Firedoglake » Gaza Update: Rockets From Lebanon, MSF on the “Truce”

By: Siun Thursday January 8, 2009 4:03 am

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Early reports on the Katyusha rockets launched at Nahariya from Lebanon are surprisingly consistent. Both Hezbollah and Israeli sources agree that these were likely launched by a small Palestinian group in Lebanon. Here are the initial reports from each side.

Al Manar, the main media outlet for Hezbollah, is reporting:

At least three Katyusha rockets fired from southern Lebanon land in Western Galilee region Thursday morning, near the settlement of Nahariya. Israeli Police reported that two people were wounded and several settlers were treated for shock…

The rocket attack was not attributed to any organization and there were no claim of responsibility by any side yet…

The Israeli media quoted Israeli sources in the Israeli army northern command as saying that the “short salvo on Thursday morning was likely to have been fired by Palestinian terror groups and not by Hezbollah.” The source however added that “it could not be ruled out whether Hezbollah might have told Palestinian groups to fire at Israel as its proxies.”

Ha’aretz in Israel reports the same – and notes:

Based on past experience, it appears likely that a Palestinian organization, inspired by but not connected to Hezbollah, fired the rockets. Lebanese officials also said on Wednesday that Palestinian groups, and not Hezbollah, had fired the rockets into Israel.

Hezbollah has operated similarly during previous periods of escalation: In the past, it has allowed the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Ahmed Jibril to take the lead in staging attacks against Israeli or American targets.

Israel has been preparing for the possibility of Hezbollah igniting a second front, saying it would retaliate massively.

While clearly outraged at the attacks on Gaza by Israel, Hezbollah’s leadership has not threatened an attack of its own but encouraged Gazans to fight back and, from the start of the air strikes on Gaza, warned Israel – as Nasrallah did again today:

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah warned Israel Wednesday that if Israel decides to attack Lebanon, “their soldiers will soon discover that their aggression in 2006 on Lebanon will be a picnic compared to what we have prepared for them.”

In Iraq, Moqtada Al Sadr:

threatened on Wednesday to resume attacks on American targets inside Iraq over Washington’s support for the Israeli assault on Gaza. “I ask the Iraqi resistance to engage in revenge operations against the United States, the biggest partner of the Zionist enemy.”

Meanwhile, in Gaza casualties reached “Death toll 710, injured 3200 and most of them Civilians.”

Medecins San Frontieres issued a scathing analysis of the three hour truce regime which Israel initiated to today:

The international community must not be content with a limited truce, which MSF said is largely inadequate for providing lifesaving assistance…

"Today, 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip — almost half of them children — are the victims of incessant shooting and bombing," said Franck Joncret, MSF's head of mission. "How can anyone believe that such a steamroller attack would spare civilians, who are prevented from fleeing, and are crowded in a densely-populated enclave?"

The military offensive has sown terror within a trapped urban population. Residents no longer dare leave their homes to seek medical care. This insecurity also affects aid organizations. Palestinian humanitarian aid and health workers have been killed and hospitals and ambulances have been bombed.

Hospital emergency departments are besieged by wounded patients. In the last 10 days, medical staff at Al Shifa Hospital have performed more than 300 surgeries…

"The level of insecurity is so high that our ability to travel and provide medical aid is extremely limited," said Jessica Pourraz, MSF field coordinator in Gaza. "We need unfettered access so that we can reach the wounded around the clock, and civilians need to be able to reach treatment facilities."…

"However, these partial measures, which are intended to soothe international opinion, have no effect on the direct and massive violence that the population is experiencing," says Dr. Marie-Pierre Allié, president of the French section of MSF.

Spotlight

37 Responses to “Gaza Update: Rockets From Lebanon, MSF on the “Truce””

plunger January 8th, 2009 at 4:13 am

Israel’s IDF sneaks into Lebanon, lobs a few rockets back toward Israel, and in so doing, opens up the opportunity to invade Lebanon - through which they will move directly into Syria.

The prior incursion into Lebanon a couple years back was said to be the result of two IDF soldiers “kidnapped” (not captured, mind you) along the Israel/Lebanon border.

Did you ever hear the actual names of the two soldiers alleged to have been kidnapped to “justify” that invasion by Israel? No? It was a ruse - a false flag op - an initial assault, not just on Lebanon, but to clear a pathway to Syria.

Google: Israel + false flag

Peterr January 8th, 2009 at 4:28 am

The ICRC adds their voice to MSF:

The ICRC had requested safe passage for ambulances to access this neighbourhood since 3 January but it only received permission to do so from the Israel Defense Forces during the afternoon of 7 January.

The ICRC/PRCS team found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. They were too weak to stand up on their own. One man was also found alive, too weak to stand up. In all there were at least 12 corpses lying on mattresses.

In another house, the ICRC/PRCS rescue team found 15 other survivors of this attack including several wounded. In yet another house, they found an additional three corpses. Israeli soldiers posted at a military position some 80 meters away from this house ordered the rescue team to leave the area which they refused to do. There were several other positions of the Israel Defense Forces nearby as well as two tanks.

“This is a shocking incident,” said Pierre Wettach, the ICRC’s head of delegation for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. “The Israeli military must have been aware of the situation but did not assist the wounded. Neither did they make it possible for us or the Palestine Red Crescent to assist the wounded.”

[snip]

The ICRC believes that in this instance the Israeli military failed to meet its obligation under international humanitarian law to care for and evacuate the wounded. It considers the delay in allowing rescue services access unacceptable.

The ICRC usually bend over backwards to avoid publicity and comment, so as to retain their preferred position of neutrality and objectivity and thus their access to all parties. OTOH, when they issue public criticism of one side in a conflict, you know it’s bad.

T-Bear January 8th, 2009 at 4:31 am

Siun, I have a couple of links up in Attaturks if you can use them. Ian’s post below was awesome in the resistance to Israeli/Zionist propaganda and disinformation, The commentators involved deserve commendation at their measured responses to half-truths, lies, and distortion of relevant facts.

nomolos January 8th, 2009 at 4:51 am

In response to T-Bear @ 3

T-Bear this is a pretty good source and also the Al Jazerra twitter

And if I hear one more time on NPR that Hamas “broke the cease fire” I will throw something.

Again I ask where are all the Israeli apologists now? Dead silence from the few at this site, maybe the facts are getting in the way of their position?

Raven January 8th, 2009 at 4:55 am

President Carter on the situation.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:02 am

“I ask the Iraqi resistance to engage in revenge operations against the United States, the biggest partner of the Zionist enemy.”

Like the Irakis need any motivation to go after US troops. It also shows al-Sadr to still be a player to be reckoned with in the power struggle for Irak.

Imagine January 8th, 2009 at 5:06 am

In response to Peterr @ 2

Is this incident the Samouni family? Or are there two incidents?

plunger January 8th, 2009 at 5:06 am

Israel is merely the “Terror, Territory & Resource Acquisition Division” of David Rockefeller, Inc.

He put Kissinger on his CNBC outlet a couple days ago to remind us all that the establishment of his “New World Order” is at hand.

Raven January 8th, 2009 at 5:08 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 6

Pat Lang has an interesting piece on the IDF.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:16 am

In response to Raven @ 9

Interesting. Explains quite a lot.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:17 am

Wha hoppened to #9. Somebody musta said something really nasty. Awwwwww.

Raven January 8th, 2009 at 5:20 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 10

Yea, I didn’t realize their command structure was like that. Much as I hated NCO’s the good ones were really important.

T-Bear January 8th, 2009 at 5:22 am

In response to nomolos @ 4

Thanks for the links, AlJazeera is one staple news source, (none from the US). The Guardian and BBC are usually good, and Robert Fisk at The Independent is tops for background and facts. The resources that are being used here (FDL) are adding depth to the above.

I am commenting still at Attaturks, no need to attract more Zionist trolls and sycophants to Siun than necessary.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:25 am

In response to Raven @ 12

There were a lot of platoon leaders that would have come home in a box if it hadn’t been for the NCO’s. They’ve always been the backbone of the military. Gimme a hard-assed, been there, done that NCO any day.

Broadstreetbuddy January 8th, 2009 at 5:27 am

In response to nomolos @ 4

Do you have a link saying that Israel broke the cease fire first?

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:27 am

In response to T-Bear @ 13

oooo, now I gotta go take a look. Zionist trolls for breakfast. Yum yum.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:30 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 16

Damn, dey ain’t no trolls over dere.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:31 am

In response to Broadstreetbuddy @ 15

Look at news reports for 20 June 2008, one day after the cease-fire commenced. Do your own homework.

Bilbo January 8th, 2009 at 5:32 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 10

Very enlightening indeed. For example,

In my travels in the west Bank in March of 2008, it was noticeable that the behavior towards Palestinian civilians of IDF troops at roadblocks was reminiscent of that of any group of post-adolescents given guns and allowed to bully the helpless in order to look tough for each other.

Broadstreetbuddy January 8th, 2009 at 5:33 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 18

The news reports about Hamas breaking the 3 hour cease fire was from yesterday not June.

Bilbo January 8th, 2009 at 5:34 am

And this,

In Beit Suhur outside Bethlehem, I have seen IDF troops shoot at Palestinian Christian women hanging out laundry in their gardens. This was done with tank coaxial machine guns from within a bermed up dirt fort a couple of hundred yards away, and evidently just for the fun of it.

T-Bear January 8th, 2009 at 5:35 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 16

Marion in Savannah may start having em on her morning menu, not to give away any ideas. ;-)

Hey, there is one now just above you @ 15. Should we tell the troll about the six palestinians taken out by Israeli attack back about the first of December while the cease fire was still in effect? or should we trust the fool to find it for themselves.

twolf1 January 8th, 2009 at 5:37 am

Scenes from the Gaza Strip

selise January 8th, 2009 at 5:41 am

In response to T-Bear @ 22

i’m not sure of the best balance, but something to consider is that there are people reading our comments and how we respond to israeli apologists may have affect how much weight our comments are given by people who’ve been taught that israel is good and palestinians are bad - but are open to new information.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:41 am

In response to Bilbo @ 21

Well, seein’s how they get their first news from Drudge and Sux News, let ‘em figure it out for themselves.

re Marion’s menu - trolls fresh off the grill with a nice fish sauce. The tigers will be happy.

nomolos January 8th, 2009 at 5:42 am

In response to Broadstreetbuddy @ 15

This from Jimmy Carter’s article this AM

And this fragile truce was partially broken on Nov. 4, when Israel launched an attack in Gaza to destroy a defensive tunnel being dug by Hamas inside the wall that encloses Gaza.

I suggest reading the article.

But beyond that Israel never lived up to the cease fire agreement, they never opened the borders, they never allowed essential supplies, they continued to treat the PAlestinians as prisoners in their own land.

Broadstreetbuddy January 8th, 2009 at 5:42 am

Zionist troll, maybe the equivalent of an islamo-facist terrorist, or just another american with a different opinion. Remember that neither of us have the power to do anything about this conflict, but I am sure that if either of us did we would stop this needless killing immediately. The three hour cease fire, by all reports was broken by Hamas, unless you have evidence to the contrary. If not, we should all be allowed to ask a question right?

nomolos January 8th, 2009 at 5:49 am

In response to Broadstreetbuddy @ 27

You must try and do some research yourself but here is some more help
and here

Try google

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 5:49 am

In response to selise @ 24

When they want to discuss the philosophy of the Israeli government towards Palestine over the past 80 years I’ll gladly discuss those issues. When all they write about is the elementary schoolyard stuff of “he hit me first” or “it’s his fault” however, I’m gonna keep ponkin’ ‘em. I’m more interested in the mindset that drives ALL the participants. IMO that is the arena where this constant warfare will be decided.

selise January 8th, 2009 at 5:56 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 29

all good points. as per usual, SD.

Raven January 8th, 2009 at 5:56 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 29

I see little attention to “the mindset that drives all the participants” here.

nomolos January 8th, 2009 at 5:57 am

In response to Broadstreetbuddy @ 27

And

nomolos January 8th, 2009 at 5:59 am

In response to Broadstreetbuddy @ 27

And yet more

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 6:08 am

In response to Raven @ 31

Folks are caught up in what’s happening in the here and now and many have only been exposed to the US and Israel version of history.

Gotta go to work.

Broadstreetbuddy January 8th, 2009 at 6:10 am

In response to nomolos @ 33

Thanks for the links, they have great information.

SouthernDragon January 8th, 2009 at 6:20 am

In response to Broadstreetbuddy @ 35

Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land

acquarius74 January 8th, 2009 at 10:44 am

In response to SouthernDragon @ 29

SD, I got one to my credit the other day. Don’t see him/her around (so far).
hee,hee. Their specialty was sarcastic put-downs to several different commenters.

This subject is too grave to put up with small minds bent on destruction.

Sorry but the comments are closed on this post

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