Today, the IDF killed at least 17 palestinians, 14 of whom were terrorists (including the son of Mahmoud “the wart” al-Zahar) in ground and air operations on Gaza. The IDF operation reportedly began when undercover Israeli troops moved several hundred yards into the territory to strike an abandoned house used by palestinian terrorists for rocket-launching operations. According to the JPost:
The Egoz undercover unit moved first into the Zeitoun area east of Gaza City, striking a house used by Palestinian terrorists to launch rockets, Hamas security said. Palestinian gunmen discovered the soldiers, shot at them and an exchange of fire broke out, Hamas said.
IDF tanks, bulldozers and helicopters then entered the area, firing at the terrorists, Hamas said.
The IDF confirmed the operation in the area, saying troops fired at terrorists who had approached the border fence. After an exchange of fire broke out, aircraft also fired at the gunmen, the army said.
According to a military source, during the gunfight, an IDF helicopter fired at a car filled with gunmen approaching the troops and reported a hit.
The palestinians have predictably cried “massacre,” despite the fact that this was a battle (initiated by the rocket-launching terrorists), and the IDF almost exclusively killed terrorist combatants. And when I say palestinians, I am not just referring to Hamas. Israel’s so-called peace partner and great white hope, “moderate” Mahmoud Abbas, also denounced the raids as “a massacre”:
“There was a massacre today against our people, and we say to the world that our people will not remain silent against such crimes,” he said.
This, despite the fact that he has committed to dismantle the terror infrastructure. Everyone take note.
For their part, the palestinian terrorists deliberately killed an Ecuadorian Kibbutz volunteer, and launched another 8 Kassam rockets, and at least 20 mortar shells, at Israel.
Updates (Israel time)
6:05PM: A 7 year-old girl and a woman have both been wounded in separate Kassam rocket attacks.
7:55PM: The number of hurt in today’s Kassam rocket attacks now stands at 4. And in addition to the wounded, a poultry processing plant was hit, as well as a power line in Sderot, halting power to several areas in town. Both PETA and Richard Silverstein have been strangely quiet.
7:58PM: From the Ha’aretz news ticker:
Exiled Hamas leader Meshal says Gaza raid result of Bush`s visit to region (AP)
Funny, but I don’t recall George Bush launching any rockets at Israel during his visit.
8:08PM: Another Kassam, another person wounded. This time it’s a 19-year-old man.
8:15PM: Ma’an News reports:
Tuesday’s Israeli military action may also have been derailed Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Head of the Palestinian negotiation team Ahmed Qurei’ is threatening the Palestinian side may now pull out of further negotiations.
I certainly hope so. After all, if the palestinians are unable or unwilling to stop the terrorism, and object to us doing the job, there is nothing to talk about.
8:27PM: In a break with tradition, AP has a picture of an Israeli victim of the palestinian Kassam terror attacks.
An Israeli woman is treated for her wounds after a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from inside the Gaza Strip hit the southern Israeli town of Sderot , Tuesday Jan. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Perhaps the nationality of the photographer provides a clue as to why it was even taken?
8:32PM: 3 more Kassams landed in Israel.
8:36PM: From the JPost:
I always knew he was a cry-baby.
8:40PM: The Iranians have weighed in.
A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Muhammad Ali Husseini, harshly criticized the IDF’s recent operations in the Gaza Strip, saying they were the result of understandings reached between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President George W. Bush.
“It is now clear that the objective of Bush’s visit to the Middle East is to provide support for Israel’s crimes,” he stated, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.
Somehow, I think their involvement extends beyond mere words.
8:43PM: According to Israel’s Channel 10, 21 Kassam rockets have landed in Sderot today…so far.
