Today marks the second day of Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, code-named “Cast Lead.”  The media has reported widely on these developments, and we have worked to bring you some of their updates and insights into the situation.  As background, it is helpful to remember that, as of 2005, Israel has no military or civilian presence in the Gaza Strip.  Since that time, Hamas has routinely fired missiles at Sderot and nearby towns in the Western Negev (attacks that violate the rules of war), even during the recent “State of Calm.”  Last week, Hamas unilaterally rejected a renewal of the “State of Calm” and resumed missile fire even as Israel sought an extension of the lull agreement.  These renewed attacks against Israel precipitated the present operations.

You can find more information below.

Videos:

• Prime Minster Ehud Olmert’s press conference (Saturday night, 27 December 2008) on the situation in Gaza.
• Barack Obama comments on life in Sderot, Israel:
  
  
• Barack Obama expresses solidarity with Sderot, Israel:
  
  
• Qassam launching – humanitarian aid.
• Humanitarian aid footage.
• At a press conference in Cairo today (28-12-2008) President Abbas was asked why there were no wounded Palestinians being evacuated to Egypt.
• Underground Launching Pad.
• Hamas: a short film showing the true nature of the Hamas. The clip shows also sound bites made after the elections at the PA stating the movement’s ultimate goal of destroying the State of Israel.
• Sderot: This short film shows the difficult times in Sderot, where Iranian backed Hamas spreads terror and fear among Israeli civilians.

Articles:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Articles on Humanitarian Aid to Gaza.
• Washington Post Article on Israeli Counterterrorism Efforts in Gaza as it relates to President Elect Obama’s Peace Plan.
  Quote:
  “President-elect Barack Obama has voiced sympathy for Israel’s predicament. During his visit to Israel last summer, he held a news conference in Sderot, the southern town that has borne the brunt of the Gaza rocket attacks, saying he does not “think any country would find it acceptable to have missiles raining down on the heads of their citizens.”
  “If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that,” Obama said at the time. “And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
• Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC).

Websites:

• Sderot Media
• General MFA Information on Current Situation

Photos:

Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit severely criticized Hamas for provoking Israel’s operations in Gaza.  Below, you can find a video clip from his speech, with subtitles.

Transcript: For quite some time, Egypt has been warning. Whoever tried to confuse the understand of [ignore] this warning, must bear the responsibility. The Prime Minister of Israel warned the Hamas and said: “You must stop, otherwise we will take measures in response.” In response to what? To not renewing the calm, to the rocket fire. Just before the arrival of [Israeli Foreign Minister] Livni to Egypt, 60 rockets were fired from Gaza!

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