Palestinian Death Toll Rises to 325 as Israeli Strikes Continue

[tekisui]

Source: Guardian

The toll of Palestinians killed by Israel's three-day bombing campaign in Gaza today rose to at least 325 as Israeli jets bombed a university's science laboratories and hit the interior ministry in a widening series of air strikes.

The Israeli defence minister, Ehud Barak - who has already said his government does not want another ceasefire with the Islamist Hamas movement - said his army was fighting a "war to the bitter end".

Israel declared the border area around Gaza a closed military zone which, together with preparations for a call-up of thousands of reservists, could suggest a large ground invasion is planned next. Barak said the military campaign would be "widened and deepened as needed".

The number of civilians killed in the fighting continued to rise. The UN Relief and Works Agency, which supports Palestinian refugees and has large programmes in Gaza, said it believed at least 57 civilians were among the dead, but described that as a conservative estimate.

The overall number of injured is thought to be as high as 1,400, although Gazan hospitals are so overcrowded and short of medicine and equipment that they are turning away all but the most seriously wounded.

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/29/gaza-israel-palestinians-middle-east

[Horselover Fat]

1. how many of those 325 ever fired a Qassam rocket?? likely none.

Mission Accomplished, eh Israel?

And they wonder why the suicide bomber ever came to exist...

[subsuelo]

2. this has nothing to do with rockets

[GoesTo11]

4. 325 civilians.

[Horselover Fat]

6. that was my point. they were innocents killed for no reason at all, other than blind aggression.

These strikes won't stop the missiles. And really they're not even designed to.
It's shameless.

[libodem]

3. What if?

The death toll numbers were reversed? Would the loss of innocent life suddenly be more tragic? If they collateral damage were Israeli deaths? I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the if the causality is brown or Muslim, somehow it's not a big deal. I think if 300+ Israeli's were dead there would be a scramble to get in there and do something. I do not like the attitude that some life is counted for more than another life because of race, color creed, or religion. It is WRONG THINKING! The whole action stinks of a desperate attempt to get in and land grab before the Bush administration is out. I'll bet they would like to to see Iran get involved or involve them by proxy to get the big effing war they have been begging for for the last 8 years. Well, one good thing at least Bushitler won't be credited with bringing, Peace to the Middle-east as part of his delusional 'beautiful', legacy.

[Scurrilous]

5. Gazans pay price of Israel's strikes against Hamas

<snip>

"Israel's three-day aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip has killed dozens of civilians, along with Hamas fighters, and has paralyzed life in the territory, already battered by blackouts and shortages during 18 months of border closures.

Israel says it's careful to avoid harm to bystanders and has allowed limited humanitarian supplies into the Hamas-ruled territory, but the nonstop attacks have caused wider power outages, terrified residents and left aid agencies unable to feed thousands of needy.

More than 360 Palestinians were killed by Monday. U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said 62 civilians were confirmed killed and the number was likely higher.

Israel is shelling Hamas-run organizations, homes of activists, security posts — all scattered in densely populated areas. Gazans say most strikes come without prior warning.

"Civilian casualties are almost impossible to avoid and that's particularly true when so many locations are being targeted," Holmes said.

"We don't know where they'll shell next," said medic Mohammed Azayzeh, 27. His family lives just meters from a Hamas institution that residents fear will be bombed, but they aren't budging — because they don't know if the next place they will flee to will be any safer. On Monday, eight children were killed in three separate airstrikes targeting the homes of senior Hamas activists."

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