UN: 257 Palestinian children killed in Gaza

[Barack_America]

Source: Associated Press

By IBRAHIM BARZAK and KARIN LAUB

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tiny bodies lying side by side wrapped in white burial shrouds. The cherubic face of a dead preschooler sticking up from the rubble of her home. A man cradling a wounded boy in a chaotic emergency room after Israel shelled a U.N. school.

Children, who make up more than half of crowded Gaza's 1.4 million people, are the most defenseless victims of the war between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli army has unleashed unprecedented force in its campaign against Hamas militants, who have been taking cover among civilians.

A photo of 4-year-old Kaukab Al Dayah, just her bloodied head sticking out from the rubble of her home, covered many front pages in the Arab world Wednesday. "This is Israel," read the headline in the Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm. The preschooler was killed early Tuesday when an F-16 attacked her family's four-story home in Gaza City. Four adults also died.

As many as 257 children have been killed and 1,080 wounded — about a third of the total casualties since Dec. 27, according to U.N. figures released Thursday.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jsmrjKAqkshaygppisP-rG6A1k5gD95J81P00

---

Edited: to add authors' names

[Mike 03]

1. This is getting bad.

Initially, I was sympathetic towards Israel. They attempted Land for Peace, and it just blew up in their faces. But this is getting really, really ugly. They bombed U.N. sites too and killed peacekeepers, even though the United Nations provided the Israeli army with their coordinates to avoid such mishaps.

It's hard not to get upset.

[subsuelo]

9. Mission accomplished for Israel's War on Children (nt)

[Barack_America]

10. Honestly, with 1/3 of the dead so far being children...

You have to wonder if Israel is making ANY effort to avoid civilian casualties. It certainly doesn't seem like it.

It's incredible, 765 Palestinians dead to 14 Israelis.

[Mike 03]

18. No, I can't believe, nor do I believe, that Israel would ever target children.

I know that is not possible.

[Barack_America]

22. But like I said in post #10...

If 1/3 of the casualties are children, how hard can Israel be trying to avoid them?

Granted Hamas deserves their share of the blame for using children as human shields, but that doesn't seem to be deterring Israel.

[uppityperson]

2. k&r for the children with extreme sadness. (faulty link, found another one...)

Found an alternative link http://www.fresnobee.com/worldnews/story/1117231.html

[Barack_America]

6. The link works for me.

:shrug:

[uppityperson]

11. It works for me now also. Earlier said article was removed.

oh well, kick again anyway because it is important

[Barack_America]

13. Okay, good.

I just wanted to make sure I shouldn't replace the link in the OP (that it only worked for me because I had already opened it or something).

And thanks for the kick. This is important, albeit heartbreaking.

[uppityperson]

15. A poster last wk was talking about "acceptable levels" being 20-25%

We agreed that the thought at all of "acceptable level" or amount was disgusting and this goes way beyond any sort of acceptability.

[ShadesOfGrey]

12. These articles are heartbreaking...

How will our fearless leaders sleep tonight? I know I won't be able to.

:cry:

[EFerrari]

3. This is not what self defense looks like. n/t

[depakid]

4. Yet Harry Reid "vigorously" supports these actions, so they can't be all bad..

:sarcasm:

Another generation traumatized- cycle of violence perpetuated.

Mission accomplished.

[AnOhioan]

5. These deaths will only further radicalize the Palestinians.....

and not only those in Gaza, but the West Bank as well.

[tnlefty]

7. This is so sad. I'm in tears.

But at least the senate put its stamp of approval on it by passing a resolution. Sickening.

[Barack_America]

8. And the House is set to do the same tomorrow.

It's very upsetting. I called my representative to ask that he please not condone this behavior...but he probably will.

:cry:

[subsuelo]

14. Consider - that is many more than the *total* number killed in Mumbai

[Barack_America]

16. Yes, that is an interesting perspective. nt

[Zhade]

17. Olmert is a murderer.

NT!

[Barack_America]

19. I should add that 11 Israeli soldiers and 3 Israeli citizens have died.

Compared to 765 Palestinians (most of those being civilians).

Kind of answers the whole "who is the aggressor here?" question, no?

And I think the fact that children represent 1/3 of the casualties demonstrates that Israeli troops are showing absolutely no discretion in their attacks.

A murderer, yes.

[Idealism]

25. How many of those Israeli soldiers were friendly fire

Don't forget: all men are considered militants by UN and Palestinian officials counts currently, as it would take some time to ID every dead Hamas party member. If 1/3rd are children, how many more are women and men civilians? Much higher than first thought.

[rvablue]

36. 6 IDF soldiers kille by friendly fire, from the reports that I have read/seen. n/t

[Barack_America]

38. Thanks for that info.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slipslidingaway]

21. K&R :( n/t

[Hatalles]

23. K&R

[Elidor]

24. Kadima needs more bodies if they're going to win this election

The path to power is paved with the bodies of Palestinians.

[Barack_America]

26. Has the House of Representatives spat on the graves of these children yet?

They're set to vote today (and no doubt overwhelmingly approve) on a measure of support for Israel's attacks on Gaza.

[Barack_America]

27. For those interested, you can watch the spitting now on CSPAN1

[Cass]

28. This isn't a proportional response by any stretch of the imagination.

Israel is conducting a wanton slaughter of people who are trapped with nowhere to go. They should be brought up on charges for this but, if the past is any indication, they will likely get away with this slaughter.

Our senate unanimously backing Israel's actions in this is a damn disgrace. When I called my senator yesterday to complain about their unanimous vote about it the person who answered my call couldn't be more disinterested and blandly said "I'll pass along your comments". Yeah, right. I hope to God Obama will have a more sensible approach to the Israeli/Palestinian crisis than what we're seeing now.

[Marrah_G]

29. They are shooting fish in a barrel and our leaders are cheering for them

It's disgusting and heart-breaking.

I am truly ashamed that my country is party to this.

[mainegreen]

30. At this point, I'd say it's impossible for Isreal to come out of this a winner.

They've lost the media war.
They can't win the ground war. Simply not possible.
For every actual Hamas fighter they kill, they are creating hundreds more.

Honestly, with actions like these, I'd say Israel is doing a good job sowing the seeds of its own eventual destruction. Maybe they'll brighten up, but I doubt it.

[Barack_America]

31. And so the war on the media begins...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3681870

[SOS]

32. Israel officially lost the media war this morning...it's over

The New York Times, January 9, 2009, Page A1, print edition headline, above the fold:

Aid Groups Rebuke Israel Over Conditions in Gaza

UN Says Its Workers Were Fired Upon
Red Cross Assails Civilians Plight

JERUSALEM — International aid groups lashed out at Israel on Thursday over the war in Gaza, saying that access to civilians in need is poor, relief workers are being hurt and killed,
and Israel is woefully neglecting its obligations to Palestinians who are trapped, some among rotting corpses in a nightmarish landscape of deprivation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/world/middleeast/09mideast.html

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ignis]

34. Real news?!? Quick, off to the I/P dungeon with you! (nt)

[Doctor_J]

35. Can we drop the "defensive measures" lie?

sounds more like terrorism

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.