Israeli Forces Kill 10 Palestinians

Troops Cross Into Southern Gaza In Reponse To Daily Rocket Attacks

(AP)  Israeli troops backed by tanks and bulldozers crossed into southern Gaza to strike at Palestinian militants on Thursday, killing 10, a day after Israeli leaders ruled out a large-scale offensive to stop daily rocket salvos from Gaza.

The battle began in the morning and continued for several hours near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Israel said troops inside Gaza on a "routine" mission opened fire at a group of militants who approached them, sparking an exchange of fire. Four militants were killed. Gaza's Hamas rulers said militants were targeted either by an Israeli tank shell or missile fire. Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of the Palestinian Health Ministry reported shrapnel wounds consistent with shell fire.

Later in the day, Palestinian militants said fighters in a tractor and jeep crashed through the fence on the Gaza-Israel border and attacked an Israeli army post.

The military said the militants were trying to attack a base but were repulsed. Israeli aircraft struck two cars in the area, the army said, apparently the ones that tried to attack the base. Six militants were killed in that encounter, both sides said.

An Israeli army commander, Col. Shlomi Dahan, said the heavily armed Palestinians intended to capture a soldier. Palestinians said Israeli forces withdrew from the Khan Younis area after nightfall.

The toll of 10 was the highest in a single day in Gaza since June 27, when 12 were killed in clashes with Israeli forces.

The fighting came as Quartet envoy Tony Blair met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The former British prime minister is on his first extended mission since assuming his new role for the Quartet - the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia. Blair's spokesman would give no details of the meeting. Blair is scheduled to report to the Quartet at the end of the month.

Internal tensions resurfaced in Gaza on Thursday when Hamas charged its rival, Fatah, with trying to re-ignite violence. The Islamic Hamas overran Gaza in June, vanquishing security forces loyal to Fatah and President Mahmoud Abbas. Hundreds of Palestinians were killed in more than a year of infighting.

A Hamas official said Fatah activists confessed to planning to plant explosives during Friday prayers. Fatah officials denied that and charged Hamas with seeking a pretext to crack down on Fatah again.

At the same time, Fatah officials said they would defy a Hamas ban on public prayer on Friday. Recent Muslim prayer gatherings on Friday in Gaza have turned into anti-Hamas riots.

In a speech to party activists late Thursday in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert drew a link between Thursday's clash and daily rocket attacks by Palestinians from Gaza.

"We will act every day against the terrorists," Olmert said. "This very day many in Gaza paid with their lives because of the (rockets)."

In Gaza, Hamas official Osama Muzini turned down a request by the Red Cross to visit an Israeli soldier captured in a cross-border raid in June 2006. He said allowing a visit might lead Israel to the soldier. The request was made Wednesday by the director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross during a visit to Gaza.

The clash between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants was south of the main flashpoint in Gaza, the northeast corner of the seaside territory where militants have been launching homemade rockets at nearby Israeli communities just across the border fence.

The daily barrages have wreaked panic among Israel's southern population and led to demands for retaliation.

Israel's Security Cabinet on Wednesday rejected calls for a large-scale Gaza invasion but threatened to cut water, electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza.

However, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told a gathering of top defense officials that "there is recognition that in the end, Israel will have to operate inside the Gaza Strip," participants at the meeting said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.

Israel has mounted such operations in the past, with casualties on both sides, but the large-scale military strikes have failed to quell the rocket fire. Israeli military experts have said that short of recapturing all of Gaza, there is no military solution.

Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, removing 21 settlements and all its army bases.

Parents in the rocket-scarred Israeli town of Sderot kept their children home again Thursday, demanding better protection. Children have stayed away from school since a rocket exploded next to a nursery school on Monday, the second day of the school year. Israeli media said school would resume Friday.

Also Thursday, a Palestinian policeman was shot dead by gunmen in the northern West Bank town of Jenin. Police said Akram Abu Sba, 40, was shot in the chest by Islamic Jihad militants after he stopped their car for a routine check.

[colonieny]

Excuse me - I think that Islamic Gazannies are bombing every day trying to kill innocent Jews. They hit a school as targeted a few days ago. So, why the head line . How about "Pushed too Far, Isreal fights back ..."

[feelfree1]

Executing civilians and calling them "militants" is what the Israelis do best. That, and hiding behind "human shields".

[tbweb]

The United States is Israel''''s main ally and Israel can always count on America. If Israel needs money, the U.S. gives Israel billions of dollars in aid and loans annually. If Israel gets into trouble at the U.N. the U.S. protects Israel by using its Veto power. While Israel is an independent nation and free to pick and choose and go it''''s own way, U.S. aid and support is not entirely free, there are strings attached, lets be realistic! The strings I refer to are with U.S. foreign policy agendas. Because of Israel''''s close ties to the U.S., Israel should have a foreign policy agenda that matches the U.S. as close as possible when it comes to potential adversaries the U.S. might encounter on the battlefield. The U.S. does not currently sell military items to China but the U.S. Defense Department reports Israel has over 60 active military contracts with China! Short of claiming this is stabbing the U.S. in the back which I personally think it is, Israel needs to get real! While supporting Israel in spirit, the U.S. should not support Israel in the real World with U.S. money and military sales until Israel gets on the same page and stops selling military items to China. If Israel wants complete independence then stop accepting massive U.S. aid. What is Israel''''s thinking? I don''''t get it with military sales to China when the U.S. doesn''''t.

[rhs648]

This is one day the militants should have stayed home. Too bad others will follow in their footsteps.

[zootallures2]

Israel is on borrowed time. You people had it all... But nope. You had to start trouble in the US. Your main supporter. I mean, Silverstien, Netanyahau, the PNAC, AIPAC, the ADL, taking over our media... and then there''s Chertoff.. I think Palestine will soon ne the least of your problems.

[pwrslm]

Israeli cities endur mortars and rockets from Gaza every day. Israel doesnt have a right to stop them? Send your kids to school knowing that some idiot across the border is shooting rockets at the school. WAKE UP IDIOTS.

These people play the media (aye, thats YOU CBS) for suckers. Thing is, you prove them right every time you publish stuff like this trash. Stupid Americans!!

[rhs648]

Israel is on borrowed time. You people had it all... But nope. You had to start trouble in the US. Your main supporter. I mean, Silverstien, Netanyahau, the PNAC, AIPAC, the ADL, taking over our media... and then there''''s Chertoff.. I think Palestine will soon ne the least of your problems.

Posted by zootallures2

Are you writing from Palestine. You certainly don''t appear to be American.

[xzavierbrown]

where the fu*ck is the UN???????????????????

jesus H christ..do these people only show up when the palestinians and the syrians are in a dire disadvantage..they come to save them so they can lobby more sh*t??

[rhs648]

Executing civilians and calling them "militants" is what the Israelis do best. That, and hiding behind "human shields".

Posted by FeelFree1

Yes, the militants were practicing. How dare they shoot militants who are simply practicing? Of course the militants had no intent to attack the Israeli soldiers, or worse, Israeli civilians.

[socrates392]

Israeli cities endur mortars and rockets from Gaza every day. Israel doesnt have a right to stop them? Send your kids to school knowing that some idiot across the border is shooting rockets at the school. WAKE UP IDIOTS.

Posted by pwrslm at 10:38 PM : Sep 06, 2007

It''s not that simple and you know it. Why are they shooting mortars at you in the first place, idiot? Maybe because Israel has systematically stripped the Palestinians of all their material resources-- not to mention their dignity. Now the Israeli government keeps them fenced off in a ghetto to be terroized both by their own mafioso government and the Israeli army. Seems like both sides commit their fare share of atrocities to me.

Honestly, you guys deserve each other. Maybe you should all just kill each other and be done with it.

[rhs648]

"Now the Israeli government keeps them fenced off in a ghetto to be terroized both by their own mafioso government and the Israeli army. Seems like both sides commit their fare share of atrocities to me."

Posted by socrates392

What a great idea. What better way to keep your enemy at bay? Someday the Palestinians may decide to become peaceful and trade with Israel. Israel has much to offer the Palestinian economy, starting with jobs. Till then, build taller and thicker walls.

[rhs648]

The Palestinians blew their chances for peace. They could have developed their economy, become a nation, and provided a future for their children. Instead they choose war. It is time the Palestinians grow-up so their children will have a better future. Israel prospers while the Palestinians live in poverty.

[kretos-2009]

terrorist israel

[socrates392]

What a great idea. What better way to keep your enemy at bay? Someday the Palestinians may decide to become peaceful and trade with Israel. Israel has much to offer the Palestinian economy, starting with jobs. Till then, build taller and thicker walls.
Posted by rhs648 at 12:37 AM : Sep 07, 2007

Then be prepared for more mortar rounds to fall over the walls and kill innocent children. hard line politics is only going to lead to more pointless slaughter.

[rhs648]

terrorist israel

Posted by kretos

"Terrorist Israel" who knows how to provide prosperty for its people, something the Palestinians need to learn.

[rhs648]

Then be prepared for more mortar rounds to fall over the walls and kill innocent children. hard line politics is only going to lead to more pointless slaughter.

Posted by socrates392

The wall is the result of suicide bombers, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians--men, women, and children by Palestinians. Every action begets a reaction. The wall would not be necessary without hostile heathens on the Israeli border. Want the wall removed, be peaceful.

[socrates392]

The wall is the result of suicide bombers, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians--men, women, and children by Palestinians. Every action begets a reaction. The wall would not be necessary without hostile heathens on the Israeli border. Want the wall removed, be peaceful.
Posted by rhs648 at 01:17 AM : Sep 07, 2007

Want the rocket attacks to stop, be peaceful. This kind of action / reaction, blame the other side mentality just leads to violence without end. Someone, eventually, has to turn the other cheek.

[rhs648]

Want the rocket attacks to stop, be peaceful. This kind of action / reaction, blame the other side mentality just leads to violence without end. Someone, eventually, has to turn the other cheek.
Posted by socrates392

My home is very large, built like a fortress, fully alarmed, and there is a shotgun under my mattress. If my homeowner association would allow it, my home would be surrounded by a large wall. It is my right to protect my family. Israel has the same right. Until the Palestinians accept Israel, agree to live as peaceful neighbors, and concentrate their efforts on improving the lives of their citizens, the Palestinians will continue to live in poverty. Think of the paradise the Palestinians could have if they only tried.

[socrates392]

Posted by rhs648 at 01:36 AM : Sep 07, 2007

You and Israel have every right to defend yourselves . . . I just don''t think walling yourselves up is a very good means of defense.

Look at the Roman Empire and the Soviet Union--both try to wall themselves off from their enemies . . . where are they now?

P.S. I''m sorry you feel so insecure in the neighborhood where you are living. Is the crime rate really high?

[tbweb]

The wall is the result of suicide bombers, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians--men, women, and children by Palestinians. Every action begets a reaction. The wall would not be necessary without hostile heathens on the Israeli border. Want the wall removed, be peaceful.

Posted by rhs648 at 01:17 AM : Sep 07, 2007,,,

The Jewish people live behind a "virtual wall" as a culture without even needing a physical wall. Former President Carter noted; Israel practices a form of apartheid while faking real democracy. The Jewish people only buy and trade from each other unless they are absolutely forced to buy and trade from another culture and when they do there always appears to be a motive involved in the transaction, while other cultures freely buy and trade with them without giving it a second thought, this is why they are so united and powerful as a people. The Jewish people act like a tight knit group within a group no matter where they are. But again stereotyping anything is not good and there are many Jewish people who are not like that, but that statement is 75% true! Who is to say if being that way as a group is good or bad but it definitely rubs many the wrong way and gives a bad impression. I could care less, it doesn''t bother me, I support Israel but Israel needs to face certain realities and understand why things are the way they are too!

[feelfree1]

Related:

Here is a very good film that documents many of the war crimes and atrocities commited last summer by the Israelis, during their war of aggression against the people of Lebanon.

Among the many war crimes referenced here, are the bombings of civilians, shooting at ambulances, and the premeditation execution of the 4 civilian U.N. observers. This is a very sad film.

"The Fog of War"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOpB1x5Qzyg

[nggr]

The wall is the result of suicide bombers, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians--men, women, and children by Palestinians. Every action begets a reaction. The wall would not be necessary without hostile heathens on the Israeli border. Want the wall removed, be peaceful.

Posted by rhs648 at 01:17 AM : Sep 07, 2007,,,

you must remember that the suicide bombers and rocket attacks are the direct result of the israeli invasion and occupation of that area.
before you call an entire group if people heathens you must consider that those people think they are on the defeensive side, as they have never recognized israels right to invade thier land and bulldoze their homes.