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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| New round of Gaza airstrikes launched |
| 2006-07-02 |
| Israeli missiles targeted two buildings in Gaza early Monday, hours after Israel said it would step up its military operations until a young captured soldier is released. CNN correspondent John Vause watched as a single missile flew over the roof on which he and his crew were standing in Gaza City; it slammed into a building a few blocks to the north, causing a powerful explosion. The Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian sources said that al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- a military offshoot of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement -- had offices in that building. The IDF also said it launched a missile attack on "a weapons production and storage warehouse in Beit Hanoun." Monday's strikes came a day after an attack on the empty offices of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and a week after militants affiliated with Hamas captured 19-year-old Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit during a raid inside Israel. At the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israeli security forces are under orders to do "all that is necessary" to bring about Shalit's return. Olmert told his cabinet he had instructed the military "to intensify the force and activity of the IDF and the security elements in order to pursue these terrorists, those who send them, their ideologues and those who harbor them." "No one will go unpunished," he said. Saeb Erakat, an adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, told CNN "more bombs are not going to bring the soldier back alive, nor will they resolve this complex situation. It will only add to the complexities." Erakat and Abbas belong to the Fatah Party, which lost power to Hamas earlier this year. The Israeli offensive launched Wednesday includes the arrests of several members of the Palestinian government. An Israeli helicopter gunship fired missiles on the building housing Haniya's offices in Gaza City early Sunday, and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres told CNN the operation was carried out "to warn" Haniya. "Either/or he is a government with all the responsibilities of a government, or it's a terroristic organization with all the consequences that stem from it," Peres said of Haniya on "Late Edition." Israeli sources said Haniya's offices were being used by terrorists to plan attacks. At the offices, Haniya said the attack was the product of "barbaric politics." Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas' militant wing, told the Reuters news agency, "If they continue with these attacks we will strike similar targets in the Zionist occupation which we have not targeted until now." Ubaida later confirmed to CNN that he had issued the threat. Two gunmen killed Israeli Interior Minister Roni Bar-On told Israel Army Radio that Jerusalem was "tightening the pressure on Hamas." "We want to ensure the fact that the kidnapped soldier would not be moved from the place we think he is in," Bar-On said. "We wish to bring the soldier back home with minimum casualties, on our side and on the Palestinian side." Israel launched two more airstrikes within an hour of the attack on Haniya's offices, both in or near the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, Palestinian sources said. On Sunday evening, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian gunmen in clashes near the Gaza airport, the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian sources said. A day earlier, Israel Defense Forces clashed with Palestinian gunmen east of Khan Yunis, where Israeli intelligence officials say they suspect Shalit is being held. Humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza Israel opened two routes into Gaza on Sunday to allow for humanitarian aid to flow into the Palestinian territory, an Israeli army official said. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #4 It troubles me that Israel is targeting single floors and such. Curious. Maybe the message the Israelis are trying to send is not only do we know who you are and where you work, but we also know which desk is yours. At a time of our choosing.... Waiter! More popcorn for my friends. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-07-02 22:14 |
| #3 nice to see CNN's embedded with their usuals: Saddam, Hamas, ...... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-02 21:17 |
| #2 Man .. Isreal's restraint really impresses/confuses me. The Paleos really have invited a gunfighter to their stick fight and seem to have no clue what is just one order away. I'm impressed by their recessive genes - I had no idea the shallow end of the pool could get this shallow - its above land even - the only thing that makes sense to me is that they already killed the guy and are now trying to buy some time. Is it possible for them to be so absolutely stupid as to hold one soldier hostage, at the risk of having Isreal pull the trigger and level them? Oops, rhetorical question, sorry, wrong audience for that. Hey, who snagged my popcorn ?! |
| Posted by: Beau 2006-07-02 20:39 |
| #1 It troubles me that Israel is targeting single floors and such. Taking down the whole building would send a clearer message. The Palestinian PM should not be touring his damaged offices -- there should be nothing left to tour. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-07-02 20:24 |