Security Cabinet Decision on the Continuation of IDF Operations in the Gaza Strip
(Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
The Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs (the Security Cabinet) met yesterday (Friday), 3.1.09, in order to discuss the continuation of IDF operations in the Gaza Strip. Read More
Rockets fired from Gaza today hit Ashdod, severely damaging two floors of an apartment building. Other missiles today hit Beersheva (again) and Netivot. A full report in Ynet fills in the details. As we can see, Hamas is continuing its missile barrage at civilians.
This morning, a missile from Gaza hit a kindergarten classroom in Beersheva (the largest city in the Negev). Fortunately, schools were kept closed as a result of the Hamas threat. We don’t want to think about other possibilities. The BBC has a short article and video of the missile strike.
During yesterday’s Twitter conference, we got a few questions about Hamas. While the answers to the specific questions will be coming shortly, following are selected sections from the charter of Hamas (aka the Islamic Resistance Movement) with some emphasis added. The full document can be found at http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp.
Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it. (Preamble, quoting Hassan al-Banna) Read More
Even in the midst of the IDF operations in Gaza, Israel is determined to maintain the humanitarian effort to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. See video below for footage of one cargo transfer.
Hamas fired missiles earlier today that struck in the center of Ashkelon, killing one and wounding at least ten. See this report in Haaretz for further details. We bring you footage of two of these attacks on Ashkelon. The first missile hit a construction zone, while the second video shows the chaos surrounding a missile strike in Ashkelon’s soccer stadium.
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!
Even before Hamas officially decided against renewing the “State of Calm” that had been in effect since mid-June, terrorists had resumed firing missiles and mortar shells at Sderot and the Western Negev. In light of this intolerable situation, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gabriela Shalev, wrote a strongly worded letter of protest to Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon. She noted that Israel is committed to seeking peace and is willing to renew the “state of calm,” but it appears that Hamas is not so disposed. For the full text of the letter, see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Yesterday’s edition of Yedioth Aharonoth carried a powerful opinion piece by Anat Meidan about the work done at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. Even as the Qassam missiles fall, hospital staff have been working hard to ensure the recovery of all their patients–Israelis and Palestinians alike. The full translation is presented below.
Ambassadors of Humanity
By Anat Meidan
Over the course of five months, the doctors and nurses of Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon treated Wania Suleiman, a resident of Jabaliya Refugee Camp in Gaza. After suffering a serious stroke, she lost consciousness during the 24th week of pregnancy. Attempts at Azati Hospital to stabilize her condition proved unsuccessful and she was transferred to Barzilai. At the end of September, after about ten weeks during which doctors fought for the lives of Wania and her fetus, she gave birth to her third son. Read More
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Jan 03 2009
