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IDF advance into Gaza City - using white phophorous missiles to attack hospitals, UNRWA headquarters and a media compound

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Thu, 01/15/2009 - 15:50 — McJ

I've been tied up with life's demand these past couple of days so I haven't I had a lot of time to post or comment but wanted to add a quick post on the latest events in Gaza.

Al Jazeera and Maan news agency are reporting that IDF forces are advancing into Gaza city. In some of the heaviest attacks since the war began Israel targeted, hospitals, news stations, Mosques, stores, schools, apartment buildings and homes. People are said to be fleeing into the streets, many in their night clothes, ahead of the advancing force. The IDF forces were reported to be shooting at everyone and using white phosphorus laced missiles on the residential areas. Ambulance services and hospitals are overwhelmed with the dead and injured.

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m50863


"Dr Bashar Murad, the head of emergency services at Al-Quds Hospital, told Ma’an that three Israeli missiles hit the hospital, two of them containing white phosphorus. Shrapnel from the bombs was scattered in the hospital but no one was injured. Fire has engulfed the hospital’s administration building, a storehouse, and a pharmacy.

Murad said that up to 600 people had fled Tel Al-Hawa and areas around the hospital.

Meanwhile, UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, says Israeli shells struck their headquarters in Gaza City, injuring three workers. The compound includes the UNRWA offices, warehouses and a school. As many as 700 Palestinians had taken refuge in the compound, which is still on fire.

The United Nations is claiming that shells were laced with the controversial chemical weapon, white phosphorus.

Separately, Israeli forces attacked a media compound home to the Reuters news agency, NBC, and a number of Arab networks in Gaza City late on Thursday morning. Two journalists working for Abu Dhabi television were injured when at least one Israeli shell struck the building."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/2009115153549143408...

"Three hospitals and a UN compound have been bombed by Israel as troops continue to advance into the densely-populated Gaza City.

Around 500 people were sheltering in the Al-Quds hospital in the city's southwestern Tal Al-Hawa district when it was bombed by Israeli jets and set ablaze on Thursday morning.

Hospital officials said the fire was sparked by a "phosphorus shell".
...
The Israelis also bombed a UN compound in Gaza City, setting fire to warehouses of badly-needed food and medical aid and prompting international outrage.

Around 700 Palestinians were sheltering in the UN complex at the time of the strikes which left two civilians and three staff members injured.
...
John Ging, the director of Unrwa operations in the Strip, also accused the Israelis of using phosphorus shells.

"They are phosphorus fires so they are extremely difficult to put out because, if you put water on, it will just generate toxic fumes and do nothing to stop the burning," he said.

You can watch Al Jazeera English (as well as many other stations) live for free from Livestation at the link below.
http://www.livestation.com/downloads

From GRITtv:
Israel violates US Law
with Cynthia McKinney and Chris Hedges

Comments

Fri, 01/16/2009 - 02:32 — james

What next?

Effin UNBELIEVABLE!
I can't help thinking that eliminating the Palestinians' ability to fight is in preparation for a larger war. So it's not just what's next but who's next?
Lebanon? Then Syria? Then the big one - on to Iran? Meanwhile the US attacks Pakistan with those extra troops going to Afghanistan?

Israel can't afford to have a cessation in the war. They can't afford to have the world looking in detail at the damage done to Gaza after they withdraw. They can't afford to sit and suffer boycotts aimed at them for a change.
No, they need to keep this jugernaut rolling, it seems to me

Fri, 01/16/2009 - 03:47 — McJ
McJ's picture

Good Point James!

Good point! Is one of the reasons for this unbelievably brutal attack to provoke others to retaliate which will then lead to more reasons for Israel to 'defend' itself? As you say they just gotta keep this jugernaut rolling.

They can't afford to sit and suffer boycotts aimed at them for a change.
I was reading today (can't find the link) about the propaganda campaign that Israel is planning to launch as 'damage control' after they pull out of Gaza.

"I set it down,
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain..." -- Shakespeare, Hamlet, I, v

Fri, 01/16/2009 - 05:12 — james

Dominos

"Is one of the reasons for this unbelievably brutal attack to provoke others to retaliate which will then lead to more reasons for Israel to 'defend' itself?"
I think so, McJ, and I think that was the case in 2006 against Lebanon. The Israelis were trying to suck Syria in and hoping for Iran to join them too. Fortunately, Hizbollah were able to fight them off. It's also a geographic thing. They need to overcome the treat on their borders first before attacking Iran.
These bastards like to jam their victims in no-win situations. Right now I figure Hizbollah would like to come to the aid of Hamas militarily but don't want to give Israel the opportunity to expand the war (together with lots of casualties in Lebanon). But they must calculate that they will be next anyway so should they attack now (or last week) or wait while Israel gets stronger? Same goes for everyone down the line ...... and it wont stop at Iran, either. There's a whole world out there to conquer.
We're not just looking at Israel. There's the US and the UK. But ultimately it is a small band of people that control all three countries. They want to rule the world. It's not enough that they have all the money. That's the thing about psychopathy. They can't stop. "There's no rest for the wicked".....literally. They've all got a demon on their tail! .... also literally.

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