Bombardment of the Gaza Strip
above: An Israeli flare lights up an area on the edge of Gaza City after a day of heavy clashes between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces on January 5, 2009. (Getty Images)
Source: Boston Globe
It has now been two weeks since Israel began its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. On January 3rd, the Israeli Defense Force ground troops began entering Gaza, soon cutting the territory in half. Israel’s stated goals are to end rocket attacks originating from Gaza - which had increased sharply following the end of a cease-fire agreement in December. As Israeli troops began entering Gaza, foreign reporters and photographers were denied entry to the territory by Israel, halting any reports originating from Gaza except those coming from Palestinians.
As of Wednesday, since the beginning of this campaign, there have reportedly been over 650 deaths in Gaza, and 10 Israelis killed, including 7 soldiers. Israel suspended operations for a few hours today, to allow humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza. Officials from France, Egypt and Turkey are working with Israel and the Palestinians to draw up a cease-fire plan, but many details still remain unresolved.
above: Smoke from Israeli artillery shelling covers the ground of the northern Gaza Strip on January 3, 2009. (Getty Images)
EK on 14 Jan 2009 at 4:29 pm #
I so wish that Israel didn’t have a hand in our back pockets. It’s ridiculous, really. I have so much to say…that I just can’t say any of it right now.
EK on 14 Jan 2009 at 4:35 pm #
“Every time anyone says that Israel is our only friend in the Middle East, I can’t help but think that before Israel, we had no enemies in the Middle East.”
— John Sheehan, S.J
I had to come back and leave you with that though. Chuuucchh!!