Israel, Hamas locked in fierce Gaza street battles

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Source: AFP

Israel, Hamas locked in fierce Gaza street battles
by Adel Zaanoun – 1 hr 2 mins ago

GAZA CITY (AFP) – Israeli troops and Hamas fighters fought fierce battles in the streets of Gaza's main city on Tuesday as Israel's war on Hamas entered its 18th day and the death toll spiralled above 900.

The most relentless battles of the offensive erupted when Israeli special forces backed by tanks and air strikes lunged ever deeper into several neighbourhoods in the south in the early morning hours, witnesses said.

Palestinian fighters fired back with roadside bombs, mortars and anti-tank rockets. Explosions, tank shell thuds and the rattle of gunfire kept terrified residents who had not yet fled the area awake all through the night.

The clashes come as the UN Security Council prepares to meet again on the crisis, after both Israel and Hamas ignored last week's resolution calling for a halt to the fighting.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/ts_afp/mideastconflictgazaundraftvote_20090113110741

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BBC: Israelis strike 60 Gaza targets

Israeli planes have attacked more than 60 targets in Gaza as its offensive against Hamas entered its 18th day.

The air assault came as Israeli troops advanced into the southern and eastern suburbs of Gaza City.

Aid lorries entered Gaza during a three-hour ceasefire called by Israel. However, witnesses have said there was increased shelling during that period.

The head of the Red Cross accompanied the aid convoy, during a visit to assess Gaza's humanitarian needs.

Jacob Kellenberger, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, was expected to go to the main Shifa hospital in Gaza City to see patients and medical teams.

He also intended to hold talks with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7825684.stm

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1. Reuters: Israeli forces intensify Gaza offensive

Israeli forces intensify Gaza offensive
13 Jan 2009 11:32:32 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Israeli forces tightened their hold around the city of Gaza on Tuesday and Israel's top general said "there is still work" ahead against Hamas in an 18-day-old offensive that has killed more than 900 Palestinians.

Explosions and heavy machinegun fire echoed through the city of 500,000 after Israeli tanks drew closer to its densely populated centre but did not enter, local residents said.

Talat Jad, a 30-year-old resident of the Gaza suburb of Tel al-Hawa where tanks thrust overnight, said he and 15 members of his family gathered in one room of their house, too frightened to look out the window.

"We even silenced our mobile phones because we were afraid the soldiers in the tanks could hear them," Jad said. "Some of us recited from the Koran and others prayed the sounds of explosions would die down."

Medical workers said 12 Palestinian gunmen, some of them members of the Islamist Hamas group that rules the Gaza Strip, were killed in morning fighting.

Hamas said its forces detonated explosives beneath Israeli armour and fought with Israeli forces backed by helicopter gunships and naval fire.

<more>

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LD273783.htm

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2. AP: Israeli forces storm Gaza City neighborhood

Israeli forces storm Gaza City neighborhood

By IBRAHIM BARZAK and JOSEF FEDERMAN, Associated Press Writers – 1 hr 4 mins ago

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli ground troops closed in on downtown Gaza City on Tuesday, battling Palestinian militants in the streets of a densely populated neighborhood, destroying dozens of homes and sending terrified residents running for cover as gunfire and explosions echoed in the distance.

Israel's push into Tel Hawwa neighborhood was the farthest it has moved into Gaza City during its 18-day offensive against Hamas militants, and brought Israel's ground forces within a mile (1.5 kilometers) of the crowded city center. Palestinian hospital officials say more than 900 Palestinians, half of them civilians, have been killed...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians

[Joanne98]

3. No room at the graveyard, as Gaza fighting rages on

Source: Reuters


GAZA (Reuters) - "We couldn't find anywhere to bury my cousin," Mahmoud al-Zinati said on Tuesday, as he sat on the edge of a tomb in Gaza. "So we've opened the grave of another cousin who was martyred two years ago to bury this one."

"I can't describe my feelings. No one can feel what I am going through," the 23-year-old said as he broke off his digging at the Sheikh Redwan cemetery. "No one can feel how sad I am."

His 16-year-old cousin, killed in an air strike, he says, will rest above another cousin, also killed in violence in the Palestinian enclave two years ago, at the age of 12. In 18 days of war, more than 900 Gazans have died, many of them civilians.

The big Sheikh Redwan graveyard, like others in the city of Gaza, is packed with white stone tombstones and a sign on the wall outside tells families in plain terms: "Cemetery Full."



Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKTRE50C4IR20090113

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4. AFP: Hundreds flee for lives as Israel pounds Gaza by land and air

Hundreds flee for lives as Israel pounds Gaza by land and air
by Sakher Abu El Oun – 2 hrs 4 mins ago

GAZA CITY (AFP) – Israel's army fought street battles with Hamas fighters in Gaza's main city on Tuesday and bombarded the southern border from the air as the death toll from its war on Hamas neared the 1,000 mark.

"This is the 18th day of the Israeli aggression against our people, which is becoming more ferocious each day as the number of victims rises," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said as terrified Gaza residents fled for their lives.

"Israel is keeping up this aggression to wipe out our people over there," added Abbas, speaking from his base in the West Bank.

Israeli special forces backed by tanks and air strikes barrelled their way ever deeper into Gaza City, advancing several hundred metres (yards) into several neighbourhoods in the south, witnesses and correspondents said.

<snip>

"There are continuous airstrikes along the Egyptian border -- about 60 families have all fled their houses which are situated several hundred metres from the border," Jawad Harb, a Palestinian working for the international aid agency CARE, told AFP as a series of deafening blasts echoed in the background.

Palestinian medical sources said that 54 more people had been killed in the latest day of fighting, bringing the overall toll to around 960 Palestinians...http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/wl_afp/mideastconflictgaza_20090113193343

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5. IRIN: Gaza children increasingly traumatised - specialists

Gaza children increasingly traumatised - specialists

RAMALLAH (WEST BANK), 13 January 2009 (IRIN) - As the Israeli aerial and ground bombardment continues in Gaza, the number of trauma cases is growing, say specialists.

“The whole community is vulnerable to the intensity of the attacks and the loss of family members that will not only cause post-traumatic stress disorder, but other mood and anxiety disorders as well,” World Health Organization (WHO) mental health officer Ragiah Abu-Sway, based in Jerusalem, told IRIN by phone.

“The reality is that this current violence is already compounding high levels of trauma in children in Gaza,” said World Vision UK’s head of emergency affairs, Ian Gray. “There’s the initial impact on children, which we’re already seeing - frequent bed-wetting, nightmares, and a heartbreaking loss of hope - but there’s also the long-term trauma that will devastate for years to come.”

Specialists say the sound of bomb explosions could cause pregnant women to miscarry or have premature or still births. However, bombs are not the only source of trauma: “The leaflets and phone calls are also traumatising,” said Abu-Sway.

According to the Gaza health ministry, as of 12 January 910 Palestinians have been killed, including 85 women and 292 children. Some 4,250 people have been injured, including 1,497 children and 626 women. ... http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=82335

[ShadesOfGrey]

6. Lots of info in this thread. Thanks. K&R

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7. Thanks for the notice.

I think there should be a thread in LBN with the LBN as best as can be gathered.

It's hard to get the latest because it's a 'war zone'.

Al Jazeera is the best: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch%5Fnow/

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8. AFP: Fighting rages in Gaza as toll nears 1,000

Fighting rages in Gaza as toll nears 1,000
by Sakher Abu El Oun – 2 hrs 40 mins ago

GAZA CITY (AFP) – Israel's army fought street battles with Hamas fighters in Gaza's main city on Tuesday and bombarded the southern border from the air as the death toll from its war on Hamas neared the 1,000 mark.

"This is the 18th day of the Israeli aggression against our people, which is becoming more ferocious each day as the number of victims rises," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said as terrified Gaza residents fled for their lives.

"Israel is keeping up this aggression to wipe out our people over there," added Abbas, speaking from his base in the West Bank.

Israeli special forces backed by tanks and air strikes barrelled their way ever deeper into Gaza's City, advancing several hundred metres (yards) into several neighbourhoods in the south, witnesses said. The thud of tank shells and the crackle of gunfire echoed through much of the day.

Although there were no reports of air strikes in the evening, residents reported extensive gunbattles in Zeitun neighbourhood and Jabaliya refugee camp on the city outskirts, where Apache helicopter gunships were also in action.

Palestinian medical sources said around 70 people were killed on Tuesday, bringing the overall toll to around 975 Palestinians, with a further 4,400 wounded....http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictgaza_20090113232204

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9. AP: Israeli forces storm Gaza City neighborhood

Israeli forces storm Gaza City neighborhood
By IBRAHIM BARZAK and CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, Associated Press Writers – 51 mins ago

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Terrified residents ran for cover Tuesday in a densely populated neighborhood of Gaza City as Israeli troops backed by tanks thrust deeper into the city and sought Hamas fighters in alleyways and cellars.

On the diplomatic front, Egyptian mediators pushed Hamas to accept a truce proposal and, in a hopeful sign, Israel sent its lead negotiator to Cairo for "decisive" talks on a cease-fire. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also headed for the region to join diplomatic efforts.

Israeli military officials say that depending on what happens with what they described as "decisive" talks in Cairo, Israel will move closer to a cease-fire or widen its offensive. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing sensitive policy matters.

Asked if Israel's war aims had been achieved, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said: "Most of them, probably not all of them."

Israeli troops now have the coastal city of 400,000 virtually surrounded as part of an offensive launched Dec. 27 to end years of Palestinian rocket attacks on its southern towns.

Palestinian medical officials reported at least 42 deaths from the conflict on Tuesday throughout Gaza...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090114/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians_656

[Gwendolyn]

10. No kidding... the offensive has continued. Gosh wonder why.

Wow my sensibilities are beyond shocked. Keep kicking in rockets and the other side will not retaliate.

Just like us and iraq. :)

Ifn any assholish country even dared to send rockets, over and over into Vermont, we would fracking kill them. And rape them too. Plse see Dresden.

It's amazing that arabs call in hitler for these occasions. He didn't like arabs much either. Just tolerated. But if idiots with scarves on their faces want to invoke his wisdom, even though arabs were considered vermin... go ahead. Keep screaming. How stupid can you be? He hated arabs.

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11. AP: Gazans seek new places to bury the dead

Gazans seek new places to bury the dead
By IBRAHIM BARZAK and DIAA HADID, Associated Press Writers – Tue Jan 13, 5:09 pm ET

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – One family buried a slain son over his grandfather. Another bundled up the tiny bodies of three young cousins and lowered them into the grave of a long-dead aunt. A man was laid to rest with his brother.

More than two weeks into the Israeli offensive that has killed more than 940 Palestinians, Gazans are struggling to find places to bury their dead. Cemeteries throughout Gaza City that were closed for new burials have now reopened.

"Gaza is all a graveyard," gravedigger Salman Omar said Tuesday as he shoveled earth in Gaza City's crammed Sheik Radwan cemetery, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

Just six miles wide and 25 miles long, Gaza has always suffered from a shortage of burial space. But Gazans say Israel's shelling and ground offensive have made it impossible for residents to reach Martyrs Cemetery — the only graveyard in the area with space to dig fresh graves.

The offensive is aimed at crushing the militant group Hamas and ending its rocket attacks on southern Israel. But Palestinian medical officials say roughly half the dead are civilians.

Among them are the Samouni cousins, 5-month-old Mohammed, 1-year-old Mutasim and 2-year-old Ahmed, whose family hurriedly dug up the grave of an aunt to lay them to rest last week....http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_palestinians_the_dead

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12. Independent/AP: Israel 'stops Iranian aid ship'

Israel 'stops Iranian aid ship'

By Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press
Wednesday, 14 January 2009

The Israeli Navy has intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel to head toward an Egyptian port, Iran's state television reported today.

Ahmad Navabi, head of the humanitarian aid group sponsoring the ship, said in comments aired on television Wednesday that the Israel Navy approached the cargo ship, Shahed, just 20 miles off the coast of Gaza at dawn today, and ordered it to turn back.

"An Israeli warship approached our cargo ship and warned us not to approach Gaza. We could see the lights at Gaza coast. We were forced to change route toward an Egyptian port," Navabi said.

The ship is carrying 2,000 tons of medicine, food and clothing to Palestinians living in Gaza.

Navabi said his group may have to try to send the humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Rafah land crossing at the Egyptian border. The ship left the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas two weeks ago.

Iran has already sent a cargo plane filled with 50 tons of relief assistance to Egypt to be sent on to Gaza. ... http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-stops-iranian-aid-ship-1334710.html