Israeli cabinet Okays military operation in Gaza, airstrike kills one and injures three

Date: 25 / 12 / 2008  Time:  08:59
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

The Israeli occupation government cabinet approved a major military operation against the Gaza Strip, Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday evening.

The electronic website of the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz quoted an Israeli official as saying, "Our response will be substantial and painful to Hamas."

Before the military measures were announced Israeli warplanes targeted a Palestinian group of activists in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip killing Hamas fighter Yahya Al-Sha’ir in his twenties, and injuring three others.

A fourth Palestinian was injured, photojournalist Mustafa Bakir, as he documented the shelling in Rafah. Bakir works for the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa satellite TV station.

Responding to the day's Israeli violence Hamas' military wing the Al-Qassam Brigades threatened to respond to any further Israeli assault against the Gaza Strip. “In case of any aggression, the volcano will erupt,” the Brigades said.

One Israeli official, former Israeli Defense Minister Efraim Sneh, suggested an Israeli operation to extend beyond Gaza and target Hamas leaders in Damascus if military factions continue to send projectiles into Israel.

Israeli Army Prepares for Raid on Gaza

Thursday December 25, 2008 09:26 by Justin Theriault - IMEMC News

The Israeli occupation government defense establishment has approved and are preparing for a strategic military move against Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip, Israeli online Haaretz reports.

On Wednesday, during an air strike, Israeli warplanes killed a Hamas resistance fighter in the Southern Gaza strip.  An official for the Israeli occupation government cabinet stated that the next response from Israel will “go beyond an air raid.”

Israeli occupation forces spokesperson stated that most strikes will come from the air and will target facilities that are “believed” to be of “strategic importance to Hamas’ political and military leadership.”  Current weather conditions are keeping the Israeli Military offensive at bay.  

When asked of the possible implications of attacking Hamas in Gaza, a senior official in Jerusalem said, "We are not eager to strike, but we will not hesitate to act…if Hamas is looking for noise, we will make Gaza very noisy."

Another spokesperson stated that, "our response will be substantial and painful to Hamas.”

Throughout Wednesday, Palestinian resistance fighters fired a combination of approximately 80 homemade rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel.  Two buildings were damaged, but no injuries were reported.

In a statement by Hamas' military wing, Ezzuddin All-Qassam Brigades, an official warned Israel that "thousands of additional Israelis will soon be within the range of our rockets if Israel continues with its aggression."  

Other officials in Hamas said that Hamas will agree to resume the ceasefire, if conditions are met.  Hamas is demanding an improved ceasefire agreement that would also include the West Bank.  Israel, thus far, has refused to comply with these demands. There are currently 121 illegal settlements in the West Bank that the Israeli occupation army protects.

Israel announces an ultimatum to tunnels owners in southern Gaza

Thursday December 25, 2008 12:17 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

Israeli occupation forces announced on Thursday an ultimatum for Palestinian smuggling tunnel owners on the Egypt-Gaza border lines.

Leaflets dropped by Israeli warplanes on the border lines read that all those working on tunnels must leave the place in 24 hours, before the Israeli air crafts destroy the tunnels.

This is the first time in the past few years that Israel declares so, as the tunnels trade on the border lines has flourished over the past 18 months , with Israel closing all Gaza's border crossings, allowing limited quantities of commodities from time to time.

(The Israeli occupation government wants the tunnels destroyed so the siege can be complete in order to starve Gaza Strip to submission and acceptance of Israeli theft of Palestinian lands).

Masri: IOF military adventures would entail more resistance

[ 25/12/2008 - 12:40 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Hamas MP Mushir Al-Masri on Thursday said that Israeli military adventures would only bring more resistance retaliations and would not terrorize the Hamas Movement.

He said in a press statement that Israeli military escalation would be met with reprisal acts in accordance with available means.

Masri warned that invading Gaza would be an uncalculated risk and would not bring back PA chief Mahmoud Abbas and his entourage to Gaza.

Barak: Hamas leaders will pay dearly for firing rockets

[ 25/12/2008 - 12:22 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation government war minister, Ehud Barak, said that the leaders of Hamas would pay dearly for their armed wing's firing of homemade rockets at Israeli targets adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

He stated on a TV program on Wednesday night that the Israeli occupation army would soon launch a number of missions in the besieged Gaza Strip and the firing of missiles would end for ever but would not elaborate on means of achieving that end.

Barak said he would not go into details so as not to harm the plans or the soldiers.

The Hebrew radio said that the Israeli army was waiting for the return of foreign minister Tzipi Livni from Cairo, adding that the military action would be postponed until her return so as not to embarrass Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak while other sources said that bad weather conditions were the reason for postponing such operations.

The second TV channel had quoted "reliable sources" as saying that the Israeli mini cabinet had given the green light to the army to launch a large-scale military operation against the Strip but would not divulge any information.

MP Moussa: Resistance will not beg for calm

[ 25/12/2008 - 09:50 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Hamas MP Dr. Yehya Moussa has stressed that Palestinian resistance would not give free calm to the Israeli occupation government and at the same time would not beg for one.

Moussa, in a statement to the PIC, said that calm should be met with absolute commitment on the part of the IOA to all its conditions, predicting that the latest military escalation would not last for long and that the IOA would ask for a new calm.

He explained that all parties need calm, adding that PA chief Mahmoud Abbas wants calm to go ahead in the political process and the IOA wants calm to organize its internal affairs but without giving anything in return.

Egypt wants resistance to ask for calm but resistance would not and would continue to confront aggression, he elaborated.

The MP, commenting on news that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was inciting Israel against Hamas, said, "Our battle is with occupation". He added that Hamas considers the Arab and Islamic countries as its strategic, supportive depth.

Moussa said that a kind of lukewarm relationship is currently prevailing between Hamas and Egypt but would not go to the extent of "hostility".

The lawmaker said that Hamas backs national dialog but in order to reach concrete results it should be preceded by furnishing suitable atmospheres, which, in this case, include releasing Hamas detainees in the West Bank, ending security coordination with IOA and halting persecution of resistance fighters and social institutions.

For his part, Ra'fat Nassif, the Hamas political leader in the West Bank, severely criticized the official Arab silence towards the Israeli aggression and siege on Palestinian lands.

He said in a press statement that the Arab silence provides a green light for the IOA to escalate further in its aggression on the Palestinian people.

Hamas: Qassam rocket fire intends to deter IOF

 [ 24/12/2008 - 08:28 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Hamas Movement on Wednesday said that its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, firing of homemade missiles at Israeli targets adjacent to the Gaza Strip was meant to warn the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) of consequences of a large-scale operation against the Gaza Strip.

Fawzi Barhoum, the Movement's spokesman, said that the Qassam rocket fire was in self defense in face of ceaseless IOF crimes and aggression.

He held the Israeli occupation government responsible for the repercussions of IOF escalation against Gaza, calling on all Palestinian resistance factions to firmly retaliate to IOF crimes so that it would think a thousand times before targeting any Palestinian.

The armed wing, for its part, said in a statement that escalation of IOF aggression would be met with severe reprisal that might expand in targeting new Israeli settlements.

It warned that the IOF would regret launching any big military operation against the Strip.

Meanwhile, the IOF command acknowledged that tens of Israelis were treated for shock due to the wave of Qassam firing.

The Hebrew radio said that 40 missiles were fired at settlements and army bases adjacent to the Strip, and added that settlers were ordered into shelters.

In the West Bank, IOF soldiers rounded up seven Palestinians in Qalqilia, Al-Khalil and Bethlehem districts.