At least 20 Palestinians killed Monday; 900+ in ongoing assault

Date: 12 / 01 / 2009  Time:  10:22
Gaza – Ma’an –

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza rose to 20 on Monday when Israeli terrorist forces fighter jets continued shelling targets throughout Jabaliya Refugee Camp into the early evening.

A Palestinian paramedic was killed while evacuating the wounded of an earlier strike soon after an Israeli terrorist forces jet fired a missile that scored a direct hit on his ambulance, which exploded.

Just a short while earlier another man was killed inside a car parked near Caliphs Mosque in Jabaliya.

A Palestinian boy was killed in the same incident, which brought Jabaliya's overall death toll for Monday up to four, including a young girl, identified as Ayat Al-Banna. She was killed by a shell that landed on her next-door neighbor's home.

Nine were dead by noon on the 17th day of Israel's war on Gaza, as strikes and ground troops pushed toward Gaza City.

Armed groups were heard clashing with Israeli terrorist ground soldiers at the three entrances of Gaza City, in an apparent effort to stave off a full invasion of the area.

Airstrikes hit dozens of homes on the northern, eastern and southern borders of Gaza City in order to improve access to the city and bypass militants stationed at the entrances.

Warplanes continued to use phosphorous bombs and homes around the city also continued to burn, covering the area with smoke.

Shortly after noon on Monday, Israeli planes hit Palestine Square in central Gaza City, killing two and injuring at least ten.

Director of the de facto Health Ministry's Ambulance and Emergency Services Dr Mu'awiyah Hassanain said several of the injured were "cut to pieces" and that several required amputations.

At 1:00 pm, Israeli terrorist forces airstrikes hit the Al-Dhafer Tower in Gaza City; no injuries were reported.

Gaza City suburbs

More clashes were reported between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli terrorist soldiers in neighborhoods north and south of the Old City, Zaytoon and Tuffah.

In what now appears to be an Israeli strategy in their war, warplanes flew over the area before ground troops entered, hitting dozens of homes with missiles and phosphorous bombs. At least ten homes in the area were ablaze Monday morning.

Those strikes killed five, including two women and a child. Medical sources identified one of the women as Amal Muhammad Al-Madhoun, as well as a man named Shaiboob Shambali, from Beit Hanoon.

Northern Strip

Strikes also hit the northern Strip, mostly in the Al-Jarin neighborhood of Jabaliya. One missile hit the home of Fady Al-Amoudi, from the Ayman Juda faction of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Brigades. His home was badly damaged and was set ablaze by the strike. Al-Amoudi has already been killed in the early days of the invasion.

Missiles hit a home belonging to the Al-Masri family in Beit Lahiya, as well as the Organization for the Injured and Handicapped around Sheikh Zaid.

Southern Gaza

Israeli missiles also hit the Egyptian-Palestinian border area (which Israelis refer to as Philadelphi Route), near the Rafah Refugee Camp, along Gaza's border with Egypt overnight.

The total number of dead from 17 days of Israeli strikes is over 900, along with some 4,100 injured.


***Updated 21:08 Gaza time

Israel kills more than 900 Palestinians during its 16-day aggression on Gaza

[ 12/01/2009 - 10:27 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The death toll of the continued Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip rose with the end of the 16th day on Sunday to more than 900 Palestinians most of them were children and women, while the number of injuries rose to 4,100 Palestinians.

According to Dr. Muawiya Hassanein, the director of emergency services in the health ministry, Israel killed 906 Palestinians so far including 277 children and 93 women.

On Sunday, the IOF troops continued the acts of ethnic cleansing killing more than 38 Palestinians in one day and wounding dozens others.

Palestinian medical sources reported yesterday that five Palestinians were killed during Israeli air strikes on the Gaza city and Jabaliya and another one was killed after bombing his motorcycle in Rafah. 

According to the sources, more than 12 citizens were wounded and two others were killed by Israeli artillery fire in Khan Younis, while a Palestinian child was reportedly killed as a result of the continued Israeli shelling in Khuza'a amid reports of more casualties in the area.

The withdrawal of IOF troops from the area of Sheikh Ajlin, southwest of Gaza, unveiled an Israeli massacre, where 14 Palestinian were killed including a one-year-old child.

The IOF troops also killed dozens of Palestinians in other areas of Gaza including a citizen along with his wife and child who were killed by an air-to-ground missile fired by an Israeli drone north of Gaza city.

Human rights reports said that the IOF troops since the start of the ground offensive on Gaza had turned a number of homes into barracks and detained Palestinian inhabitants in their houses under inhuman conditions without providing them with any food or water.

Ten Palestinians, including two children and two women, killed in on Monday morning

Monday January 12, 2009 11:13 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

On the 17th day of the ongoing Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Army carried further strikes Monday morning, killing 10 Palestinians, including two children and two women, in different parts of the Gaza Strip.

Dr. Moawiya Hassanen, of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, said that the Israeli Army shelled on Monday midday al-Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza city. The shells directly hit a number of homes, killing three family members.

Medical sources reported that two residents, including a child, were killed in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Their bodies were moved to Kamal Adwan Hospital.

The sources added that a child of Dalloul family died of his wounds in al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The child was wounded in overnight Israeli military shelling that targeted al-Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City; one woman was also killed in the shelling.

Also, Amal Mohammad Al Madhoun and another resident, who remained unidentified until the time of this report, were killed in another Israeli strike.

Resident, Shaiboub Shambaly died at a hospital in Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, after he was seriously wounded by the Israelis.

Heavy clashes were reported in a number of areas in in the north and the south of Gaza City. The Israeli Air Force first shelled dozens of homes in the area before ground troops advanced inside the city.

Several neighborhoods were also shelled in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including a home which belongs to Fady Al Amoudy, who was killed in the first days of the offensive. Al Amoudy is a member of Ayman Jouda Brigades, one of the resistance groups affiliated with the al-Aqsa brigades of the Fatah movement.

The shelling also targeted a home in Beit Lahia, and an organization that provides rehabilitation services to wounded and handicapped residents.

The Israeli Army also shelled the al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza city and at least one shell struck al-Dorra Children's Hospital.

In Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, the Israelis shelled areas close to the Philadelphi Route, causing excessive damage.

In Khan Younis, also in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Army shelled a number of homes, especially in Khuza'a area; several homes caught on fire.

At least 905 Palestinians, including 280 children, were killed in the ongoing offensive while the number of injured Palestinians in now over 3800, including 460 who are in serious conditions.

Israel decides to move forward with "Phase three" in Gaza

Monday January 12, 2009 10:37 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

The Israeli government decided on Sunday night to intensify its operation in Gaza, the Israeli Radio reported on Monday morning.  

The Radio reported that a meeting last night that included the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, and the minister of Forging Affairs, Tzipi Livni.

During the meeting, the three decided to extend the military operations to its third stage.  They also agreed to reschedule the visit of Ivad Ghelad, the chief of Security and Political Affairs Dept. in the Israel Israeli Defense Ministry from today to Tuesday.  

The Israeli government demands from Egypt that they put to an end the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip through tunnels from within Egypt's borders. The Israeli radio reported that Israel is wiling to stop the attack, that entered its 15th day on Monday, if Egypt manages to form an effective mechanism to control its borders with Gaza.  

The Israeli Army embarked on its military offense on Saturday December 27, 2008. In the first stage, warplanes shelled all Palestinian security posts in the Gaza Strip. In the following days, the shelling was expanded. Hospitals, homes, blacksmith workshops, schools, and mosques were targeted. Day and night, the entire Palestinian coastal region was under attack.  

On Saturday, January 3, 2009, the second stage of the attacks was implemented as Israeli ground forces entered the Gaza Strip from several directions, cutting off Gaza City from the rest of the Coastal region.  

On Monday, IMEMC corresponded in Gaza reported that Israel had called up more reserve troops to Gaza. Tanks and existing infantry units proceeded to push deeper inside the Costal territory. The Israeli government decided last night to call more reserve units back to action, Israeli radio stated.  

Since the Start of the Israeli attack on Gaza 17 days ago, 901 Palestinians have been reported killed, more that 50 percent children, while 3,695 others were wounded, including 300 in critical conditions.  These figures don't take into consideration the hundreds of bodies gone missing under the rubble.

Palestinian resistance continues to fire home-made shells at Israeli targets near Gaza

Monday January 12, 2009 11:39 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza continued to target Israeli areas on Monday with homemade shells in response to the ongoing military attacks on Gaza.  

The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced that its fighters managed to fire at least one Grad Missile at an Israeli military site near the Gaza border, adding that another group of its fighter targeted Israeli tanks in Gaza city with a homemade roadside bomb.  

Meanwhile, Fatah fighters and leftist groups reported that they fired at least five homemade shells at areas in northern Israel on Sunday night and Monday morning.   All groups said that the attacks will continue as long as Israel proceeds with its military operation on the Gaza Strip, which entered its 17th day on Monday.

So far, the Israeli Army has killed 905 Palestinian during its ongoing offensive.   Israeli Army sources told the Israeli online daily Haaretz that the ability of Hamas and other Palestinian groups to fire homemade shells toward Israel have dropped by 50 percent since the Israeli offensive began over two weeks ago.   Palestinian resistance fire has killed 13 Israelis since the offensive started; 10 of which are soldiers.  

901 killed, more than 3,695 wounded in the ongoing aggression

Monday January 12, 2009 09:24 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

As the Israeli Army continued to pound civilian areas in the Gaza Strip, and its tanks continued to push through the coastal region, especially in areas east of Jabalia, al-Shujaeyya, al-Zaytoon and other areas in different parts of the Gaza Strip while firing tank shells, missiles and illegal munitions, the number of Palestinians killed in the offensive topped 901, while more than 3,695 have been wounded.

The Israeli Army continued to pound Gaza by land and air while its ground forces were countered by fierce resistance.

Palestinian medical sources reported that five Palestinians were killed on Sunday evening when the Israeli Army fired artillery shells at homes in al-Shuja'iya, east of Gaza City and al-Jarn area, in the center of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The sources added that two residents were killed in the shelling that targeted Gaza City, and three others were killed in Jabalia. The casualties of the Jabalia shelling were identified as Mosab Khader, Hussein Abu Sultan, and Amal Alloush, age 15. Dozens of residents were wounded.

The Israeli Air Force also shelled the home of Fatah leader, Palestinian legislator, Mohammad Dahlan, in the center of Gaza City, completely leveling it.

Also, the Air Force shelled the house of Abu Shady Lubbad, in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, Israeli tanks pushed through several neighborhoods in Gaza, such as Tal Hawa and Sheikh Aajleen, while the Israeli Air Force shelled these neighborhoods to clear the area for the invading tanks. At least 14 residents, including two brothers; one of them an infant, were killed and dozens of residents were wounded.

On Sunday evening, the mother of Sharif Ziyada, one of the leaders of the al-Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, was killed along with her other sun and his pregnant wife while they were heading to a hospital as the pregnant wife was in labor.

Three members of the Brigades were wounded during clashes with Israeli soldiers in Khuza'a town.

In Jabalia, resident Baha' Abed, age 25, was killed, and his sister was wounded along with a 20-year old woman when the Israelis shelled homes in Al-Jurn area.

Also in Jabalia, the Israeli Army fired artillery shells at homes in the western part of the city and killed two brothers, identified as Ibrahim Mohammad Khalaf, age 35, and Bilal, age 19.

On Sunday at dawn, fierce clashes were reported in Gaza City as the Israeli Army continued to advance and continued to shelled homes and structures in the area. Twelve residents were killed, and several others were wounded.

The slain residents were identified as Mohammad Sa'ada, age 21, Abdul-Rahman Al Kashif, age 21, Ibrahim Hamdan, age 18, Abdullah Shamlakh, age 37, Ali Shalmlakh, age 23, Isam Shamlakh, age 22, Mahmoud Shamlakh, age 21, Mohammad Al Tatar, age 28, Mohannad Al Yazijy, age 21, Ramzi Abu Ghanima, age 23, Ata Al Dahdouh, age 19, and Mahmoud Al Jalab, age 70.

In the north of Gaza City, the Israeli Army fired a missile that landed near some homes.  When the residents rushed out fearing for their lives, the Israelis fired another missile, killing four residents, including a man, his wife and their son. The four residents were identified as Ala' Basheer, age 40, his wife Lamia, age 40, their son Soheib, age 18, and a 75-year old woman identified as Jamila Hasan Ziyada.

In Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, one resident identified as Ibrahim Suleiman, age 25, was killed when the area near al-Karama residential towers was shelled by Israeli tanks.

Five Children were killed in Beit Lahia when the Israelis shelled homes near a local mosque. The six children were identified as Haitham Yasser Ma'arouf, age 12, his sister Jihan, age 16, Fatima Roshdy Ma'rouf, age 16, Khawla Ahmad Ghabn, age 16, and her sister Sahar, age 14.

On Sunday evening, and as the Israeli Army was trying to push through to the southern part of the Gaza Strip, while tanks and planes showered the area with bullets and shells, one resident of Al-Sha'er family was killed, and at least seventy residents were injured. Another resident, who remained unidentified until the time of this report, was killed on Yafa Street.

IOF artillery targets Gaza outskirts, resistance retaliates firing more rockets

[ 12/01/2009 - 10:03 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation forces artillery barrage continued targeting the outskirts of Gaza city on late Sunday night and early Monday for the third consecutive day with the powerful sounds of explosions resounding in various Gaza suburbs.

Local sources said that the IOF artillery was firing at certain targets in Tufah and Zaitun suburbs. Fire was seen in targeted areas in Tufah suburb, believed to be civilian homes and installations, they added.

Palestinian resistance fighters are bravely resisting the IOF invaders as clashes were reported in many locations.

The resistance fighters, despite 16 days of IOF onslaught on all areas of the Gaza Strip, persisted in firing locally made rockets at Israeli targets near the Strip.

Israel, despite the media blackout on war news, has acknowledged that the crude missiles had killed three settlers and a soldier, and that 683 rockets fell on Israeli controlled lands in 1948 occupied Palestine.

The Israeli official announcement also said that 53 settlers were wounded and that hundreds of targets were hit despite the fact that the main goal of the IOF thrust into Gaza was neutralizing those rockets.

In another development, the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, said on Sunday afternoon that its fighters managed to hit an IOF chopper that was forced to make an emergency landing.

The IOF military operation against Gaza has claimed more than 900 lives and wounded 4100 who include many serious conditions.

Israeli troops push towards Gaza City center, strike homes around city to ensure easy access - 895 dead, 7 since dawn

Date: 12 / 01 / 2009  Time:  10:22
Gaza - Ma’an -

Seven were dead by dawn on day 17 of the Israeli war on Gaza, as Israeli strikes and ground troops push towards Gaza City.

Brigades were heard clashing with Israeli ground troops at the three entrances to Gaza City in an effort to stave off a full invasion of the area.

Airstrikes hit tens of homes on the northern, eastern and southern borders of Gaza City in order to improve access to the city and bypass the Brigades stationed at the entrances.

Warplanes continue to use Phosphorous bombs and homes around the city continue to burn covering the area with smoke.

Gaza City suburbs

More clashes were reported between resistance fighters and Israeli soldiers in the neighborhoods north and south of the Old City, Zaytoon and Tuffah. In what now appears to be the Israeli strategy in their war, warplanes flew over the area before ground troops entered, hitting tens of homes with missiles and phosphorous bombs. At least ten homes in the area are in fire.

The strikes killed five, including two women and a child. Medical sources identified one of the women as Amal Muhammad Al-Madhoon, and a man named Shaiboob Shambali from Beit Hanoon.

Northern Strip

Strikes also hit in the northern Strip, mostly in the Al-Jarin neighborhood of Jabaliya. One of the missiles hit the home of Fady Al-Amoudi from the Ayman Jouda faction of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Brigades. His home was badly damaged and was set ablaze by the strike. Al-Amoudi was killed in the early days of the invasion.

Missiles hit an Al-Masri home in Beit Lahiya as well as the Organization for the injured and Handicapped in the Sheikh Zaid area.

Southern Gaza

Israeli missiles hit the Palestinian-Egyptian border area, near the Rafah refugee camp overnight.

The total number of dead from 17 days of Israeli strikes is 895 with 4,100 injured.

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Brigades clash with troops across Strip, fighting concentrated in Gaza City area

Date: 12 / 01 / 2009  Time:  12:04
Gaza – Ma’an –

Palestinian resistance Brigades in Gaza have been engaged in battles with Israeli troops all around Gaza City on Monday.

Reports from the Brigades say they have been attacked by fire from the ground, sea and air, but have held off Israeli troops moving towards Gaza City center.

In the north

Al-Qassam brigades detonated an explosive device near an Israeli military vehicle at Jabal Al-Kashef east of the Jabaliya camp.

Central

Al-Quds and the Eagles of Palestine also announced that they launched three projectiles at ISrali troops in the abandoned Netsarim settlement near the Al-Wahidi house at 1:00 am on Monday.

South

Al-Quds and the Eagles of Palestine launched another three projectiles at Israeli soldiers in the Anasan neighborhood in Khan Younis. Israeli forces responded by shelling the brigades, injuring one.


Projectiles

The Al-Qassam Brigades launched a projectile at the Israeli town of Kiryat Gat, north east of the Strip.

The Hizbullah Brigades in Palestine launched 8 projectiles against Ashkelon, Sderot, the western Negev and Nahel Oz on Monday at dawn.

Islamic Jihad: Israel is no longer able to achieve its goals in Gaza

Date: 12 / 01 / 2009  Time:  12:16
Bethlehem - Ma'an –

Israeli forces have not achieved their objectives despite more than two weeks solid offensive in Gaza, said Secretary General of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine Dr Ramadan Abdullah Shallah on Monday.

Dr Shallah said in press statements that the Israeli army no longer had the ability to reach its military goals. He suggested that military commanders are thinking about how to leave Gaza without acknowledging their defeat.

In terms of a ceasefire agreement, Shallah said his movement had clear demands. Any long-term agreement must include a complete cessation of Israeli aggression and a total withdrawal from the area as well as a lifting of the blockade.