Israeli fighter-bombers and combat helicopters strike dozens of targets inside Gaza starting shortly after local dawn. Guardian UK reporting 120 dead. Other accounts as high as 180, with over 300 wounded. Video shows that large high explosive bombs were used by the Israelis, and witness report massive explosions. Witnesses say that Gaza’s police chief is among the dead.
Most were Hamas security and police forces, but many were also civilians, including children. Gaza hospitals are overwhelmed with the casualties. Israel has announced that it’s intent is to destroy Hamas, and called for Arab Palestinians to reject Hamas. Inside Gaza the belief is that Israel, Egypt, and the US are trying to destroy Hamas, which is the de facto government of Gaza. Peres stated that there would be no "invasion" of Gaza, , but left open military incursions.
The strikes were expected for Sunday, but were done a day earlier to increase casualties, in what is now clearly the first step to escalation of the conflict. The bulk of the casualties occurred when Israeli jets struck a graduation at the Hamas headquarters.
Britain has expressed "concern," while the US State Department urged "avoiding civilian casualties. Given how crowded Gaza is, it is effectively a city of one million people, this is like trying to strike at the Boston Police Department without causing civilian fatalities. Jordan has called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League, which is expected by Monday. The EU has called for a cease fire. Egypt opened it’s border with Gaza.
Israel has expressly said that "any Hamas" is a target, including political leadership, opening the way for assassination. This, coupled with the intentional deception through diplomatic channels spells the end of any negotiated settlement until there has been a military outcome.
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Moyers had a show about religion and faith around the world and how religion can heal. But he showed those who kill for their religious beliefs.
Likud and Hamas are you listening?
This conflict isn’t so much religious as it is economic and territorial.
imo the religious aspects are used to justify the actions – but that the conflict is mostly about the land and what that represents.
Thank you Stirling. I opened the DIGG and commented there.
Religion helps portray the situation as being unsolvable and, thus, easily dismissed by the much of the US and EU.
Because regime change has been so very successful in the ME.