Israeli Rocket Hits Near Hamas PM's Home

At Least 14 Palestinians Killed In Series Of Gaza Airstrikes During Latest Surge Of Fighting

(CBS/AP)  Israeli attacks stepped up the pressure on Hamas Thursday, a day after a rocket fired by the Islamic militant group from Gaza killed an Israeli man. One helicopter attack struck a target outside the home of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

Israeli aircraft struck a series of targets throughout the Gaza Strip, killing 14 Palestinians - including four youths - in a fresh upsurge in fighting that threatened to provoke even harsher Israeli action.

However, Palestinian rocket fire continued throughout the day, lightly wounding two people and in one case, forcing a top Israeli security official to scurry for cover. Police said two rockets reached Ashkelon, a major city about 12 miles north of Gaza.

Thursday's violence raised the death toll in two days of fighting to 25 Palestinians and threatened to worsen the ongoing bloodshed in the area, which involves near-daily Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza and harsh Israeli reprisals. Seven children were among the dead, according to Palestinian officials.

The latest wave of violence began on Wednesday when an Israeli air strike killed five Hamas militants traveling in a van. Israeli officials said that among the five were an unstated number who received weapons and explosives training in Iran, and local media reports quoted anonymous officials as saying the men were planning a large attack against Israel.

Hamas retaliated by firing more than 40 rockets into Israel, one of the heaviest barrages in months. One rocket landed on an Israeli college campus in the southern town of Sderot, killing a 47-year-old father of four. It was the first fatal rocket attack since last May.

On Thursday, Israel carried out at least 10 airstrikes in northern and central Gaza, Palestinians said. The army said it was targeting rocket-launching areas. The army said it was targeting "militants and rocket-launcher squads."

Officials said 14 people were killed Thursday. Five of the dead were civilians, including four boys who were struck as they played soccer in Jebaliya in northern Gaza. Relatives said the boys ranged in age from 8 to 14.

Ahmed Dardouna, a family member, said the boys were all related - two were brothers and the others were their cousins.

"They were playing soccer east of the town, not far from our houses," said Dardouna, 42. He said distraught family members located the bodies at a hospital after the boys failed to come home.

Later Thursday, a helicopter attacked a police roadblock about 150 yards from the home of Haniyeh, Hamas' prime minister, in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. One person was killed and four people were wounded, officials said.

The attack appeared to be a message to Hamas, since the area is not used to fire rockets. Haniyeh, who has been hiding from the Israelis for weeks, wasn't believed to be in the area.

In a statement earlier Thursday, Haniyeh said Israel's ongoing attacks would "not weaken the steadfastness and the determination of the Palestinian people."

The Israeli army has U.S.-made F-16 warplanes and Apache helicopters, as well as locally developed pilotless drones, in its arsenal. Palestinian witnesses said all three types of aircraft were used in the recent attacks. The army did not immediately comment.

"We will reach out for the terrorists and we will attack and we will try to stop them," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a press conference in Tokyo, where he is winding up an official visit.

He also rejected calls to loosen an economic embargo on Gaza. The blockade has come under growing international criticism because of the hardship it has caused in Gaza.

"The only requirement we have of the Palestinians is stop killing innocent Israelis like they did last night," he said. "It's hard to do business when you have to bury your population as the result of the atrocities and the terror committed by the Palestinians."

Despite the Israeli attacks, Palestinian militants fired at least 10 homemade rockets into Israel, police said. Two people were lightly wounded, including a bodyguard of Public Security Minister Avi Dichter.

Dichter was not in Sderot at the time. But after he arrived, Dichter was forced to cut short a news conference when an air-raid siren went off and his guards rushed him into a concrete shelter.

Police said four foreign-made Katyusha rockets reached Ashkelon, a city of 109,000. Although there were no casualties, one rocket went through the roof of a crowded apartment building.

Israel has long feared that Ashkelon could soon face regular rocket attacks. Casualties have been kept relatively low because the rockets mostly land in sparsely populated areas next to the border.

In Gaza, Hamza al-Haya, the son of hardline Hamas lawmaker Khalil al-Haya, was among those killed Thursday, Hamas said. The group said he had commanded a rocket-launching squad in northern Gaza.

Khalil al-Haya is one of Hamas' top figures in Gaza, and has himself escaped assassination attempts, including an Israeli strike that killed his brother last year.

Visiting the morgue at Gaza City's Shifa hospital Thursday, Khalil al-Haya said he was proud that his son had lost his life for the Hamas cause, like many of his relatives.

"I thank God for this gift," he said. "This is the 10th member of my family to receive the honor of martyrdom." Several thousands people joined the funeral procession.

In Tokyo, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met briefly with Olmert. She said the Hamas rocket attacks "need to stop," but also expressed concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged calm on all sides.

"We have to remember that the Hamas activities there are responsible for what has happened in Gaza - the illegal coup that they led against the legitimate institutions of the Palestinian Authority," she Rice told reporters after the meeting. "It is very clear where this started."

Hamas violently seized control of Gaza last year from the forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel has been holding peace talks with Abbas' government in the West Bank, while battling Hamas in Gaza.

The increasing violence has strengthened calls from within Israel for direct negotiations with the militant group. A poll published Wednesday showed almost two-thirds of the Israeli public was in favor of cease-fire talks with the arch-enemy.

The dramatic findings indicate a widening gap between public opinion and the Israeli government's long-held stance that negotiations with Hamas are impossible until the militant group stops firing rockets and recognizes Israel's existence.

[mbievtea]

You can not negotiate with Hamas if they can''t control their "own" area and they "won''t recognize" Israel. Why is that so hard to understand? Negotiations would be a waste of time and efforts because Hamas would never abide by an agreement. Why is that so hard to underestand? Israel understands that. Realists understand that. The problem is Hamas! The ignorance and stupidity of the Palestinians continues day after day they support Hamas. They get what they want. The Palestinians enjoy being victims ... because if they aren''t victims, they have to face-up to their own inability to make any effort or progress. That''s what they can''t stand ... knowing they aren''t up to the challenge!

[vrghiks]

A prayer for Israel that many will be saved.

[j-whitman]

LadyJane,,,, Happy Friday, how are you doing ??

[ladyjaneg]

Hello everyone! Happy Friday! :) I hope everyone is doing really well!

[neoconrcrazy]

Rockets! Rochets!

Scream the israelis and MSM....but no one seems to be killed by them.

The reports always say " over 50 rockets poured into israel...." but no mention of any deaths.

But how many innocent palestinians are killed everyday by wanton zionist attacks on civilians?
Alot, is the answer.

So, from my perspective the zionists are very happy with the rockets; they don''t hurt anyone in israel and allow them to slaughter palestinians on the pretext of self-defense.

[quetzal0666]

Ishreal is an Illegal Country made up of illegal Inbred Immigrants...

[jackie0428]

Good. I hope Israel nukes Gaza and flattens the whole area. Hamas and the Palestinians are scum and vermin. Take Gaza back from these ingrates. They had their chance to live peacefully with this land Israel gave them, and they blew it. Take it back.

[quetzal0666]

singinrick and Southern baptists in the same sentence is a morron...

[rudy654-2009]

What in Mohameds name is the baby doing in the office ? Childhood terrorist training 101!!!
Posted by wolf563 at 01:30 AM

Wow, you really had to ask the question and demonstrate just how ignorant most Americans are about war. When wars occur, they occur where people live. In the Palestinian territories, work place and living place are often shared. Not like here in the US, where every thing is separated: Business district over here, housing development over there, industrial park somewhere out there. War invades the lives of all on both sides.

[wolf563]

What in Mohameds name is the baby doing in the office ? Childhood terrorist training 101!!!

[jowand]

The only reason Israel PRETENDS to be a democracy is so that they can be supported by other democracys.

Their lives, just like the Muslims, are dictated by their religion, not a democratic government. And their religion is causing just as much chaos and destruction.
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 08:22 PM : Feb 28, 2008

No they are not, and no it''s not, try telling the truth once in a while.

[jowand]

You''''re a Bush backer. Your credibility was gone right after his was gone - why would anyone care what you think?
Posted by hungry1968 at 07:07 PM : Feb 28, 2008

Obviously you cared enough to make up a peabrained reply, quit whining.

[jowand]

Hmmm. I distinctly remember Hamas being elected as the government of the Palestinian people. That is until Israel and the US supported Fatah in the overthrow of that democratically elected government.

How can you consider a country a democracy, when they help overthrow democratically elected governments?
Posted by hungry1968 at 07:09 PM : Feb 28, 2008

Elected yes, first thing they did was to do away with the opposition. In democracies the elected party does not have a mandate do away with the opposition, unless you are the same a Hitler.

[rowdytexan2]

The only reason Israel PRETENDS to be a democracy is so that they can be supported by other democracys.

Their lives, just like the Muslims, are dictated by their religion, not a democratic government. And their religion is causing just as much chaos and destruction.

[rowdytexan2]

101st Screaming Cowards Battalion?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by hungry1968 at 07:05 PM : Feb 28, 2008

ROFL! Pro''bly mostly latrine duty!

[rudy654-2009]

israel targets civilians so death to israel Posted by kretos at 07:07 PM

You people who think like this on both sides deserve adverse judgment from above, and may it come for you quickly.

[hungry1968]

They are still the only democracy in the Middle East

Posted by jowand at 06:29 PM : Feb 28, 2008




Hmmm. I distinctly remember Hamas being elected as the government of the Palestinian people. That is until Israel and the US supported Fatah in the overthrow of that democratically elected government.

How can you consider a country a democracy, when they help overthrow democratically elected governments?

[hungry1968]

You, Whitman and MCVet are the most delusional liars who post on here.

Posted by jowand at 06:27 PM : Feb 28, 2008




You''re a Bush backer. Your credibility was gone right after his was gone - why would anyone care what you think?

[kretos-2009]

israel targets civilians so death to israel !!!

[hungry1968]

NOTBLUE -- This is yet another example of deception coming from JIMFINSTERDUMMY''''s brain. I''''m a conservative Christian and I''''ve served in the military.

Of course, you have to expect deception on the dummy liberals part. They are masters of that....

Posted by poopusbuttus at 06:07 PM : Feb 28, 2008





101st Screaming Cowards Battalion?