. Egypt has now taken centre-stage to see if it can broker a peace-deal. And Russia’s special envoy to the Middle East, Aleksandr Sultanov, is in the region trying to get the warring sides to speak to each other. ”We are calling for an international force to protect the Palestinian people and this call is not new. We have been calling for it for the last 30 years, and we are still calling for an international force to protect Palestinians,” Palestinian Autonomy president Mahmoud Abbas said. According to the Ministry of Health and information arriving from hospitals, over 820 Palestinians have now been killed in Gaza, around half of who are Hamas fighters. Dozens of the dead are reported remaining in the streets or lying in derelict houses. The death toll from Israeli side is estimated at three civilians and ten soldiers. A fresh wave of Israeli air strikes on Saturday targeted weapons storage facilities and smuggling tunnels. Israeli soldiers are on standby for the next phase of their operation - to enter the most densely populated areas of Gaza. Israeli forces have been dropping leaflets on Gaza saying they will go door to door searching for Hamas militants. They are warning Palestinians to stay away from Hamas areas which are to be targeted. Meanwhile aid agencies say Gaza’s one-and-a-half million people are in urgent need of food and medical aid. “The humanitarian situation needs us all as international community to work together in order to achieve the condition for a permanent ceasefire, and we hope to do that," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. The Human Rights Watch pressure group is accusing Israel of using banned white phosphorous shells indiscriminately in built-up areas, causing civilians to be badly burnt. Protests turn violent International protests against Israeli actions continued on Saturday, with demonstrations in Paris and London turning violent. Crowds have gathered in numerous cities over the past two weeks, some in support of Israel, some against. But as the death toll in Gaza rises, so does the tension surrounding the protests. France saw scores of protests in cities all over the country. In Paris crowds chanted 'Israel Assassin' and burnt an Israeli flag to show solidarity with Gaza's Palestinians. A march last week also descended into violence with cars set on the fire and shop windows smashed. In London 20,000 people gathered, accusing Israel of committing a 'massacre'. The rioters then turned on police, knocking one officer unconscious with a hail of stones and debris. Twenty four people were arrested before the crowd was eventually dispersed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashot Posted January 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 January 15, 2009, 17:05 Israel continues to hit wrong targets Israeli forces have hit the building housing international media in Gaza where RT's own Arabic news channel has its office. Witnesses said two people had been injured. According to RT’s Middle East correspondent Paula Slier, the building has been evacuated. This is the second time the building has come under fire since Israel began its offensive. Last week journalists were forced to flee their desks after the building with hit, however, no one was injured. A building where a UN agency and the Red Cross are stationed has also reportedly been hit as was the Gaza Headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. The building, used as a shelter for hundreds of people fleeing Israel's 20-day military campaign, caught fire. In a telephone interview to RT, Andy David, spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Israeli military were targeting Hamas militants. “A facility being used by terrorists, from where people are shooting from the window becomes a legitimate target,” David commented. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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