Following last night’s barrage of 21 Kassams into Israel, which wounded approximately 20 innocent civilians, the rockets have continued this morning, with 7 more landing in the western Negev. Thankfully, no injuries or damage have been reported so far.Unfortunately, it was decided in last night’s special security meeting held by Defense Minister Peretz that the IDF’s policy in Gaza will not change drastically, although the IDF will be permitted to operate on a larger scale in order to minimize the Qassam threat to Israel.
Updates (Israel time)
9:50AM: Ha’aretz reports that in the last few minutes, a Qassam rocket landed in a basketball court in Sderot, and another hit a house next to Defense Minister Peretz’ home.
9:55AM: Clarification on IDF’s rules of engagement:
According to Israeli government sources, the current rules of engagement in Gaza will remain in force, but if the Israel Defense Forces spots specific targets that exceed these limits, it will be able to ask Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz for special approval for a strike. Consequently, a slight but not major escalation in the IDF’s offensive operations is likely, security sources said.
10:25AM: More firing at open fields. That’ll learn ’em.
1:00PM: Russian-Israeli billionaire Arkadi Gaydamak has organized 800 places in Tel Aviv and down south for Sderot residents to stay.
1:10PM: There is some talk that Israel should adopt more of a “wait-and-see” approach, given that Hamas and Fatah are still killing each other. Launching a major operation could unify the different terrorist factions towards their common enemy. I think this argument has some real merit. Both Hamas and Fatah can be weakened without Israel lifting a gun.
1:35PM: This little gem was buried in an article about the palestinian infighting (hat tip: Elder):
Amidst the fighting Hamas members were quick to announce the number of Israelis injured in Tuesday’s Qassam barrage on Sderot using the local mosques’ powerful public address systems in Gaza.
4:05PM: The IAF has fired missiles into a Hamas operations headquarters in southern Gaza, reportedly killing 4 Hamas terrorists, and wounding 20 others.
5:02PM: 9 Qassams launched at Israel so far today.
5:05PM: Ynet have an important article about the trauma caused by the Qassams. Excerpt:
“We had 14 victims who suffered from shock and I heard hair-raising stories,” she said. “I can’t remember an event with so many victims.”
Dr Schneider particularly remembers two trauma victims: “There was a soldier, who looked 19, who was unable to speak. He was emotionally stressed at the sight of a woman who was injured by a rocket.”
Another victim was a 40-year-old who cried.
“It is a feeling of hopelessness. You do nothing bad and suddenly your life is destroyed,” Schneider said.
Another victim was a pregnant woman who fell as she ran to seek shelter and injured her stomach. She feared for her fetus’ safety.
5:25PM: Meanwhile in Gaza, it’s all fun and games as Fatah and Hamas terrorists continue to kill each other…as well as their own.
Hamas forces shot dead six bodyguards from the rival Fatah movement on Wednesday and mistakenly ambushed a jeep carrying their own fighters, killing five of them, in the bloodiest day of Palestinian infighting since violence erupted in the Gaza Strip four days ago.
Not to mention “peace” demonstrators (i.e. those wanting an end to the factional violence – not an end to the fighting with Israel):
Dozens of Gaza residents turned out for a rally on Wednesday to demand an end to factional fighting, only to be caught in crossfire that left eight wounded.“Just as we used to protect you from the occupation by acting as human shields, we have come to protect you from yourselves,” one protester shouted at gunmen, referring to instances when Palestinian civilians positioned themselves between militants and Israeli forces.Placing themselves between warring factions deployed on opposite ends of a Gaza City street, the protesters were forced to run for their lives when a gun battle erupted, witnesses said.A local hospital said eight people were wounded in the crossfire, one critically.
Oops.
5:55PM: Hamas know who to blame for their fighting with Fatah.
A senior Hamas official said the international community, Israel and Arab countries are to blame for the current fighting for failing to lift an economic siege on the Palestinians.
And on the Hamas website, they claim Fatah are working with the Zionists.
Despite the agreement between Hamas and Fatah with the presence of the Prime Minister. The traitors still playing in the Palestinian arena and targeting Al Qassam members to satisfy the Zionists. The crimes committed with an American weapons, vehicles and equipment dedicated to this matter.Yesterday, they assassinated the citizens under the charge of belonging to Hamas. They defiled the mosques and distributing barriers. Today, they continued their work instead of the Zionist occupation in assassinating the wanted Qassam leaders.
6:00PM: 3 Kassams were launched at Israel a short time ago, with one hitting a home in Sderot, seriously to moderately wounding an Israeli woman.
I know it makes sense to allow the palestinian terrorists to kill themselves, but it is really hard to follow this and not be overcome by an overwhelming feeling of “let’s get medieval on their terrorist asses.”
7:50PM: AP reports that the US State Department has expressed concern about the continuing factional violence in the palestinian territories.
“This is something that does nothing to help the cause of the Palestinian people. Certainly it doesn’t bring them any closer to achieving a Palestinian state that people want and desire,” said deputy spokesman Tom Casey.
He also said Hamas’s security forces should be used to enhance – not undermine – the security of the Palestinian people and to prevent the kinds of attacks that have been directed at Israel.
Sorry, but I don’t think the US State Department should be concerned by anything other than the Qassams being directed against her ally Israel, right now. And to talk of a palestinian state at this point in time is the height of bad taste. As for the suggestion that Hamas could be used for good, this is more or less a family blog, so I won’t say what I am feeling.
8:00PM: The woman wounded earlier (see 6:00PM update) is 70-years of age.
8:12PM: The IAF has struck a Qassam crew. No word yet on casualties.
8:15PM: Now would be a good time to donate to Magen David Adom, who urgently need supplies and equipment to save lives in Sderot, and elsewhere.
8:23PM: Looks like we killed a Hamas terrorist in the strike on the Qassam launching crew.
8:33PM: 3 more Qassams were launched against Israel just after 8:00PM, with no injuries being reported.
8:36PM: How’s this for benevolent?
Magen David Adom paramedics were cooperating with Palestinian rescue workers on Wednesday to evacuate Palestinian victims of the increasing Hamas-Fatah violence.MDA ambulances waited at the Erez Crossing to Gaza to pick up an evacuate a 10-year-old girl suffering from a head wound, as well as three others wounded in their lower body, to Israeli hospitals.
9:25PM: There will be no school tomorrow in Sderot (for the second day straight), with the Sderot Municipality advising children to stay home.
9:40PM: 6 rockets in the last hour.
10:20PM: Ha’aretz reports that a Qassam has hit Sderot, knocking out power in the entire town.
10:35PM: Israel National News reports that the IAF struck a car carrying some Hamas terrorists, killing at least one.
11:25PM: A Qassam has reportedly hit a four-story building in Sderot. No word yet on casualties.
12:05AM: Yet more Qassams.
Latest updates here.
About the author
David Lange
A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
David Lange
A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
