Palestinians: Mother, 4 children killed in IDF Gaza offensive By Amos Harel, Yoav Stern and Yanir Yagana, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies Tags: , ,
The deaths came as IDF ground troops and tanks cut swaths through the Gaza Strip early Sunday, cutting the coastal territory into two and surrounding its biggest city as the new phase of the devastating 9-day offensive against Hamas gained momentum.
Israel's stated goals for the offensive, named Operation Cast Lead, are the destruction of Hamas' infrastructure and the cessation of rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.
The military used overwhelming firepower from tanks, artillery and aircraft to protect the advancing soldiers.
Gaza officials said an IAF strike killed five Palestinian civilians outside a mosque in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Among those killed in Gaza since Saturday night were another five people who Palestinian medics said died when shells fired by IDF troops exploded in the center of Gaza City's main shopping area. Dozens of others were wounded, the medics said.
The IDF said troops killed several dozen militants, but Gaza officials could confirm only four dead - in part because rescue teams could not reach the battle zones.
Meanwhile, the Israel Air Force on Sunday struck and wounded Husam Hamdan, a senior Hamas militant responsible for the Qassam rocket infrastructure in the Gaza town of Khan Yunis and the firing of Grad rockets on Be'er Sheva and Ofakim.
The strike also wounded Hamas militants Mohammed Hilo and Mohammed Shalfuh, members of Hamas' special forces who helped supervise the construction and firing of Qassams from Khan Yunis.
The operation was carried out through the combined planning of the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security services.
Israeli ground troops entered Gaza on Saturday night, following a week of aerial strikes aimed at ending rocket fire on Israel's southern communities. Despite repeated bombing raids, the rocket fire continued, killing four Israelis over the last week.
that Israel could not allow its southern residents to be targeted continuously, and had been left with no choice but to act.
The bisection of the Strip by IDF ground forces Sunday was aimed at cutting off the north - including Gaza City - from the rest of Gaza. According to Palestinian reports, the split ran from the Karni crossing on the Israel border in central Gaza to the sea.
Report: 150 IDF tanks converge at former settlement of Netzarim
Sky News reported Sunday that around 150 tanks had gathered at the site of the former settlement of Netzarim.
Palestinian sources also said that Israeli troops have clashed with gunmen on the outskirts of Gaza City.
Initial reports from both Israel and Gaza on Saturday night indicated that IDF troops had killed dozens of Hamas gunmen as they traded heavy fire upon entering the Strip.
Once the ground operation got underway at around 8 P.M. Saturday, the IDF Spokesperson's office issued a statement emphasizing that this stage of the operation would further the goals of the eight-day offensive as voiced by the IDF until now: To strike a direct and hard blow against the Hamas while increasing the deterrent strength of the IDF, in order to bring about an improved and more stable security situation for residents of Southern Israel over the long term.
"The objective is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations," said Israel Defense Forces Major Avital Leibovitch, a military spokeswoman, confirming that incursions were under way. "We are going to take some of the launch areas used by Hamas."
The ground operation includes large numbers of infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence, who are supported by the Israel Air Force, Israel Navy, the Shin Bet security service and other security agencies.
The invasion was preceded by hours of artillery fire at the strip from military staging areas dotted along the Gaza-Israel border. One of the aims of the fire was to detonate Hamas explosive devices and mines planted along the border area before troops went in.
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Tens of thousands rally across Europe against Israel's Gaza offensive Gaza medical personnel said a woman and four of her children were among the 35 Palestinians killed on Sunday during an Israel Defense Forces ground offensive in the coastal territory.The deaths came as IDF ground troops and tanks cut swaths through the Gaza Strip early Sunday, cutting the coastal territory into two and surrounding its biggest city as the new phase of the devastating 9-day offensive against Hamas gained momentum.Israel's stated goals for the offensive, named Operation Cast Lead, are the destruction of Hamas' infrastructure and the cessation of rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.The military used overwhelming firepower from tanks, artillery and aircraft to protect the advancing soldiers.Gaza officials said an IAF strike killed five Palestinian civilians outside a mosque in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.Among those killed in Gaza since Saturday night were another five people who Palestinian medics said died when shells fired by IDF troops exploded in the center of Gaza City's main shopping area. Dozens of others were wounded, the medics said.The IDF said troops killed several dozen militants, but Gaza officials could confirm only four dead - in part because rescue teams could not reach the battle zones.Meanwhile, the Israel Air Force on Sunday struck and wounded Husam Hamdan, a senior Hamas militant responsible for the Qassam rocket infrastructure in the Gaza town of Khan Yunis and the firing of Grad rockets on Be'er Sheva and Ofakim.The strike also wounded Hamas militants Mohammed Hilo and Mohammed Shalfuh, members of Hamas' special forces who helped supervise the construction and firing of Qassams from Khan Yunis.The operation was carried out through the combined planning of the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security services.Israeli ground troops entered Gaza on Saturday night, following a week of aerial strikes aimed at ending rocket fire on Israel's southern communities. Despite repeated bombing raids, the rocket fire continued, killing four Israelis over the last week. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Israel could not allow its southern residents to be targeted continuously, and had been left with no choice but to act.The bisection of the Strip by IDF ground forces Sunday was aimed at cutting off the north - including Gaza City - from the rest of Gaza. According to Palestinian reports, the split ran from the Karni crossing on the Israel border in central Gaza to the sea.Sky News reported Sunday that around 150 tanks had gathered at the site of the former settlement of Netzarim.Palestinian sources also said that Israeli troops have clashed with gunmen on the outskirts of Gaza City.Initial reports from both Israel and Gaza on Saturday night indicated that IDF troops had killed dozens of Hamas gunmen as they traded heavy fire upon entering the Strip.Once the ground operation got underway at around 8 P.M. Saturday, the IDF Spokesperson's office issued a statement emphasizing that this stage of the operation would further the goals of the eight-day offensive as voiced by the IDF until now: To strike a direct and hard blow against the Hamas while increasing the deterrent strength of the IDF, in order to bring about an improved and more stable security situation for residents of Southern Israel over the long term."The objective is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations," said Israel Defense Forces Major Avital Leibovitch, a military spokeswoman, confirming that incursions were under way. "We are going to take some of the launch areas used by Hamas."The ground operation includes large numbers of infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence, who are supported by the Israel Air Force, Israel Navy, the Shin Bet security service and other security agencies.The invasion was preceded by hours of artillery fire at the strip from military staging areas dotted along the Gaza-Israel border. One of the aims of the fire was to detonate Hamas explosive devices and mines planted along the border area before troops went in.
Übersichtskarte des Gazastreifens

 Die gestern begonnene Bodenoffensive der israelischen Armee (IDF) wurde in der Nacht von Samstag auf Sonntag mit Panzereinheiten, Infanterie und Pioniereinheiten fortgesetzt. Dabei wurden die vorrückenden Bodenstreitkräfte von der israelischen Artillerie und dem israelischen Inlandsgeheimdienst Schin Bet unterstützt. Von der Seeseite her griff die israelische Marine in die Kämpfe ein. Gleichzeitig beschossen israelische Kampfflugzeuge in der letzten Nacht 45 Ziele im Gazastreifen, darunter erneut Schmuggeltunnel an der Grenze zu Ägypten, Waffenlager sowie Abschussvorrichtungen für Mörsergranaten. Laut Medienberichten wurde der schmale Küstenstreifen um die Stadt Gaza von den israelischen Bodentruppen in zwei oder drei Teile gespalten. 

Palästinensische Gesundheitsbehörden gaben die Zahl der seit Mitternacht getöteten Palästinenser mit 19 an. Drei von ihnen seien Hamas-Aktivisten gewesen. Nach IDF-Angaben wurden 28 Soldaten bei den Kampfhandlungen verletzt, zwei israelische Soldaten davon schwer. 

Auf einer Pressekonferenz nannte der israelische Ministerpräsident Ehud Olmert die Bodenoffensive „unvermeidbar“. Die Hoffnungen, die auf den von der Hamas aufgekündigten Waffenstillstand gerichtet gewesen waren, hätten sich nicht erfüllt. Kriegsziel der israelischen Bodenoffensive sei es, die Sicherheitssituation im Süden Israels zu verbessern. Daher sei es Aufgabe der israelischen Streitkräfte, die Infrastruktur der Hamas für Raketenangriffe auf Israel zu zerstören. Gebiete, von denen solche Angriffe auf die israelischen Städte Sderot, Askalon und Aschdod ausgegangen sind, würden jetzt militärisch eingenommen. Olmert versicherte, sein Land wolle keine humanitäre Katastrophe im Gazastreifen verursachen. Lebensmittel und medizinische Versorgungsgüter würden von Israel in den Gazastreifen gebracht. Die im Gazastreifen lebenden Palästinenser würden nicht als Feind betrachtet, diese Menschen seien „Opfer einer gewalttätigen und grausamen Unterdrückung“.

Bei einem Treffen des israelischen Kabinetts am Sonntag teilte der Leiter des israelischen Inlandsgeheimdienstes Shin Bet, General Yuval Diskin, mit, die Hamas habe ihre Bedingungen für einen Waffenstillstand abgemildert. Bei dem letzten Kabinettstreffen am vergangenen Mittwoch sagte Diskin, die Hamas-Infrastruktur sei durch die bisherigen Angriffe der israelischen Luftwaffe schwer getroffen worden. Ihre Fähigkeit den Gazastreifen zu regieren, sei sehr beeinträchtigt worden. Führende Hamas-Funktionäre suchten inzwischen Zuflucht in Moscheen oder tarnten sich als Ärzte oder Krankenpfleger in den palästinensischen Hospitälern. Dutzende Moscheen seien zudem zu Waffenlagern oder Kommandozentren umfunktioniert worden. Nach einer Einschätzung des militärischen Geheimdienstes vom Dienstag sei durch die Luftangriffe auf den Gazastreifen bisher etwa ein Drittel der Bestände an Raketen zerstört worden.

Der Beginn der israelischen Bodenoffensive führte zu weltweiten Protesten (Wikinews berichtete). Zehntausende Menschen gingen gestern in den großen Städten Europas, Asiens und Australiens auf die Straße. 

Der Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen befasste sich gestern mit der Lage im Nahen Osten. Durch ein Veto der Vereinigten Staaten wurde jedoch ein von arabischen Staaten eingebrachter Resolutionsentwurf nicht verabschiedet, in der Israel zu einem sofortigen Waffenstillstand aufgefordert werden sollte. Der libysche Vertreter im Sicherheitsrat, Giadalla Ettalhi, kritisierte die Vereinigten Staaten wegen ihrer fehlenden Kompromissbereitschaft, die eine Entschließung des Rates verhindert habe. Enttäuscht äußerte sich auch der britische UNO-Botschafter John Sawers.