Foreigners Exit Gaza as Ground Attack Fears Grow

[tekisui]

Source: Euronews

Israel has allowed 443 foreigners to leave the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip as it continues its military assault on the territory. Many of those allowed out are spouses and children of Gaza Palestinians. The move could be an indication that Israel is planning an escalation in the fighting.

Those leaving got on buses at dawn and headed for the Erez border crossing. According to the authorities they are US, Russian, Moldovan, Ukrainian, Turkish and Norwegian passport holders.

Israeli armed forces remained massed on the Gaza frontier in preparation for a possible ground offensive as international calls for a ceasefire continue to be ignored.

http://www.euronews.net/en/article/02/01/2009/foreigners-exit-gaza-as-ground-attack-fears-grow/

[tekisui]

1. Russia completes evacuation of its citizens from Gaza

EREZ BORDER CROSSING (Gaza), January 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russian diplomats completed on Friday the evacuation of Russian citizens from the Gaza Strip, which has been hit by massive Israeli airstrikes since Saturday.

A total of 101 Russian nationals and about 70 citizens of Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Belarus have crossed the border.

The citizens from Russia and other Soviet republics, who have been evacuated from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict area, are boarding buses, which will deliver them to Jordan from where planes of the Russian Emergencies Ministry will fly them to Moscow.

Israel began a massive air offensive on Gaza on Saturday in response to rocket and mortar fire by militants on southern Israel which have left four Israelis dead.

Tel Aviv has called it "an all-out war" against the Islamic militant group Hamas which controls Gaza. Some 403 Palestinians have been killed in the airstrikes, with over 2,000 injured.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090102/119334614.html

[Azooz]

2. Palestinians return to Gaza

Palestinians brave Israeli assault to return home - 2 Jan 08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRp8dHL1deE

An old Palestinian said that he would return even if Gaza was to be nuked.