UPDATED ON:
Saturday, December 27, 2008
23:43 Mecca time, 20:43 GMT
 
News Middle East
Hundreds die in Israel raid on Gaza

Residents carry a body out of the Bureij refugee camp [AFP]

At least 220 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in an Israeli aerial bombardment on Hamas security installations.

Israel launched air attacks across the besieged Gaza Strip on Saturday, threatening that further operations would be carried out.

Emergency services said that at least 700 people had been wounded.

Witnesses reported heavy damage as at least 30 missiles were fired.

Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, said that the operation would not be short.

"The operation will go on and be intensified as long as necessary," he said on Saturday.

An Israeli military spokesman added that any "Hamas target is a target".

As dusk fell, Israel continued to bomb the strip, firing on a metal foundry in the south.

IN VIDEO

Hamas "not shaken"

Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister, condemned the attack and demanded an immediate cessation.

Hours after the Israeli assault, Gaza fighters fired home-made rockets into southern Israel, heeding calls by Hamas and other affiliated Palestinian groups to avenge the attacks, unprecedented in their scale.

One Israeli was killed in the rocket fire, medics said.

Taher al-Noono, a Hamas spokesman, described Israel's operation as a "massacre", adding: "However, our resolve cannot be dented and cannot be shaken. We will continue our struggle with absolute strength and steadfastness."

Islam Shahwan, a Hamas police spokesman, said a police graduation ceremony in Gaza City was struck by Israel. Among those killed was Tawfiq Jabber, the Gaza chief of police.

The Hamas-run interior ministry said all security compounds in the Strip had been destroyed.

Gaza is densely populated. Its 1.5 million residents area already experiencing shortages in medicine, power and basic supplies due to 18 months of an Israeli blockade.

'War crimes'

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and leader of Fatah, condemned the "aggression" in Gaza.

Smoke billowed into the air above the Gaza Strip [AFP]
Mousa Abu Morzouz, the deputy leader of Hamas, told Al Jazeera: "Until now the aggression didn't stop ... they are targeting all the police headquarters and offices.

"We will defend our people, we will retaliate against this aggression ... our military will retaliate."

Morzouz called on the world's most powerful nations to condemn the attacks: "Nobody in this world can accept what happened and the Israeli aggression ... [we expect] the international community to stand against this and say that it is not acceptable."

Mustafa Barghouthi, the former Palestinian information minister, said: "This is not an attack on the Hamas. It is an attack on the whole population and the free will of the people of Gaza."

He accused Israel of committing "war crimes" and demanded that Abbas and his government stop all relations with Israel.

'Only just beginning'

The Israel army released a statement saying "terrorist installations" were hit and that all Israeli pilots returned unharmed.

The operation against the Hamas is "only just beginning," Avi Benayahu, an Israeli military spokesman said.

The air raids follow the decision by the Israeli security cabinet to increase reprisals for cross-border rocket attacks against Israel, and the breakdown of a six-month-old Israel-Hamas truce earlier this month.

The ceasefire expired on December 19, with Hamas arguing that Israel had violated the truce by preventing vital food and medical supplies into the Strip.

Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, said: "A series of explosions were heard over Gaza City.

"From where we are, there are at least seven different clouds of smoke from the strikes. We are seeing some casualties being evacuated in cars."

Egypt has opened the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip to receive injured people, Egyptian officials said. Ambulances have been sent to the crossing and two Egyptian hospitals emptied to take in the wounded.

Weakened security services

Mohyeldin said that Hamas, which rule the Gaza Strip, was being held responsible by Israel for any attacks from the territory into Israel, even if they are undertaken by other Palestinian factions.

Palestinian officials called on the international community to condemn the raids [AFP]
However, officials of the deposed government in Gaza which maintains law and order, while being Hamas member in the main, are separate from the group's military wing and other factions responsible for attacks into Israel.

"There is within Gaza a functioning ministry of interior that has security services, traffic control, emergency medical services," Mohyeldin reported.

"Those workers are seen as employees of the government in Gaza. So now that many of these installations have been targeted, it will have an immediate impact in terms of the law and order structure here in Gaza."

Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Jerusalem, said that Israel's decision to strike at this moment was down to Hamas withdrawing from the ceasefire and the intensified rocket fire coming from the Gaza Strip in recent days.

"In one day [in the past week] we saw 80 rockets ... which is a huge upsurge," she said.

Hamas won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council in elections in January 2005. The international community refused to accept a Hamas-led government, demanding that the faction recognise Israel and renounce violence. Economic sanctions by the EU and US followed.

Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after bloody street battles against its rival, the Fatah movement.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 84
 
A.L
Israel
27/12/2008
Stop violance now.
I don't think any other country would have tolerated this amount of morter shells and missilEs. It's about time Israel do something about it. We do not like war, but they leave us no choise.

mohamad
Iraq
27/12/2008
finnaly. israel should kill more terorists.
i dont get it, they think that they can attack israel and they wont respond, everything is because of the hamas. there could have been peace and quit...

Chris
Sweden
27/12/2008
Israel has just lost its right to exist!
If you first steel a country, then kill and expel their rightful citizens just to follow them and kill them in their refugee camps outside your stolen country - then - you’ve past all humanitarian lines and wherefore lost your own right to even exist. Sorry to say, but Israel must be terminated for the sake of all humans right to international peace.

asghar
Canada
27/12/2008
Israeli missiles target Gaza
Palestinian helped you Israeli after World War 2 and this is the return! Why do not you Israeli find you dignity or at least focuses on who killed you in pass instead? Israeli has been killed by European not by Palestinian. Some day, Israeli will pay the price not by Palestinian by them self like USA. See USA is paying big time The very biggest is loosing their family value. People in USA shooting each other for nothing.

xenia
Russian Federation
27/12/2008
israeli aggression
I don't understand why Aljazeera journalist has put the word agression in inverted commas. it IS aggression on the part of Israel, has been for years. they have occupied a sovereign country. and western countries, though condemning some of the Israeli actions, like the blockade of Gaza, do nothig to stop it. The hypocricy of the so-called democratic countries is amazing.

Maradona_El_Arab
Egypt
27/12/2008
Peace for the World
Why...what did we do for you(Isreal)to do this to our Palastinians Brothers and Sisters , you did started the war not us , look what your doing now , and your telling that Arabs are the tourrists , what are you now,,,,we came with PEACE ,,,,,Stop the Violance(war)

Aracanga
Brazil
27/12/2008
Israeli attack to Gaza
This the same old Israeli technique: just a few days from the inauguration of new US Presidente, the Israelis create a new serious situation as they are sure that new US goverment will continue as their ally and ture friend. The Palestines have no chance as long the US reign in the planet.

Danial
United States
27/12/2008
Terrorism is indiscriminate
Karman, This has nothing to do with terrorism. If you sit at home and your neighbor shoots through your window, I doubt you'd be sitting all pretty. Israel is finally responding after time and again requesting Hamas to stop the mortar. Instead of criticizing Israel, you might find it more logical to criticize the Hamas government. It's time Hamas realizes they won't get all of Israel back, they should start rebuilding the Gaza strip instead of harming its citizens

Jamal Es-sraidi
Italy
27/12/2008
Israeli attack in Ghaza
Is it not the time for Egypt to do something to revenche the vecious behaviour of Israel? They have to open the terminals the keep helps for Ghaza(immediately)!!!!

Oolon Khaloophy
Israel
27/12/2008
Lets make peace!
The Israeli political leaders don't want this since there's an election coming up. They have done everything to avoid this but the Hamas terrorists shot hundreds of mortars and rockets in the past 2 weeks. Its simple: if Hamas stops shooting at Israel the killing will stop. Hamas are terrorist and derive their power from death destruction and militant Islam.

Aaron
United States
27/12/2008
Stop the occupation
And stop stealing my tax money. No Justice no peace. period.

M. H. Rahman
United Kingdom
27/12/2008
Israeli missiles target Gaza
Israel has said to Hamas: Enough is enough. I want to say to Israel: Enough is enough. Either you kill all Palestinians using your nuke or whatever, or give them their land back and let them live in peace. Do not play this war game every now and then. We all know you will do neither. You have different profit-motive. You will say again and again: Enough is enough.

Pádraic Mac Coitir
Ireland
27/12/2008
Attack on Gaza
I condemn this murderous attack on the Palestinian people by the Israelis. No doubt we'll hear mealy mouthed excuses from the British and American governments and them trying to blame Hamas for this carnage.

i.r
Israel
27/12/2008
to kamran, i invite you and specially your family, to spend some days in the area which is attacked by "few rockets" almost every day for years.

chris kanaan
Canada
27/12/2008
Arab leaders, blame yourselves.
This incident, and so many past incidents would not be possible if it were not for the willingness of the Arab leader to comply and collaborate with Israel while their people are being destroyed. They say this attack was provoked by the Israeli blockades on Gaza, may I ask how about the Egyptian blockade on Gaza?

Ludo De Brabander
Belgium
27/12/2008
sanctions for Israel
These attacks come after a murderous siege against Gaza. Bombing civilians constitutes a War crime and should be sanctioned. The European Union should immediatly abolish all cooperation (Association Agreement and Neighbourhood Policy) with Israel.

Claus von Stauffenberg
Germany
27/12/2008
Rocket attacks to blame
If Hamas had not started launching wave after wave of rockets into Israel, this would not have happened.

Abdulle
Somalia
27/12/2008
All Muslims should unite against Zionist
The mascaras of Israel Zionist against our Palestine brothers and sisters, Intentional community have responsibility to intervene the latest attack against Palestinians who suffers for the last decades and Hamas is legitimate power in Gaza, so I urge all Muslims to be aware what is happening in Gaza. And also to take actions at least to condemn.

Marcel
France
27/12/2008
Israel is right
Kamran of Afghanistan is a fool. OF course rocket launches into Israel is terrorism. Since Hammas is so defiant Israel should wipe them all out.

saywhynot
Maldives
27/12/2008
amounting to genocide
A great deal of power is being exercised over a helpless community. Dear friends, if you want to avoid seeing any further deterioration of the situation, declare Israel a state which is a threat to the peace of the world. These hypocrites are the worst of its kind in the history of mankind. And elimination of these Israelis are the only solution. Reprisals are obvious and it will be grave this time....

Sandy
Afghanistan
27/12/2008
No justification to this!!!
Dear A.L. Israel puts a blockadeto Gaza!! vioaltes every charter in human rights!! kill innocent civilians, and do a virtual apartheid against a whole ethnic poplulation!!! Above all this, the cowardly world nations watch all that is happening, occassionally condemning them through press releases....what do you expect from this...flower bouquets to be thrown to israelis??? Now, AL how it is right to do all of this and justify an unprecedented attack kill 100' and blame it on a few rockets???

David
Israel
27/12/2008
Its very simple - you, you and you!
It's very simple. You have started all the wars. You have lost in all the wars. You have always attacked, got hurt and had the nerve to complain about violence... If you want peace with us? We would welcome it - gladly. If you don't want peace - go to hell.

James
United Kingdom
27/12/2008
Israel attacks Gaza
These attacks were nothing but a last ditch effort by the Israeli government to gain some support for the coming elections. 140, or more dead just to win some more votes and these are the same people that cry about Hitler and his actions! Yes, Palestinians fire rockets but they are almost completely ineffective. But how would anyone react to being crowded into a space like Gaza and then starved of basic needs by an occupier? Would you just sit back and take it seeing your family suffer?

Mohammed
United Kingdom
27/12/2008
Thats it
I think this is it, people of palestine have tolerated enough, they should fight whole heartedly now. They cannot wait anymore, international community has done absolutely nothing, they could not supply food to hungry people in a small 40 km land how can they bring peace. People of palestine learn from what happened in Bosnia no one came to rescue you, just fight, fight really hard, thats the only way out.

Sam
Afghanistan
27/12/2008
Palestinians deserve better leadership!
Peace could be achieved, economy would've thrive, Palestinians & Israeli children play together... If only Hamas leaders would recognize the right of Israel to exist. Instead, Hamas Covenant calls for WAR: "so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement...There is no solution except by Jihad." (Article 13) I have Palestinians friends. I truly do. They all deserve much better leaders. Peace!

Tami hachamooda
Israel
27/12/2008
stop the war now

Omer
Israel
27/12/2008
What goes around comes around
"a few rockets" ??? Kamran, it seems you lost count... well so did we. 8 years of rockets and morter shells, take a look at what the russian did to the georgian for moving a few tanks. We have left the Gaza strip a long time ago and population decided to elect Hamas as the ruling party (the only one today) and the palestinian goverment decided on launching rockets. We have no interest in Gaza, as long as they fire no rockets they'll live in peace. The egyptian border will be open aand so on.

Greg Taylor
United States
27/12/2008
Israel Attack on Gaza
The Palestinians elected Hamas, an organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel. Hamas has continued to attack Israel daily with rockets and morters. Israel tell Hamas that unless they stop attacking Israel, they will respond. The Palestinians are now getting the outcome they want - more poverty, more death and more martyrs. There will never be peace until the Palestinians want it.

Omry
Israel
27/12/2008
Why self defense and terrorism
This is called as self defense since it is targeting only military targets, while the rockets the palestinian government in gaza strip are targeting only, ONLY civilian targets.

sameeha
Qatar
27/12/2008
the world must understand............
these recent air raids on gaza shows that it is always the zionist power who breaks the truce. the world must understand one thing. hamas can never be regarded as a terrorist organisation. it is just a group fighting for the freedom of their country just as many others in the world did. you can compare the map of palestine in 1940's and the present then you'll know why is all this havoc in palestine

E.S
Israel
27/12/2008
A comment about the 2nd comment
Few missles? 80 missles a day in not a few missles and should not be tolerated by any country worldwide It about time Hamas will get punished for targeting civilians for more then a week

isreli
Afghanistan
27/12/2008
thank u and good bay
thats the answer for 8 year of missile on shderot if hamas smart stop shooting now !

paulo
Brazil
27/12/2008
israel
Hamas send rockets, Israel send missiles, Hamas send rockets, and so on loosong their childs. No peace with terrorism, no peace with military actions. Seat and talk are the only way out. No guns, no bullets, no reason what so ever to no talks. Israel will not vanish and Palestine must rise by right. Greetings from a Brazilian Jew who believe that togheter this two brothers by History can make a difference to the World.

Aric
United States
27/12/2008
Peace
My thoughts and prayers are with the Palestinian people, I wish only for peace and an end to this senseless killing...

aoserd
Afghanistan
27/12/2008
gaza attacks
So far the death toll is 155:1. Crude rockets against the region's strongest army, unfettered support by timid western governments, and a brutal and inhumane siege by a so called democratic country. If Israel wants peace then live up to its legal obligations, negotiate in good faith, and there will be peace. Israel will never win this conflict.

Andu
Denmark
27/12/2008
Israel broke this ceasefire long time ago. The rockets from hamas are only a kulmination of response. What world is this, that let occupied people getting killed like this. Where is the democracy and liberty for all principles now? I am so embarrassed to be a part of a country, that once again supports this racist state of Israel by either their official statements or sometimes the complet silence to what is happening. Shame on this world for it's silence. I cry for the Palestinian people.

Tom
United States
28/12/2008
Things Could Be Very Different!!!
The loss of life is tragic and is so unnecessary. The Palestinians people deserve better leadership. Leadership that recognizes Israel’s right to exist, leadership that understands you can’t keep launching missiles at Israel and think that there will be peace. Israel has ever right to defend and protect their citizens. The Palestinian people need to kick the terrorist Hamas out of their land and live in peace with their neighbor.

Nadia
United Kingdom
28/12/2008
Israeli Terrorism
Firstly, all those people who have replied above with their support for Israel should stop reading Al Jazeera. All those Egyptians who have responded above need to learn English and stop blaming the Palestinians for their own ineptitude and incompetence - you are all Western puppets who desperately emulate those who mock you. Where is the pride of the Arabs? Israel does not belong on any world map.

Hannah
United Kingdom
28/12/2008
israels terrorist attack
i am sickened by todays events. i am sickened that my taxes contribute to such events! where is the UN? where is the arab world and the rest of the world who are supposed believe in the basic right to life. they need to grow a spine! this is completely inhumane. palestine needs medical resourses - why does the rest of the world not help them with this at least? and to say that the palestinians have got what they have been asking for is beyond disgusting and unjustified.

Rima
Lebanon
28/12/2008
Israeli attacks on Gaza
During that very famous truce people have been surviving in the blockade without food without medicine without electricity. And yet it is still called a truce. Some say that they have been living under fire for more than 8 years. What about Palestinians who have been living under fire for more than 50 years? It is always good to think that we are right so we can sleep every night. The problem is that as long as their hands are smelling blood they cannot sleep. isn't it ironic...

Chase HM
United States
28/12/2008
Condemn Israel AND Hamas
Israel broke the truce when declared economic war on Gaza by maintaining the blockade. Israel conducted a daytime raid against non-military targets with a disregard for civilian collateral damage when they could have renegotiated the truce by lifting the blockade. But I'm saddened when I read comments defending Hamas. It shows how much they care for their own people when they fire rockets at Israelis from residential districts in order to draw Israel to bomb civilians, and use this as propaganda

ido
Sweden
28/12/2008
Israel has just lost its right to exist?
Chris, chris!!, what are you talking about?! steal a country? there was no palestinian countery or Israel before 1948(learn history). have you ever seen someone who is a refugee for over 60 years?!?! did you ever felt how is it to live in fear of rockets & morter shells for 8 years with no response from the israeli gov'? did you know that the Gaza-strip has no single israeli man, soldier, home or a cat inside? (and still the Hamas choose to keep on with the fire)

ed
United States
28/12/2008
gaza
how long will these idealogues in power let the common people bear the brunt of their beliefs? we have one world, we all need to learn to live together. peace.

Ken
Afghanistan
28/12/2008
Gaza attacked
Israel has the right to defend itself. They are doing the right thing by protecting their citizens, who were suffering from rocket attacks on a daily basis. If It takes Israel to destroy Hamas and put an end to the unwarranted attacks by Hamas then so be it. Go Israel!

alison
United Kingdom
28/12/2008
gaza
I was deeply saddened to see the footage of the Israeli attack on Gaza The victims have received the blame yet again rather than the aggressors Just what is going on in the world? How can this attack on the Palestinian people be justified by the US? It is shocking. Im afraid I have totally lost any confidence in the UN and all the democratic free countries around the world. How can they possibly sit back and watch these things happeneing? How can people sleep at night with a clear mind?

Dave
United Kingdom
28/12/2008
Israeli bombings
Has there ever been a more morally bankrupt act than the killing of the innocents as an electioneering tool used by the Israeli government. They kill Palestinians by the hundreds yet still claim victimhood. Unsurpassed chutzpah.

Kamran
Afghanistan
27/12/2008
Isreali Missiles target Gaza
These attacks can answer why the So-called extrimism or terrorism exits in this world, why shuuld this be declared as an act of self-defense while a few rocket fire to Isreal as terrorism?

Marka
United States
28/12/2008
Jacky Rowland Should consider working for IDF
I think Jacky could make a very good IDF spokeswomen! She is good, "knows the facts" like the back of her hand. Most importantly she feels at home justifying Israeli crimes. Jacky, I think you better off if you go back to work for BBC or even better Foxviews.

Michelle
United States
28/12/2008
Enshallah, may peace be with you
I can't believe how some outsiders r ignorant & oblivious, however it is understandable due to the misleading USA Media. I have family in Gaza that have been living in conditions that would be imaginable for most human eyes-we just want to live. I cant believe that the world blames Palestinians &Hamas for situations that is out of their control.&for the Israelis to forget how it feels to have basic human rights stripped & masacre done unto them some 60yrs ago to unveil such horror onto others.

Adam
United Kingdom
28/12/2008
who is the terrorist?
First of all, whosoever calls hamas or the palestinian militants terrorists has no basic view of history. It is israel and the zionist regime who occupies palestine. Fact! Therefore palestinian resistance and defence is a legitimate and undeniable right. Hamas are not terrorists -it is the people opposing human liberty and colonisation who are the terrorists ie zionists, bush, rice etc. This is the common misconception that the western world has of terrorism.

Gordon, Australia
Afghanistan
28/12/2008
Remember Lidice, 1942. Israel, what you sow is what you will reap.

Avatichi
United States
28/12/2008
Peace On Earth
There will be peace when the Palestinians will love their children more than they hate the Israelis.

Jens
Germany
28/12/2008
Our hearts and minds...
are with the Palestinian people. These atrocities have got to stop! Gaza is like a huge prison. How brave from the great "IDF" to murder an imprisoned people, mainly innocent civilians, from the air. The Israeli politicians that are responsible for these criminal actions are cowards, land robbers, basically a bunch of thugs. The whole world despises Israel for its inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people.

E.
United States
28/12/2008
Ignorance
The killing of civilians is always wrong, but I think people are forgetting to ask themselves why Hamas would want to fire rockets into Israel in the first place.

Stephen
United States
28/12/2008
Israel
The Israelis bring more trouble to us than any one combined. the USA is supposed to be a land of Life, Liberty, and pursuit of happyness, and we support a corrupt military bully, who attacks countries smaller than itself, and denies the people the freedoms that the USA has. . More Palestinian children die than Israeli children, and even if Israel attacks them first, its "defense," and for Hamas its a "terrorist act." Killing 225 ppl and injuring 700 isnt retaliation for killing 1 Israeli.

Batool Arhamna Haider
Pakistan
28/12/2008
Israeli terrorism!
No matter what justifications are provided by the Israel's government, there are no words unfortunately in any language's literature that can help them justify this bloodbath. And just look at the ratios: 3000 people killed in Lebanon for 2 armed Israeli soldiers & now 200 Palestinians killed & nearly as many injured, for Hamas' rockets that killed 1 israeli & barely injured 5 others. Truly we live in a world where terrorists are called victims & victims are called terrorists.

estella
Turkey
28/12/2008
Israeli Air Strikes
How many Palestinian deaths will it take to satisfy Tzipi Livni's political ambition?

Eli
Israel
28/12/2008
Hamas - in the name of Alla take us to chaos
Israel exists with the recognition of the United Nations (i.e. most countries of the world support the right of the Jews to build their homeland in Israel). The peace process terminated because of more than 1000 Israelis killed in terror attacks came from Hamas and their partners. Israel withdraws from Gaza and Hamas replied with 7 years of attacks on CIVILANS. Day by day. Hamas declare that they will not stop till all Israel will be "liberated". I wish that god will bless us with peace.

boaz
Israel
28/12/2008
we didnt want this war
our goverment did the best she could to avoid this attack ,in case you forgot this is after all the left goverment that pull out from gaza a few years a go ,but the hamas enjoy to bomb israeli towns non stop .so after 8 years of bombarment israel finly is doing something to stop it ,like any normal country will do to her citzents.

fabritzio
Italy
28/12/2008
finnaly Hamas get what he deserve
After 6 years that HAmas continue to send missils and morters shell on israel and he continue do this even after israel retreat from all gaza strip its abut time that israel will respons. It is essential that Hamas understand that Israel will not tolerate any more of this Israel is like a bear that Hamas wake up. And for the people of gaza I like to say that all this situation is result to Hamas government as soon as you rid of this trorist government your life will back to normal

AHMED
India
28/12/2008
terrorist
55 years ago indian revolutinary was terrorist b cause they were fighting for freedom from british and today hamas is terrorist b cause they are asking freedom from isreal . and americans who are sitting in iraq afghanisthan or pakistan they are heros because they are occupiers .

Trudi Edinburgh
United Kingdom
28/12/2008
Israel
There has been one Israeli death..yet there almost 300 Palestinians dead, these include women and children. Tell me who are the ones suffering? Another form of collective punishment from Israel. The people in Gaza are an easy target, without food, no electricity or gas, little employment. This is a humanitarian crisis, we should boycott all products from Israel.

II
United Kingdom
28/12/2008
Hundreds die in Israel Raid On Gaza
A disproportionate response of collective punishment and state terrorism committed by the Israeli Government against innocent non combatants and the infrastructure of the Gaza strip. There is no difference between Hamas, and the Israeli governement, as they both are not bothered by collateral damage to any of the civilian populations in this "war".

Debra
United States
28/12/2008
Israel attacks on Gaza
I'm embarrassed to be a part of a country that currently says they "do not support terrorism" but when it comes to supposed allies such as Israel my government seems to have no problem with the murder of innocents. It's condemned when it's perceived Muslim based but not otherwise? What about the innocent victims? Eygpt needs to leave borders open forgetting political issues, helping their Brothers. InShallah peace will be here. Both sides make peace NOW. Think of the children if nothng else

habibatAllah
Palestinian Territory
28/12/2008
israeli attacks on Gaza
people have lost their hearts ands souls to the lies of the israeli gov, did hammas really attack the israelies? did anyone die??? but the people of Gaza are getting killed by hundreds. and to hell with the MA gov he is just killing his own people. there is no Fattah or Hammas in a situation like this there are only palestinians a.k.a human beings

Aki
Finland
28/12/2008
Gaza
All this will come into very ugly end eventually. I personally dont think there is no way but one of the belligerents to be wiped out completely. Here in Finland theres still lots of people hoping and waiting for a rematch against Russia, and it has been over 60 years since last open war... Hard to see how there could be peace, if theres not a victory on one side or the other.

Observer
Belgium
31/12/2008
Stop the Violence
What would France do if Luxembourg had been continually firing missiles at its cities, with the stated aim of destroying it, without stopping, without stopping, without stopping, without stopping, without stopping?

Saif
Egypt
31/12/2008
Justifying Israels actions against the impoverished and embargoed people of Palestine would mean the end of morality, ethics and indeed human values. What Israel is doing is a an abomination of so called "self-defense" - and should be considered no less than genocide. Most of the dead are innocent children pulled out of rubble. Hamas is "democratically" elected. Even a humanitarian aid vessel was not allowed to enter - rather than inspect the cargo of the ship -Israeli navy rammed the vessel

Mohamed
South Africa
31/12/2008
palastine needs us
the western world and uk together all support the attacks on the palastinians. they have united in there views and theyr wealth in empowering israel and they are silent in these attacks.isnt it time the muslims and arab world get together,my arab brothers,your are billionares,help palastine.lets unite and help our mothers and brothers n children!

Faysal
United Kingdom
01/01/2009
israel raid in Gaza
If someone came to my house and started asking me to negotiate taking over most part of my space, I doubt I'll sit there quitely and hand it over to him without defending my right. Likewise Palestinians, especially Hamas, want to protect their homeland and are right to do so. The power of Israel is undoubutedly immense due to the backing of US and UK and even if Hamas did negotiate I don't think the Israelis will ever stop without invading Palestine, so fight till the end and may God help Palestine.

noorahmad
Afghanistan
02/01/2009
stop the occupation
Boycott all Israelis and U.S products, stop contributing to this massacre! How would you react if tomorrow you wake up to find strangers living in your house? But on the other hand Hamas should have thought about the civilian, and try to find some arrangement... BOYCOTT ISRAEl

Amy
Saudi Arabia
02/01/2009
Gaza In Hell - Let it live in peace
What Israel is doing is wrong. There are human beings with feelings and friends and family and homes and lives. Imagine if you were a little child whos house has been bombed and all your family members have died. You have been the only survivor. And you're injured badly, young, and homeless as well as an orphan. Think about that. That's real. That has happened to a young girl. Children are being killed. Family members are being lost. Think about that. Imagine that was your life.

sherine
Egypt
02/01/2009
New world record of violence, by the end of 2008 Israel gave Gazans a new year bloody gift. Israel should worry about the revenge of new generations who saw the destruction of their home, death of their parents and lived in fear and a shortage of their own basic needs. I know Israel suffered as well but from rockets but its reaction was very destructive. I think ceasefire and peace will be the only solution.

sharon miller
United States
02/01/2009
Israel raid on Gaza
This is what Hamas is saying: "We're fighting in the name of the "resistance", we shoot rockets at Israeli civilians, in the name of the "resistance", we send suicide bombers to blow themselves up on busses, market places, restaurants, malls etc. If your babies get killed, we don't care, it's all in the name of the "resistance", we will kill whomever we can kill, in the name of the "resistance", but, don't resist our "resistance", because we will call it a "genocide"...

Rene Out
Australia
02/01/2009
Gaza
What more proof is necessarry to demonstrate that Hamas wants to destroy their own brothers and sisters by their own actions........

harry
United Kingdom
02/01/2009
collateral damage
This morning, the world's press reported that the Israeli Army telephoned 20 of the houses before they were shelled, to warn the residents of the danger. What other country at war would take such efforts to protect enemy citizens????

KOBI
Israel
02/01/2009
Israel defends its citizens!
I can't understand - all of you who are blaming Israel for the violence - are you stupid or blind? Israelis lived eight years! Under rockets, we warned - we will attack but no one reacted and Hamas laughed. So now eat your own food! Enough is enough we have pulled out of Gaza three years ago and still they are throwing missiles - what could we do? Arabs have 22 countries around the world - Jews only one, we want peace but Muslim terrorists can't accept Jewis state. We are at war. [Moderators note: please refrain from CAPITALISING submissions as they may not be published in future due to current volumes of workload. Thank you.]

Michael
USSR (former)
02/01/2009
The solution
Need to transfer all Israelis back to them motherlands (Germany, France, England and other Europe countries, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and other Former Soviet republics, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran and other Arab and Muslim countries and so on. Here are some problems. First: What to do with Israelis that are n-generation in Israel. Second: Where to transfer mixed families (exp: Grandpa of Grandpa came from Russia and Grandma of Grandma came from Syria).

jide
Nigeria
02/01/2009
Let there be peace
Well, I do believe that no matter what innocent people are being killed, therefore I will call on US and the rest of the world to let there be peace in the Gaza, we can't just fold our arms.

arthur
France
02/01/2009
God save palestinians
enough is enough this was the words tzipi livni yes i agree with her .enough killing palestinians and letting them without food without water without anything it's a shame how they can do this ?

Big
Afghanistan
03/01/2009
Arab leaders
Arab leaders are cowards. How can they continue enjoying their chocolate and eating cakes when their neighbors are fighting? Big

World Peace
United Kingdom
05/01/2009
Justice for the oppressed Palestinians
Despite the extensive and widespread coverage, the world leaders remains silent against the inhumane atrocities that are carried out by Israel, and the continual violations of UN resolutions for decades. Israel should be made to comply with the very UN Resolutions that it shelters from, in their actions against the Palestinians. Innocent civilians are being massacred it is devastating, heartbreaking and completely unacceptable, and unjustifiable by any International or moral standards.

Muzzafar Khan
Kenya
05/01/2009
Massacre in Gaza.
Firstly,without Aljazeera the world may not have known the ground reality in Gaza.The brutal force used by Israel is unprecedented in any conflict in recent times.Nelson Mandela was removed from the register of terrorists only a few months ago long after he was released from detention and the events that followed in his life.This being the case,the register maintained by us should include the names all the 1.3 billion muslims,who are sick and tired of its hypocracy.Palestinians will be victors

haroon tariq
Uganda
05/01/2009
israeli attacks
Justifying Israels actions against the impoverished and embargoed people of Palestine would mean the end of morality, ethics and indeed human values. What Israel is doing is a an abomination of so called "self-defense" - and should be considered no less than genocide. Most of the dead are innocent children pulled out of rubble. Hamas is "democratically" elected. Even a humanitarian aid vessel was not allowed to enter - rather than inspect the cargo of the ship -Israeli navy rammed the vessel.

 
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