Defiant Hamas Hits Israel With Rockets

3 Israelis Killed By Barrage; Palestinians Say Death Toll From Strikes Has Reached 364

(CBS/AP)  Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip sent a deadly barrage of missiles flying deep into Israel on Monday, demonstrating that Hamas still has firepower three days into Israel's punishing offensive against Gaza. Three Israelis were killed and two seriously wounded.

Israel, meanwhile, turned the force of its air assault toward Hamas field operatives in Gaza, sending warplanes to bomb their houses in a sweep meant to tear at the roots of the militant organization.

A tough-talking Israeli defense minister promised them a "war to the bitter end," as the three-day death toll in Israel's shock-and-awe offensive rose to 364, according to Gaza health officials.

The "bitter end" might involve Israeli ground troops following the air strikes on Hamas strongholds in Gaza, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips from the Israel-Gaza border.

Israeli army mechanized units were forming up in the area around Gaza today, reports Phillips. The soldiers said they'd received no orders to advance - so far.

Israel's foreign minister Tzipi Livni defended her country's three-day attack, telling CBS News the missile strikes were necessary to bring peace to Israeli citizens.

Livni said her country "tried everything in order to avoid this military operation," but that Israel would not live under attack by Hamas. "We reached last week a point in which we said enough is enough. We tried a ceasefire with Hamas which they violated every day," she added.

The intensified rocket strikes by militants, which triggered the Israeli offensive, have revealed the expanding range of missiles in their stockpiles. Larger cities farther inside Israel are now vulnerable.

In a nighttime barrage, militants sent a missile crashing into a bus stop in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, 23 miles from Gaza. A woman was killed and two others were wounded, one of them seriously. They were the first causalities in the city of 190,000 residents.

The leader of Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Eli Yishai, was visiting the city and was forced to dive beside a car when warning sirens sounded.

One person was killed and another was seriously wounded by another missile in the Negev desert community of Nahal Oz, closer to the Gaza border. Earlier Monday, a construction worker was killed by a missile hit in the city of Ashkelon. In all, four Israelis were killed since the weekend.

The White House, calling Monday for a lasting cease-fire in the Mideast, backed Israel's attacks and said the Islamic militant group ruling there had shown its "true colors as a terrorist organization."

"Right now the people of southern Israel are not able to live in peace," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in Crawford, Texas, where President George W. Bush is spending time at his ranch. "They have to live in bomb shelters a lot of the time. And that's unacceptable."

President-elect Barack Obama, vacationing in Hawaii, is monitoring the situation closely. Obama senior advisor David Axelrod told CBS News' Face The Nation on Sunday that the president-elect "recognizes the special relationship between the United States and Israel" and that he wants to help bring about peace.
Israel's overwhelming retaliation has rattled the Middle East and capitals around the world, triggering street protests and fiery speeches by key adversaries of Israel like Lebanon's Hezbollah. In the largest street rally yet, tens of thousands of Lebanese Hezbollah supporters stood under pouring rain in Beirut Monday to protest the assault.

In Cairo, where the Egyptian government had been key in brokering the now-collapsed ceasefire, people called for an end to cooperation with Israel, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar.

Stone-throwing clashes also broke out in around half a dozen places in the West Bank as well as in several Arab-populated areas inside Israel.

On the outskirts of Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinian youths darted around burning barricades of tires and furniture to hurl rocks at Israeli police and soldiers. The Israeli forces responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, but it did not appear that anyone was injured.

The targets Israel chose to strike on Monday revealed an intention to chip away at Hamas' foundation. Israel carried out five separate strikes on the houses of field operatives, though there has been no confirmation that any of them were killed.

And in grainy surveillance video from an overhead drone released by Israel's military, several men are seen loading a pickup truck with what the military said were medium-range Grad rockets. Moments later, a large explosion from a missile strike envelops the image.

One of the strikes against field operatives targeted a house in Jebaliya refugee camp, killing seven people, but the Hamas activist was not there. Another hit the Jebaliya home of Abdel-Karim Jaber, a Hamas political figure, though not widely known. Jaber, a senior administrator at Gaza's Islamic University, was not at home at the time and it wasn't immediately clear if anyone was hurt in the strike.

In another air assault, an Islamic Jihad commander was killed as he was walking near his house.

As signs mounted that the Gaza offensive could widen into a ground war, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel's parliament he wants to strike a devastating blow against Hamas. However, later Monday he indicated a ground assault is not inevitable, issuing an ultimatum-sounding statement that he is giving Hamas a last chance to halt its rocket fire.

Short of reoccupying Gaza, however, it is unlikely that any amount of Israeli firepower will be able to completely snuff out the rocket barrages. Past operations have all failed to do so.

Since 2005, Hamas militants and their allies have launched more than 6,000 rockets at Israeli targets, reports MacVicar.

In preparation for a possible ground offensive, Israel has begun massing troops on the Gaza border and the Cabinet approved a call-up of 6,500 reserve soldiers, though no full combat formations have been mobilized. Areas around Gaza have been declared "closed military zones."

A final decision to call up reserves has yet to be made, and the Cabinet decision could be a pressure tactic. Military experts said Israel would need at least 10,000 soldiers for a full-scale invasion.

Meanwhile, Israel continued to strike from the skies with its fleet of warplanes, helicopters and pilotless drones. Airstrikes on more than 320 sites since midday Saturday have reduced dozens of buildings to rubble, overwhelmed hospitals with wounded and filled Gaza's deserted streets with smoke and fire. The military said naval vessels have also bombarded targets from the sea.

For the first time, Israel also hit one of a series of tunnels Hamas prepared along the border with Israel for use in attacks on invading ground forces, several Israeli TV networks reported. One of the tunnels was packed with explosives and several militants inside were killed, Channel 1 said.

On Monday, aircraft pulverized a house next to the home of Hamas Premier Ismail Haniyeh, a security compound and a five-story building at a university closely linked to the Islamic group - all symbols of Hamas strength in the coastal territory it has ruled since June 2007.

A day earlier, airstrikes took out dozens of smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, cutting off a key lifeline that had supplied Hamas with weapons and Gaza with commercial goods. The bombardment sent hundreds of residents fleeing their homes.

Most of those killed in three days of airstrikes have been Hamas members, but the U.N. agency in charge of Palestinian refugees said at least 51 of the dead were civilians. A rise in civilian casualties could intensify international pressure on Israel to abort the offensive.

A Hamas police spokesman, Ehab Ghussen, said 180 members of the Hamas security forces were among the total number of dead.

Eight children under the age of 17 were killed in two separate strikes overnight, medics said Monday.

Still, militant rocket barrages continued. Sirens warning of incoming rockets sent Israelis scrambling for cover throughout the day Monday as more than 40 rockets and mortar rounds rained down.

In Gaza, some families left their apartments next to institutions linked to Hamas, fearing they could be targeted. Suad Abu Wadi, 42, was keeping her six children close to her on mattresses in her Gaza City living room. Her husband sat with them, chain-smoking. Abu Wadi said he had not said a word since seeing their neighbor carrying the body of his child, killed in an airstrike Saturday.

Gaza's nine hospitals were overwhelmed. Dr. Moaiya Hassanain, who keeps a record for the Gaza Health Ministry, said 364 Palestinians have died and more than 1,400 have been wounded. Some of the injured are now being taken to private clinics and even homes, he said.

Israeli security officials have warned that the militants' range now includes Beersheba, a major city 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Gaza. Resident Mazal Ivgi, 62, said she had prepared a bomb shelter. "In the meantime we don't really believe it's going to happen, but when the first boom comes people will be worried," she said.

A graphic displayed on Israeli television illustrated the growing rocket reach with overlapping, color-coded circles. Those in the closest range were advised to stay within a 15-second dash of a bomb shelter.

Israel opened one of Gaza's border crossings Monday to allow several ambulances and 62 aid trucks, including shipments of donated blood, to cross. Jordan was also sending doctors.

On Monday, a Palestinian stabbed and wounded four Israelis in a West Bank settlement before he was shot and wounded. It was not immediately clear if the attack was directly connected to the events in Gaza.

Meanwhile, crude prices rose above $40 a barrel as the death toll mounted in the oil-rich region.

[chuegevera]

Another action by the bandit state to kill innocent people. Shame on you the US and Europe. These are obvious violation of human rights that will make every one hate you and hate Israel. If Israel think they can break people by bombing them they are mistaking.

[longtree-2009]

keep pounding away israel. palestinians, hamas started this latest conflict so give it to them good and with 1-2,000 pounders. truces, peace, ceasefires have not worked. they take the time to rearm, reposition then launch more attacks on israel. israel has been constantly attacked. all nation states, and their leaders, should stay out of it unless they too have experienced constant attacks over the years. otherwise, let israel deal with it and destroy the gaza to rubble. palestinians, hamas started it and they had no concern for human rights of anyone. now that they are getting pounded they sing the usual song of "human rights", "poor innocents being killed" along with the usual propaganda now that they are being handed their behind. if you live outside the area, and you support palestinians, hamas then journey there and fight israel to the death. else, put a lid on it.

[skier0123]

I am waiting for the dancing in US streets - like the palestinians did after 9/11

[neoconrcrazy]

Israel`s restrained, benign approach to dealing with these feral thugs doesn`t work.

Posted by juwboy

restrained...benign ...jewboy, words don''t mean anything when they''re used in the wrong context, except want you want to infer something that isn''t true.

and like most "pro-israel" supporters a convenient lie works much better.

300 dead, mostly women, children, and civilians in the jew created ghetto of Gaza, reminds us of how the nazis acted in warsaw ghetto.

there''s nothing benign, nothing restrained, just avoidable evil -

israel must return the stolen lands - Shalom!

[neoconrcrazy]

"israeli military spokeswoman Avital Leibovitch told Sky News the chemistry lab at the Islamic University hit in Monday''s strike was being used as a Hamas weapons factory."

hey, folks, remember those mobil labs saddam had....

here we go again....

[jediservant]

The Palestinians are nothing but cowards! They hide behind women and children and teach their own kind to wear suicide bombs just so they can blow up women and children in Israel. Then they think there will be virgins waiting on them in heaven.

I have news for them; the only thing waiting on them is the fires of HELL! The God of Israel is the true and only God and He stands with the people in the place where He put His name.

Praise be to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

am waiting for the dancing in US streets - like the palestinians did after 9/11

Posted by skier0123
----------------------

Mee too!
These murderin'' clowns launch rocket attacks - nobody even notices.
They turn any negotiations into a shakedown - whether it''s Palestine or Pakistan. And nobody bothers to mention it.
They refuse to honor any agreements they''ve made. Never seen any UN meetings around that!

But watch what happpens when somebody finally gets a bellyful of it and strikes back and the whole world goes nuts.

[neoconrcrazy]

hackpee

i was considering the advantages of returning one of those states you mentioned to mexico -

and have decided if you''re a resident of any one of them, it would be a good idea!

this is genocide ! all of victims are civilians israel targets university church mosque highschool police academy !!!

Posted by kretosdav
----------------------

Have been paying attention to what suicide bombers have been targeting these last several years??
Or that the rocket killers don''t bother to "target" anything??

[claytonantho]

You have the Palestinian apologists always coming to the defense of them when Israel gets sick and tired of constantly being bombarded by rockets from Hamas terrorists, but have nothing to say about those rocket attacks constantly fired into Israel. If the Palestinians want peace, GET RID OF HAMAS AS YOUR GOVERNING BODY. Until then, Israel should keep kicking their ***.

[claytonantho]

this is genocide ! all of victims are civilians israel targets university church mosque highschool police academy !!!




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

Posted by kretosdav

Where did you get that info from, The Terrorist Daily???

[dnc4evr89]

It must really S.u.c.k. to start a fight and get your azz whipped!!!!!!!!

[jediservant]

The jewish have gone too far. They preach one thing and do another. 315 dead. They are just like the nazi''''s. Iron fisted. They are just like the republicans. Greedy and elite minded. Arrogant.

They will never be neighborly. One of those other countries will finally just nuke them off the planet is my guess.

Posted by sockpuppet4 at 07:30 AM : Dec 29, 2008

---If your neighbor was tossing bombs in your back yard would you lie their and take it? Oops, I guess you would being a "sockpuppet".

[neoconrcrazy]

Maybe the jewish are about ready to open up palistine internment camps. No?

Posted by sockpuppet4

they''re already in internment camps for over 40 years, this is an extermination camp.

It must really S.u.c.k. to start a fight and get your azz whipped!!!!!!!!

Posted by dnc4evr89
---------------------
The myth that Muslims are "persecuted" is what keeps those Muslim "leaders" in power! It''s right up there with nurturing that precious hatred their culture is afflicted with.
They will continue to instigate these kinds of things because it''s very much in their interest to do so. They''ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. The biggest killers of Muslims is Muslims.

[antoniof123]

I say leave it alone and let them kill each other.

Sorry but now after watching the U.S. try to help and stop the fighting I realize it is what these people want to die fighting.

Too bad life has so much to offer other than death.

Hadenough. If the biggest killer of muslims are muslims then maybe the world should just stand back at let it happen and see who is standing in Gaza and Israel after the dust settles.

Posted by wvu7462
--------------------------
That would be fine with me as long as Muslims stuck to Muslims.
But they keep including everybody else in their bloodthirsty plans.

[endurorob]

kretsodav: What did the Hamas missles hit in Israel? Tanks? NO....Military Installations? NO. They hit civilians. Turn about is fair play!

Posted by wvu7462

So does behaving like your enemy make you better than your enemy or the same as.

[jerryspoor]

In ancient history one tribe destroyed the other and so the end of the story. This seemed to be the case up to and including World War II. Then wars with all the civilized limitations lingered on and on with no end in sight.

Hopefully we will eventually evolve to continuous condemnation of one another without the loss of blood.

[zzy-izzy]

Hamas has got to go they started this the women and children need to get as far away from where they are bombing as they can. Hamas never should have fired ther rockets in the first place Isral needs to finish the job NOW. 10 TO 15,000 TROOPS get it over with.

[rf35]

.United States must return stolen lands (California,Arizona,Texas,Nevada,New Mexico)
Posted by neoconRcrazy

Don''t forget Florida. Actually, all of North America was stolen from the aboriginal Americans (American Indians).

As far as I''m concerned, anything that kills Muslims is a good thing. They are raised as murdering sociopaths from birth. Do you think an Arab would think twice about sending a woman or child on a suicide bombing mission? Get a clue. The best way to save a human being is to kill a Muslim. There can be no peace as long as Islam exists.

[checkthepast]

the land they stole.
Posted by FloydZeppd

Jews originate from Judea and Zionist from Zion...
100% Jewish and Christian lands until the murderous attacks of the followers of mohamed in the 8th century. For thousands of years prior to that there were no questions regarding that land, and since then there has been no peace and there will be no peace until islamics stop attacking. They do it every day, all over the planet and giving them land and making peace agreements mean nothing to them. They are the original ''aggressors, occupiers and land thiefs''.

[dsr57]

So does behaving like your enemy make you better than your enemy or the same as.


Posted by endurorob
---------------------------------------------------

When comments like this are made it reminds me how stupid people are. I mean yeah, thats SUCH a good point. Lets let the Other country keep killing off our people until there are none of of left and when our counrty is wrecked to the ground We Will Know We Took The High Ground..... For *** Sake grow up and join the real world..

I''d be willing to bet your one of those guys that if a guy walked up and punched your girlfriend in the mouth with you there that you wouldn''t resort to violence. You would plead with him to stop hitting your girlfriend then go home and call the cops

So does behaving like your enemy make you better than your enemy or the same as.

Posted by endurorob
---------------------------
You want to worry about being "better", then go ahead.
For myself, I''ll just worry about supporting those whose enemies are those who were dancing in their streets in the hours after 9/11.

[checkthepast]

Muslims Terrorists are both LIARS AND COWARDS

Posted by Hackerpc

And have been since the day the word ''muslim'' was added to the world vocabulary.

[zzy-izzy]

HOWDY ROWDY GOOD MORNING TO THE PEOPLE IN TEXAS

[rf35]

Sorry, I''m a Democrat...but I''m an American first. I''ve fought the Muslim, I know what they are capable of. Unlike you, I have left my living room and seen the real world. Most of it is beautiful, but there is also the Muslim world%u2026

[checkthepast]

There can be no peace as long as Islam exists.
Posted by rf35

Someone said ''It''s impossible to live in peace with anyone who hates others more than they love their own children''.

[endurorob]

Jews originate from Judea and Zionist from Zion...
100% Jewish and Christian lands until the murderous attacks of the followers of mohamed in the 8th century. For thousands of years prior to that there were no questions regarding that land, and since then there has been no peace and there will be no peace until islamics stop attacking. They do it every day, all over the planet and giving them land and making peace agreements mean nothing to them. They are the original ''''aggressors, occupiers and land thiefs''''.


Posted by checkthepast

Didn''t the jews steal the land from the Philitines?

[endurorob]

Savage, Barbarian. May God Punish the killers.


Posted by trishab59

To which savage and barbarian killers do you refer, Hamas or Israel?

[NYCHEF]

HOW DARE YOU ASK ISRAEL TO EXPLAIN Y THEY ARE SHOOTING WHEN THE CHAMAS HAS BEEN KILLING LONGER THEN ISRAEL EVER WANTED TO SEE
Y DO U NOT ASK THE CHAMAS THE SAME WE HAVE NEVER ASKED TO TAPE BOMBS TO THEM SELF AND BLOW THEM SELFS UP IN PUBLIC

[checkthepast]

FloydZeppd

Being an Arab does not make you muslim. As recorded in all historic documentation, including scriptures of the Jewish, Christian and islamic faiths all Arabian people are descendants of the tribes of Abraham.

Get a brain.

[rf35]

I wonder if Cassius Clay wishes he hadn%u2019t changed his name to be associated with that band of murderous thugs now.

[rf35]

I abhor terrorists just like many people. But when you say that all muslims must be killed that sounds just as fanatical as Hamas. All muslims are''nt terrorists. God forbid we should blame Hamas for their actions and dance in the streets because they are getting the *** kicked out of them by Israel. Then that would be wrong. Right? maybe not.
Posted by wvu7462 at 08:47 AM : Dec 29, 2008

Actually, all Muslims ARE terrorists...it''s how they are raised. I think I''ll go dance in the street now. Bye.

I abhor terrorists just like many people. But when you say that all muslims must be killed that sounds just as fanatical as Hamas. All muslims are''''nt terrorists. God forbid we should blame Hamas for their actions and dance in the streets because they are getting the *** kicked out of them by Israel. Then that would be wrong. Right? maybe not.

Posted by wvu7462
-------------------
In 2006, there was an election in Palestine.....Hamas won!!

[shirajordan]

To all the people who sleep safely in their beds at night and have the audacity to criticize the Israeli government, this is for you:
None of you spoke in the past 8 years when rockets and bombs fell in southern Israeli cities, causing death and damage without any provocation on our part.
What you need to understand are two things-
First of all, there is no functioning government in Gaza. The Hamas took over and they are running the show. The Hamas, in case you didn''t know, is a terror organization. Just like Al-kaida and Hezbollah. Israel is dealing with terror organizations all around its borders. Not with governments. And not with civilians. We have nothing against the Palestinians. Only the terrorists.
The second thing you need to know is that the Hamas is a very cynical organization which uses innocent women and children to fight Israel. They launch their missals from civilian''s houses, not from open fields or military camps, and when the Israeli army wants to destroy those missals launchers- sometimes innocent people die.
Ask yourself- what would you do if your life was constantly under threat? Look at the map. Maybe that will help you grasp our geographic situation.
The purpose of the Israeli army is to defend. Not attack.
So next time you think about how miserable and poor the Palestinians are, and how powerful and evil the Israelis are- think again.
(Written by a left-wing Israeli who thinks terror should not win anywhere in the world).

[rf35]

Just as I wonder if southern men wish their first names did not end with a sissy "y". Such as Billy, Jimmy, Franky, or any other pussified girly-man names as such?
Posted by ConDumbistan

Not sure what you''re getting at, but I guess they could correct that problem if they had enough sense to. It might take them away from their NASCAR too long, though.

[jerryspoor]

From 1949 to 2006 the population increase is 580% in the Palestine/Israel area of concern. The Arabs had a slightly higher population increase than the Jews. Do a study of Easter Island and learn what happens when you out grow your area. On Easter Island they resorted to cannibalism.

There are 2 methods of population control. One is war. The other is not yet known by 3rd world countries.

I abhor terrorists just like many people. But when you say that all muslims must be killed that sounds just as fanatical as Hamas. All muslims are''''''''nt terrorists. God forbid we should blame Hamas for their actions and dance in the streets because they are getting the *** kicked out of them by Israel. Then that would be wrong. Right? maybe not.

Posted by wvu7462
-------------------
In 2006, there was an election in Palestine.....Hamas won!!
------------------------
Posted by hadenough43
------------------------
Oh yea, and one more thing.
In the hours following 9/11, Muslims from Jordan to Indonesia were dancing in the streets.
In fact, Egypt sent out troops to run people off the streets and back into their houses.

So tell me again about how "all Muslims are not terrorists".

[endurorob]

There are people in this forum calling all muslims terrorist. Is this true. I find it kind of hard to fathom.


Posted by wvu7462

Most Muslims are not terrorists, that is just people speaking from ignarrance or parroting there preachers. The vast majority of Muslims are like the rest of us they just want to live there lives peacefully.

Two Israels get killed so in retaliation they kill or wound 700 palistinians. Sounds just like Lebenon last year. When will the world stand up to Israel and demand they co-exist with the palistinians. The Israels do whatever they want, whenever they want and the world just watches. What would be the reaction if India did the same to Pakistan because of the recent hotel attacks, TOTAL OUTRAGE but Israel gets away with it.

Posted by withad
--------------------
Nobody forces Islamic militants to hide behind women, children and other civilians. That seems to be a choice they consistently make all around the world.

[tjm509]

Neither side is willing to sit down and talk. Both sides are willing to use military action to achieve their goals. Neither side could care less about escalation or their people. This is why I am against organized religion. All in the name of what?

[neoconrcrazy]

israeli bombing a heavily populated city like Gaza is state terrorism supported by American dollars and American ignorance.

There is no excuse for ignorance. Shalom.

Most Muslims are not terrorists, that is just people speaking from ignarrance or parroting there preachers. The vast majority of Muslims are like the rest of us they just want to live there lives peacefully.
Posted by endurorob
--------------------
Then where is the outrage from these "peaceful Muslims" at the suicide bombings, beheadings, and all of the rest of the gruesome bloodyness??

[inhaled_not]

Hey whats the death Toll??

[inhaled_not]

There are people in this forum calling all muslims terrorist. Is this true. I find it kind of hard to fathom.
Posted by wvu7462

Killem all and let Allah sort em out ;)

Why don''''t the Israels attack the other terrorist countries like Iran, Syria, Afganistan, Pakistan, all known terrorist havens? Could it be they are afraid of losing. They seem to have a thing for attacking less formitable opponents.

Posted by withad
------------------
You paying attention?? They took out a Syrian nuke facility a little while back...not a peep outta Syria. Who''se afraid of losing anyway??

[endurorob]

Then where is the outrage from these "peaceful Muslims" at the suicide bombings, beheadings, and all of the rest of the gruesome bloodyness??

Posted by hadenough43

Spend some time in a Muslim country and talk to thje people and you will hear it.

[evian_ycnan]

As an occupier, Israel is obligated under international law to provide basic human services and protection to the indigenous peoples... so, the Final Solution is to withdraw and seal the borders -- that''s not an occupation, it''s an embargo/blockade. When the people inside the beseiged area fight back, slaughter them.

All they need are ovens. The abused child has finally become an abuser.

Then where is the outrage from these "peaceful Muslims" at the suicide bombings, beheadings, and all of the rest of the gruesome bloodyness??

Posted by hadenough43

Spend some time in a Muslim country and talk to thje people and you will hear it.

Posted by endurorob
-------------
Well I live right here in the USA and I don''t hear it. But I sure hear a lot of other nonsense from ''em.