Militants fire rockets into Israel after cease-fire
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/18/israel.gaza/index.html
JERUSALEM (CNN) — Militants fired six rockets into southern Israel and exchanged gunfire with troops in northern Gaza Sunday, hours after Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire in the Palestinian territory, an Israeli spokesman said.
An Israeli soldier holds up an Israeli flag after leaving Gaza on Sunday.
The Qassam rockets were fired into Sderot at 9 a.m. — seven hours after Israel’s cease-fire went into effect. The rockets did not injure anyone, and Israeli aircrafts destroyed the rocket launcher soon afterward, an Israeli military spokesman said.
An hour or two before the rocket attacks, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Israeli forces in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said. Troops returned fire.
Israel launched an offensive in Gaza just over three weeks ago, with the stated intent of stopping the barrage of rockets — primarily the short-range homemade Qassam rocket — fired from the territory into southern Israel by Hamas fighters.
Palestinian medical sources also pulled 30 bodies from rubble in Gaza on Sunday, adding to the death toll from Israel’s 22-day offensive in the area.
“If Hamas chooses to still launch rockets, we’ll answer back and we’ll answer back harsh,” said Avital Leibovich, spokeswoman for the Israel Defense Forces Sunday. “It’s really up to Hamas. Hamas will be accountable for any launching and every terror activity from the Gaza strip.”
Israel also announced Sunday it would open an emergency treatment center at the Erez crossing point from Israel to Gaza for civilians who have been injured in the fighting. It will be “fully equipped and staffed” and Palestinians requiring more involved treatement will be sent to hospitals in Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The three-week conflict has killed more than 1,200 people in Gaza and injured more than 5,000 more, many of them Palestinian civilians, according to medical sources in Gaza City. They said 410 children have died.
On the Israeli side, 10 soldiers and three civilians have been killed and more than 200 soldiers have been wounded since the fighting began, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said Saturday.
At 2 a.m. Sunday, Israel declared a cease-fire in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel was prepared to respond if Hamas militants continue fighting in Gaza.
“If foes decide to continue to fight against us, then we will be ready and we shall consider ourselves justified in replying,” he said.
Hamas leaders responded, saying they did not consider Olmert’s declaration a cease-fire as long as Israeli troops remain in the Palestinian territory.
“The troops on the ground is a declaration of war against the Palestinians,” said Osama Hamdan, a representative of Hamas, which has held political control of Gaza since 2007. “Israel did not offer anything.”
Even before Sunday’s rocket attacks, the cease-fire announcement was met with pessimism by Palestinians.
Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator during diplomatic talks about the conflict, noted that Olmert did not say Israeli troops would be leaving Gaza.
“I’m afraid this means the cease-fire will not stand — it will break,” Erakat told CNN International. “Anybody can fire a shot now … . It’s a very fragile moment.”
Islamic Jihad, an extremist group operating in Gaza and listed as a terrorist organization by several governments, said the cease-fire was an Israeli decision that will not impact its actions.
Senior leader Khader Habib told CNN his group will continue fighting until Israel leaves Gaza, and crossings into and out of the territory are opened. Islamic Jihad is not directly affiliated with Hamas.
CNN’s Shira Medding contributed to this report.
when will the people in gaza realize that it was hamas who brought all this down on them and rise up and demand a peaceful co-existence with Israel.
They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Colin in Canada
January 18, 2009 at 11:51 pm
To all…one stone thrown will not erase the zionist world. One bullet shot will not erase the Palestinian world. One bomb blast will not erase the Arab world. One plane crashed will not erase the western world. One nuclear bomb will not extinguish the human race. However, one word believed, cherished, practiced and preached will save one child, and many more, PEACE.
Whatever the persecutions, hatreds, biases, bigotry, and other beliefs against the people of the human race, GIVE IT UP, the World needs to work together if we are to live, prosper, grow and be happy in this 21st century.
In these immortal words …Give Peace a Chance!
Terry in Canada
January 19, 2009 at 3:18 am
Israil is an terrorist country, they are acting like nazis. I dont understand why US people are supporting israils. 1200 people died. Many of them are women and children. Hamas is just defending their country. What would you do if one country invaded your country. Please be conscientious….
Hakan
January 19, 2009 at 5:48 am
Just great Colin — blaming the victims for their victimization! Israelis were responsible for the rape of Gaza, not Hamas. Hamas represents the Palestinian people.
American Muse
January 19, 2009 at 6:18 am
Israel is democracy!!!
Israel fights with terror!!!
HAMAS use ther wifes and children as live shield!!!
HAMAS shoots rokets on Israeli civilian!!!
What side is yours???
Now Israel needs your support:
please vote here:
http://www.israel-vs-palestine.com/gz/?home
vote for freedom and democracy and against terror.
Israel
January 19, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Actually, what Colin is saying is that the people of Gaza chose Hamas as their leaders and let Hamas rain missles down on Israel, thus provoking Israel to bomb Gaza.
Terry in Canada
January 19, 2009 at 1:23 pm
For each rocket (which appears to have been as capable of inflicting any damage as ordinary 4th of July firecrackers) the Hamas had fired towards Israel, the IDF had killed 2-3 Palestinians, wounding many more and causing horrific destruction of the physical infrastructure in an already dilapidated territory. To fight with such ineffective weapon against a superbly trained and technologically advanced enemy and invite instant, massive retaliation is not defiance; it is utter suicidal stupidity. For the Hamas leaders who, to save their own own hides, have all fled to the safe havens in Beirut, Damascus or Tehran, to have made fiery speeches from there exhorting their ignorant and gullible henchmen trapped in the Gaza strip to pursue such a senseless path of self-destruction was nothing but cowardice and a criminal act of betrayal. And to claim the unilateral ceasefire declared by Israel after it had inflicted a crushing blow on the Hamas militants (with more to come if the fragile ceasefire is broken) as a victory for the Hamas is nothing but self-delusion of the most heinous kind.
Rajan
January 19, 2009 at 2:22 pm
your blog is a joke. why do you write that you ‘edit’ it. you write it.
an intellectual playground? lol
mosher
January 21, 2009 at 1:27 am
thank you very much for your kind comments, mosher. much appreciated. keep reading.
Wajahat Ali
January 21, 2009 at 7:52 am