Human Shields Halt Israeli Airstrikes

Palestinian Protestors Force Israel To Call Off Attacks In Gaza After Surrounding Targeted Homes of Militants

(AP)  Israel called off airstrikes on the homes of two militants Sunday after hundreds of Palestinians crowded around the buildings forming human shields, a new tactic that forced the army to re-evaluate its aerial campaign in the Gaza Strip.

In recent months, the Israeli air force had repeatedly struck homes of militants, after warning residents by phone to clear out. Israeli security officials said they didn't know how to respond to the human shield tactic.

However, Israel pressed ahead with other types of air strikes Sunday. In Gaza City, an aircraft fired a missile at a car, wounding nine people, including two Hamas militants. Four of the wounded were children, ages five, 13, 14 and 16, who suffered shrapnel injuries, hospital officials said.

The standoff over the homes of the militants began late Saturday when Mohammed Baroud, a local leader of a violent group, the Popular Resistance Committees, was informed by the army that his house would be hit. The three-story building is home to 17 people from Baroud's clan. Another militant, from Hamas, also received a warning.

Israel routinely issues such warnings before attacking buildings that it says are used to store weapons, saying it wants to avoid casualties.

Instead of leaving, the two decided to stay in their homes and called in reinforcements. They were quickly joined by crowds of supporters, including dozens of armed men, who gathered on balconies, rooftops and in the streets outside. Local mosques and Palestinian TV and radio stations also mobilized supporters.

Baroud, involved in rocket attacks on Israel, said he and his fellow militants had planned the response a few days earlier, after another house was destroyed in a missile strike.

People loyal to various Palestinian factions — Hamas, Fatah and the Popular Resistance Committees — which have often fought each other, answered calls for help.

Redwan Abu Daya, a 16-year-old Fatah supporter who lives near Baroud, said he was ignoring party lines because he felt a duty to protect his neighbor's homes from bombardment.

"I came here because everyone should be here," Abu Daya said, while the nearby mosque called on loudspeakers for people to gather at Baroud's home.

"Death to Israel. Death to America," the crowds chanted.

It was the first time Palestinians have formed human shields to prevent an airstrike.

By Sunday afternoon, about two dozen women were milling around on Baroud's roof, shielded from the sun by green tarp. On the floor below them, about a dozen men were resting on mattresses.

Baroud's mother, Umm Wael, said shifts had been organized in preparation for a long standoff. "Where should we go?" she said. "We will stay here or die in the house. Let them bring it down on our heads."

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas stopped by to show his support. "We are so proud of this national stand. It's the first step toward protecting our homes, the homes of our children," he said.

The army said it called off the nighttime airstrikes because of the large crowds. It condemned what it said was a cynical exploitation "by the terrorists of uninvolved people as human shields."

Still, Israeli military officials acknowledged they didn't have a solution for the standoff. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to the media.

Also Sunday, Hamas militants in Gaza fired two rockets at the Israeli town of Sderot, seriously wounding one person. Last week, a Sderot woman was killed in a rocket attack.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sharply criticized a U.N. resolution that calls on Israel to pull its troops from Gaza and requests a fact-finding mission into the death of 19 members of an extended family killed in an Israeli artillery attack earlier this month.

The resolution - which passed the General Assembly on Friday - received support from all members of the EU after last minute changes were made to soften the tone. Israel, Australia, and the United States voted against it.

Olmert said Israel will not halt its five-month offensive in Gaza, which he said is a response to rocket fire from Palestinian militants, even though civilians are frequently caught in the crossfire.

He lashed out at members of the international community "who on their moral high-horse and eye-rolling ways view it as correct to initiate a U.N. resolution condemning us."

Also today, in Gaza City, stray Israeli gunfire hit a U.N. school in the northern Gaza Strip, wounding two children, including a 7-year-old boy who was hit in the head as he sat at his desk, United Nations officials said Sunday.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency appealed for protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip after Saturday's shooting. "At present, children are not safe even in United Nations classrooms. We urgently need a solution," said John Ging, the agency's Gaza field director.

The military said there was no Israeli army activity in the area but was looking onto the incident.

[patriotic9]

All the human beings living in this world are GOD-NEGLECTED PEOPLE not because of anything wrong with their actions but because of not ebing born in a race NOT CHOSEN by GOD and that's why they have not being promised a single penny from GOD,whereas those EUROPEANS who have been brought into PALESTINE from different EUROPEAN COUNTRIES after WWII to occupy the land of PALESTINIAN PEOPLE by force are GOD-CHOSEN PEOPLE because of being born in a race CHOSEN by GOD eventhough they don't believe JESUS as MESSIAH and deny VIRGINITY of his mother MARRY.Human beings should not be treated on the basis of their actions but should be treated as GOD-CHOSEN or GOD-NEGLECTED on the basis of the FAMILY they are born in or the RACE they belong to.This ideology is called RACISM and INJUSTICE.
We Americans've already paid a high price of this NON-SENSE,BASELESS RACISM and INJUSTICE taught by thousands of years old RADICAL CHRISTIANITY in the form of 9/11 against our nation,but the enemies of UNITED STATES still wanna support the ILLEGITIMATE and UNJUSTIFIED EXISTANCE of ISRAEL on the cost of AMERICAN MONEY and AMERICAN LIVES because AMERICANS are GOD-NEGLECTED and the NON-AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE are GOD-CHOSEN.Even if in this process USA GETS DESTROYED,they don't care as ISREAL is a HOLY LAND whereas USA which gives them everything is an UNHOLY LAND.They don't care about the UNHOLY CONSTITUTION which separates CHURCH form STATE but care about that HOLY BIBLE.

[patriotic9]

Why should we AMERICANS take OIL in cheaper prices form ARABS and then support their those ENEMIES who were brought in their land after WWII to occupy it by force?
Why it was justified to bring people from different EUROPEAN COUNTIRES into PALESTINE after WWII to occupy it by force when PALESTINIAN nothing to do with the crimes commited by HITLER?
Why as an AMERICAN,I should work day and night to pay tax to our GOVT and why those NON AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE who don't live in USA,don't pay tax to our govt,only cause HATRED,TERRORISM and 9/11 against our nation should have the right to snatch more then $3B from my tax money for the killing of those who give OIL to us in cheaper prices?
Should American foreing and domestic policies be based on the interest or well being of the people of UNITED STATES and the CONSTITUTION which separates CHURCH from STATE or should be based on the COMMANDS of a RACIST GOD who has NEGLECTED AMERICANS and not promised them a single penny eventhough they believe JESUS as his SON and MESSIAH and believes in the VIRGINITY of HIS MOTHER,whereas CHOSEN those NON-AMERICANS who neither believe JESUS as MESSIAH or his SON,nor believe in the VIRGINITY of his MOTHER,and promised them a land in the MIDDLE EAST?

[patriotic9]

Please don't answer my questions from a RELIGIOUS TEXT as I am a PATRIOTIC, LOYAL AMERICAN who firmly believes in the constitution of UNITED STATES which forbids the involvement of RELIGION into POLITICS by separating CHURCH from STATE.
After losing the war in IRAQ which was started to help the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST,and that's why BUSH had called this war a CRUSADE and had said"In this war aginst Iraq GOD is on our side",the FALSE-HOOD of RADICAL CHRISTIANITY is as evident and clear as a BRIGHT SUN in a clear sky.
Should US policies still be made on that thousands of years old BIBLE according to which the purpose of creation of the GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS is to serve and being slave of GOD-CHOSEN NON AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE or on the basis of the interest and well being of the people of UNITED STATES and the CONSTITUTION which forbids the involvement of RELIGION into POLITICS by separating CHURCH from STATE.

[mitdgreenb]

What I don't understand is why the UN guy can call for protecting "the civilians in the Gaza Strip" and the UN can pass a resolution against Israel, but no UN guy is asking for the protection of "the civilians of Sderot" and the UN can't pass a resolution against those who fire rockets at civilian targets. Does this seem uneven, or is it just me? Are humans on one side of the border less entitled to live securely in their homes than on the other?

[grazinggoat]

Palestinians are saying enough to the barbaric attacks on the civilians and their resistance. One can find this a courageous act.

What else Turtle-Face-Olmert's Israel is willing to do? Destroy them completey and flatten this 20 x 5 miles long strip and make a Long Beach out of it? He and Bush should be replaced as soon as possible. No more legitimacy is holding in both their case.

[old300d]

It worked in Vietnam, It works in Gaza, It will work in Iraq. As long as they are willing to use human shields we can't win the war on terror. They have no problem killing women and children, even their own. We do. WW2 is the last war we will win. They have figured out our weakness.

[mac2499-2009]

Oh I am not sure that the U.S. or Israel would not mind bombing their homes or cities. All you have to do is read about Dresden or Tokyo. Those cities were bomb by the US and there were thousands of women, children and old folks killed. I know they were the enemy but the U.S. felt it had the right to bomb them to show force and hope that it would end the war sooner. The only reason they can't do it today is because of the media and the controversy it would bring to their corresponding goverments.

[patriotic9]

We should do anything which is in the best interest of UNITED STATES and HER PEOPLE.If bombing Palestinians fulfil any of the AMERICAN INTERSTS,I don't think there is anything wrong with that.But if bombing them fulfil the interests of those EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE who don't live in UNITED STATES,don't pay tax to our govt,cause HATRED,TERRORISM and 9/11 against our nation,then it's rediculous.Why should we take OIL in cheaper prices form ARABS and then support their enemies who have unjustly occupied their land by force?Because GOD says so or BIBLE,according to which the purpose of the creation of GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS is to serve the GOD-CHOSEN NON AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE.What was GOD doing that day when thousands of AMERICANS were dying in WORLD TRADE CENTER for giving their tax money to those about who BIBLE says "GOD BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS ISRAEL"
God had let those AMERICANS killed in WORLD TRADE CENTER because they were not born in a RACE CHOSEN BY A RACIST GOD.We Americans've not been waked up even by seeing 9/11.Are we gonna wake up when the major cities in USA will be NUKED in SIMULTANEOUS SUICIDE BOMBINGS by the NUKES sold to OBL by NORTH KOREA.Does anybody think that the GOD who didnt do anything for us on 9/11 and in IRAQ war is ginna do anything then when he has NOT CHOSEN US.

[rharrin1]

Stop giving warnings the people that protect those places are just as guilty bombs away they want to meet their maker just help them on their way

[im3000]

Really now, God gave us Bush Jr. as President 43 because he's done more to weaken and undermine the power of Christianity than anybody else could have. Their willingness to take short-term profits, over long-term legitamacy of a nation will be seen in our lifetimes. Israel would have bombed that building in the past, but President Moshe Katsav is too busy raping Israeli women, or now trying to keep himself out of jail for it. Putin is right, 'we all envy him'.

[titocordero]

Patriotic9

How dare you call my God a racist. I guess you are entitled to your Atheist opnions. He created the earth and all life in it so that we may live a life of plenty according to His will. Man decided he wanted to,live according to his own will and thus we have created the condition we're presently in not God.
On the other hand these Palestinians should not complain when there are non-combatants being killed by the Israeli Army if they're letting their civilians form human shield around these militants hiding places and homes. I look at it as it's not Israel intentionally killing them, these people are willing participants in their own deaths. This is just the same old ploy of these palestinians militants to drum up international sympathy and trying to make Israel look like a bunch of bloodthirsty murderers. As I stated before Israel will not quit defending themselves against these Paestinians cowards and the world will just have to get use to it.

[tinker3478]

Only good Muslim is a DEAD MUSLIM. Bomb 'em to Judgment Day and will see whose God wins. My money is on God over Allah-AntiChrist.

[patriotic9]

titocordero
If Americans have not been chosen by your GOD not because of anything wrong with their actions but because of not being born in a RACE or FAMILY CHOSEN by YOUR GOD and that's why your GOD has not promised them a single penny and those EUROPEANS who have been brought into PALESTINE after WWII are CHOSEN by your GOD because of the RACE they are born in and have been promised a land in the MIDDLE EAST,This is RACISM and your GOD is a RACIST GOD.Nobody has the right to discriminate me because of being an AMERICAN then how come your GOD WHOSE existance is not proven by any SCIENTIFIC evidence has the right to discriminate me because of being an AMERICAN.
If Europeans would not have been brought into PALESTINE after WWII to occupy the land of PALESTINIANS by force because BIBLE said that,Rdical MULSIMS would not get enough recruits to blow themselves up because KORAN says so.The cause of all the mischeifs in the world are the RACIST and UNJUST CHRISTIAN IDEOLOGY of human beings not created EQUALLY but being GOD-CHOSEN or GOD-NEGLECTED on the basis of RACE they are BORN IN.

[patriotic9]

titocordero
If Americans have not been chosen by your GOD not because of anything wrong with their actions but because of not being born in a RACE or FAMILY CHOSEN by YOUR GOD and that's why your GOD has not promised them a single penny and those EUROPEANS who have been brought into PALESTINE after WWII are CHOSEN by your GOD because of the RACE they are born in and have been promised a land in the MIDDLE EAST,This is RACISM and your GOD is a RACIST GOD.Nobody has the right to discriminate me because of being an AMERICAN then how come your GOD WHOSE existance is not proven by any SCIENTIFIC evidence has the right to discriminate me because of being an AMERICAN.
If Europeans would not have been brought into PALESTINE after WWII to occupy the land of PALESTINIANS by force because BIBLE said that,Rdical MULSIMS would not get enough recruits to blow themselves up because KORAN says so.The cause of all the mischeifs in the world are the RACIST and UNJUST CHRISTIAN IDEOLOGY of human beings not created EQUALLY but being GOD-CHOSEN or GOD-NEGLECTED on the basis of RACE they are BORN IN.

[j-whitman]

Bush came out of church today,, "Laura & I just had a moment to converse with God" -- I wonder if God called him a Rotten, Lying, SOB ??

[j-whitman]

Bush should be locked up in a padded cell

[patriotic9]

j-whitman
You are absolutely right.This is called HALLUCINATION.By the way,nobody has ever helped these RADICAL MULSIMS like Bush and his NEO-CONS.Secualr Saddam who was best with the IRAQI CATHOLICS called CALDIANS because in a MUSLIM COUNTRY,nobody would like to see a CATHOLIC being president.Bush has removed SADDAM from power and brought a RADICAL ISLAMIST named MALIKI who is taking money from the AMERICAN TAX PAYERS to build a RADICAL ISLAMIC COUNTRY on the name of REBUILDING IRAQ.Now if we leave Iraq,IRAQ is next to IRAN,SYRIA is next to IRAQ and LEBANON is next to SYRIA.All those countries ruled under those AYATOLLAHs who call us GREATEST SATAN.

[bob_burd]

Send them all to Paradise and hope there are enough virgins to go around.

Selah

[gaye5]

patriotic9, if you gave of your children a car because he had been a good son/daughter and continually been there for you, and you didnt give a car to the other son/daughter because he was not responsible enough and had always been bad and killed people is that also discrimination.
Well this is how the Jews came about...

[mcruzer1]

Romans took Carthage, the United States armies seized American Indian lands. Throughout history, there are certain groups of ****-sapiens bound together by religion, culture or ancestry that will inevitably have conflicts and will overcome adversarial groups, it is human nature. Whatever moral implications arise, these conflicts will happen regardless of an inept United Nations. No amount of peace talks are going to rectify this one, this one is "going the distance".

[titocordero]

Patriotic9

What a load of ***. What arrogance!!!!!!!! God is God He is who He is, who are we to judge Him and call Him a racist.
I'm not Jewish and I don't always believe that they're right. But I say to you before you post a comment like that read the bible or the Koran or the Torah. You seem to be criticizing a God you don't even know and blaming the conditions of the world on Him.
You know the condition of the world is messed up but if you have read the bible or the Koran or the Torah you'll know that there's also hope.
Man in the words of TD Jakes I'd rather live my life like there is a God, die and found out that there wasn't than to live my life like there is no God die and found out that there is..........

[gaye5]

Patriotic9, continually the Jews have tried their best to only take out the terrorists and try to not kill the civilians. It appears now that probably these Muslims have been told that Israel doesn't like killing innocent people and if these Muslims are killed by protecting the terrorists they become martyrs so insuring a place in paradise...
Do people realise that killing themselves for Allah (becoming martyrs) is the only way that these poor Muslims know that they are going to definitely make it to paradise, Allah said so...
The others never, never know if they will definitely make it, even Mohammad said that, and of course allah said that hell is full of Muslim women, so why on earth do their women follow Islam, they get hell on earth and are not respected by their sons and husbands while on earth and then they go to hell, but if they become martyrs ???... so why not kick up the traces here on earth eh..

[feelfree1]

It is one thing to bravely and peacefully act as a "shield" for people who care about, against a brutal military colossus like the Israeli military.

It is quite another for those who force innocent people to stand between them selves and harm's way, so that they can hide behind them.

The second is clearly a cowardly terrorist tactic, and the Israelis have a chronic history of employing this technique.

Even from the time that the Israeli Supreme Court placed a moratorium on this practice, in 2002, to the time that this despicable tactic was finally banned by the Israeli Supreme Court, in October of 2005, the Israelis used "human shields" on numerous occasions. There are more recent reports of continued offenses.

www.adalah.org/newsletter/eng/oct05/1.php

Blaming the use of "human shields" by the Israelis is in no way an acceptable excuse for their miserable civilian-killing record. The overwhelming majority of their victims have been civilians.

Not only that, but since the Israelis have routinely embraced the use of "human shields" to hide behind, as proven beyond any reasonable doubt before their own highest Court, they have surrendered any standing to criticize anyone else on this issue.

[feelfree1]

Winstrv,

What rewards do the Israeli "butchers of women and children need to be sent"?

In Lebanon, most of those recently killed by the Israelis were innocent civilians. More than a thousand out of the some 1300 Lebanese deaths.

In contrast, 2/3 of the deaths inflicted by Hezbullah fighters were Israeli military members. As such, Hezbullah demonstrated a far better record of minimizing civilian deaths during this recent conflict. Shouldn't the Israelis be expected to at least match the performance of those whom they have declared to be "terrorists"?

[feelfree1]

The Israelis opened fire on a group of unarmed women, just last week, killing 2 of them.

I wonder why they are only now reviewing their policies on killing civilians?

[antoniof123]

Well, another day and another death or maybe it is deaths. I think I have lost count I feel sad for the children of this world. I mean can you imagine how they will be when they grow up. Like their parents so they will be a mirror of them except they will be more violent then there parents. Maybe when God does have his day he might just look at us and say what have you done then just leave us to our own demise.

[patriotic9]

gaye5
you meant to say that me an AMERICAN is like a bad son or daughter to GOD,that's why I have not been promised a single penny from GOD whereas those EUROPEANS who according to your religious belief have been promised a land in the MIDDLE EAST are like good sons or daughters and that's why have been promised a land in the MIDDLE EAST.Why those AMERICANS who believe in JESUS as a MESSIAH and SON OF GOD are like BAD KIDS according to your example and why those EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE who don't believe JESUS as a MESSIAH or SON OF GOD and deny the VIRGINITY of his mother MARRY are like GOOD SONS OR DAUGHTERS.You know why?only because of the RACE or FAMILY they are born in.That I said it's discrimination if AMERICANS have not been promised a single penny from GOD eventhough they love USA adn pay tax to the GOVT,whereas those NON AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE who don't live in USA,don't pay tax to our govt but still being CHOSEN by GOD because of the RACE or FAMILY THEY are born in.It is nothing but RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.You can't prove by any reason that all of us AMERICANS are like BAD SONS or DAUGHTERS.

[rharrin1]

FeelFree1
You must think shooting rockets and trying to kill any Israeli is ok but don't hit any palestinian except the shooters. Is that right?

[patriotic9]

titocordero
Would you deny the fact that more people have been killed on the name of GOD then any other reason.I don't mind if people believe in GOD as long as they impose their belief on themselves,but when they deny our constitution which separates CHURCH from STATE and their denial results in the deaths of my fellow AMERICANS,it makes me extremely sad.Whenever two groups fight on the name of RELIGION or GOD,there is always a third person who take financial advantage of the situation.In this current conflict all the FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE goes to ARABS or anybody who is linked to OIL BUSINESS due to increase in OIL prices.Every UNJUSTIFIED ACTION can be JUSTIFIED on the name of GOD because GOD can't come infront of the people and tell them that this person is a LIAR,I never said such thing.
In India HINDUS and MUSLIMS fight because in HINDU RELIGION,COW is one of their GODS,whereas muslims eat cow.When muslims slaughter a COW fight breaks up and hundreds of people get killed on both sides.Does it make any sense at all to get killed on a COW.

[rharrin1]

FeelFree1 GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR BUTT

[feelfree1]

Re:

"You must think shooting rockets and trying to kill any Israeli is ok but don't hit any palestinian except the shooters. Is that right?"

No. I think that the enemies of the Israeli leaders have a far better record of minimizing civilian casialties, as compared to the Israelis, as I described with my Lebanon example.

It seems that the Israelis should at least be expected to match the perfomance of those whom they have declared to be terrorists, don't you think?

Their "precision" weapons are claiming mostly civilian casualties? Why is that? Is this intentional, or are the Israeli fighters just inept?

[patriotic9]

rharrin1
Those people who were brouht into Palestine from different EUROPEAN COUNTRIES to occupy the land of PALESTINIAN people by force,their actions are wrong.Most important reason is that unlike Sir Thomas Jafferson,they don't believe in human beings being created equally.They think they have been promised a land in the MIDDLE EAST because of the RACE they are born in and they consider rest of all the families and RACES as GOD-NEGLECTED.Those EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE should either go back to their original countries in EUROPE or should be killed for ILLEGAL OCCUPATION,RACISM and INJUSTICE period.As long as those EUROPEAN INVADERS in PALESTINE don't go back to their original EUROPEAN COUNTRIES,HATRED and TERRORISM against USA will be continued.I don't want to see my fellow Americans dying for somebody's else conflict or becasue of being GOD-NEGLECTED according to somebody's RACIST and UNJUST RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

[patriotic9]

ISRAEL does have a right to exist in GERMANY or AUSTRIA where those EUROPEANS were killed by HITLER.I don't think HITLER was from PALESTINE.Then why should PALESTINIANS pay the price for the crimes and atrocities commited by HITLER.

[bob_burd]

Feelfree0 - move back to Palestine and rejoin Hamas if you feel so bad for them. They have a job waiting for you - lobbing homemade rockets at women and children.

Do it for Allah.

Selah

[feelfree1]

Bob_Burd,

Re: "Feelfree0 - move back to Palestine and rejoin Hamas if you feel so bad for them. They have a job waiting for you - lobbing homemade rockets at women and children.

"Do it for Allah."
-----------------------

I am neither Palestinian nor religious, so I must decline your proposal.

Also, I am opposed to terrorism, whether it comes from a private group, or whether it originates from a State actor.

I am especially opposed to it when it is annually funded with bilions upon billions of U.S. tax dollars, such as is the case with the State of Israel.