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Last update - 07:56 09/01/2009
Three more IDF soldiers killed in fighting in Gaza Strip
Tags: gaza, israel news, hamas

Three Israeli soldiers were killed in the Gaza Strip on Thursday as rockets continued to strike the Negev, bringing the Israel Defense Forces' death toll to nine since Israel began its ground invasion of the coastal territory last week.

For the first time since fighting began in the Gaza Strip 13 days ago, rockets also hit northern Israel.


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As fighting raged in the south, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Israeli, Egyptian and other foreign diplomats sought to negotiate a separate formula for bringing the fighting to an end.

Capt. Omer Rabinovitch of the Golani infantry brigade was killed in the northern Gaza Strip during clashes with Hamas gunmen, the third IDF soldier to die in one day. Another soldier was lightly wounded in the incident.

Sgt. Amit Robinson, 20, from Kibbutz Ma'agal, was killed Earlier Thursday by Palestinian sniper fire in the Strip. Robinson fell while participating in a joint operation involving infantry troops, combat engineers and armored corps soldiers. Another soldier was lightly wounded in the incident, as well.

News of Robinson's death was released just after that of Maj. Roey Rosner, 27, of Holon, who was also killed hours before in a separate gunbattle with Hamas militants

Rosner, an officer in the Kfir infantry brigade, was fatally wounded when his unit was hit by an anti-tank missile while on patrol in the former settlement of Netzarim. Another soldier was also lightly wounded in that incident.

Rosner's death marked the first time Hamas militants used anti-tank missiles against IDF troops since Israel began its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah fighters made extensive use of those weapons during the Second Lebanon War, contributing to most of the Israeli casualties then.

Meanwhile, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired at least 25 rockets and mortar shells at the western Negev on Thursday afternoon, injuring four people.

At least five rockets fired by militants from Gaza struck southern Israel overnight. Two of the rockets exploded in open fields near Be'er Sheva, another two hit near Ashkelon and a fifth struck the Eshkol region.

The IDF ceased offensive fire again yesterday afternoon, enabling humanitarian aid to be brought into the Strip. Hamas did not stop firing during the three-hour hiatus in Israeli attacks.

Yesterday the IDF also allowed 300 holders of dual citizenship in the Strip to cross to Jordan through the Allenby Bridge.

Meanwhile the talks in Egypt held by Amos Gilad, the head of the Defense Ministry's political-security bureau, did not reach a breakthrough on a cease-fire, according to Israeli sources. At this time Israel is debating two possibilities: a unilateral cease-fire or a decision to deepen the ground offensive.

A cabinet meeting was expected Friday morning to decide on the matter.

The Egyptians informed Gilad that at this time Hamas is opposed to their initiative for a cease-fire.

Signaling Hamas' unwillingness to compromise at this time, a senior Hamas official in Syria, Mohammed Nazzal, told Syrian TV yesterday that the group would never surrender and vowed to fight house-to-house against Israeli troops in Gaza.

There was also no progress on the issue of arms smuggling, other than an expression of good will by Egypt to hold talks on the matter. "The talks on the tunnels issue needs more time before there will be results," a defense related source said yesterday.

Also Thursday, Arab states decided to put aside their proposed UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, and to negotiate a different draft put forward by Britain and backed by the United States and France. That resolution was passed by the UN, with a majority vote of 14 and abstention from the United States.

Arab nations had been pressing for a council vote Thursday on their newly-revised resolution, which would demand an end to all military activity in Gaza and call for an international force to prevent arms smuggling. But the changes in the Arab text did not meet all the demands of the United States and its key Western allies, Britain and France, all veto-wielding members of the council.

However a disagreement emerged with Arab diplomats insisting on a legally binding resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli troops, while the U.S., Britain and France wanted a weaker statement emphasizing that a "durable cease-fire" requires guarantees on reopening border crossings and preventing arms smuggling by Hamas.

Arab ministers discussed that text, then rejoined their Western counterparts for further talks. A diplomat at the meeting said the Arabs agreed to negotiate on the British text and proposed a number of amendments. Leaving the meeting, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "We're still working very hard. We're making some progress."

Meanwhile, in Washington, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution stating an "unwavering commitment" to Israel and its right to defend itself, while also calling for "a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside a secure state of Israel." The House was expected to pass a similar measure Friday.

The United Nations suspended missions in the Gaza Strip yesterday after two Palestinians in a truck flying the UN flag were killed by Israeli fire, depriving hundreds of thousands of increasingly desperate residents of a main source of food and humanitarian aid.

"The UN is suspending its aid operations in Gaza until we can get safety and security guarantees for our staff," said Chris Gunness of the U.N Relief and Works Agency, which has been helping Gaza refugees since 1949.

"We've been coordinating with them [Israeli forces] and yet our staff continue to be hit and killed," he added.

Rocket fire on the North

Militants in Lebanon fired several Katyusha rockets into northern Israel on Thursday, including one that tore through the roof of a nursing home and injured two people, raising Israeli concerns it may have to fight a two-front conflict. Israel swiftly retaliated with artillery fire at the suspected source of the rockets, and the border region settled into a tense calm.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora condemned the attack, which he said appeared aimed to draw his country into an unwanted confrontation with Israel just as it was recovering from the previous one.

Related articles:
  • Israel bombs south Gaza tunnels, tells local residents to flee
  • At least two Lebanon rockets hit North; IDF responds with shells
  • ANALYSIS / Israel's three alternatives for the future of the Gaza war
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Fallen hero
    Relatives mourn Maj. Roey Rosner, 27, killed Wednesday by Gaza militants.
    On the northern front
    Hezbollah denies responsibility for two rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon.
      1.   Destroying Gaza Tunnels 13:43  |  John Stein 08/01/09
      2.   IDF/Ground Offensive 14:55  |  Canadian 08/01/09
      3.   to Hohn #1 15:02  |  Ned 08/01/09
      4.   War 15:08  |  Sabra 08/01/09
      5.   RIP the civilians :-( 15:13  |  Jens 08/01/09
      6.   John 15:20  |  Mirko 08/01/09
      7.   To Canadian 15:26  |  Abas 08/01/09
      8.   John and Ned, two stooges 15:41  |  judith 08/01/09
      9.   John/Ned/Canadian and others 15:46  |  MP 08/01/09
      10.   Canadian # 2 The Gaza Strip Is Not Occupied 16:00  |  Jeff Northridge 08/01/09
      11.   War 16:02  |  Rachel 08/01/09
      12.   Why does Israel destroy tunnels? 16:12  |  George 08/01/09
      13.   Arab Occupation 16:15  |  Gérard 08/01/09
      14.   Abas 7 16:16  |  ChanahS 08/01/09
      15.   Destroy Hamas Now 16:32  |  Gilbert 08/01/09
      16.   HONEST 16:32  |  SUPPORT ISRAEL 08/01/09
      17.   Gaza War, Why? 17:24  |  Charles 08/01/09
      18.   To 16, Honest 17:26  |  Charles 08/01/09
      19.   #16 HONEST? 17:29  |  George 08/01/09
      20.   destroy hamas 18:12  |  piet van mourik 08/01/09
      21.   SAD, My heart Goes Out to the familes of the Warriors 18:13  |  Baruch Gold 08/01/09
      22.   Seems like the 4 hours is just enough2prepare 25 Rocket salvos 18:42  |  Alan SA 08/01/09
      23.   to John Stein (Jewish Muslim in Turkey?) 18:56  |  goofy jew 08/01/09
      24.   no options 19:40  |  Harry 08/01/09
      25.   Talk to Hamas 19:54  |  Antonio da Silva 08/01/09
      26.   Conflict In The Middle East 19:55  |  Milton Martinez 08/01/09
      27.   Antonio, 25 20:36  |  Harry 08/01/09
      28.   Has IDF fallen into Hamas trap? 21:49  |  Mark B. 08/01/09
      29.   to#25 Antônio 21:55  |  David 08/01/09
      30.   Honest What about peace ? 22:13  |  Aby 08/01/09
      31.   so sorry 22:19  |  and 08/01/09
      32.   May the Lord protect and preserve the Israeli people 22:24  |  Gina 08/01/09
      33.   To # 29, David 23:11  |  Rudolf 08/01/09
      34.   dead Israeli soldier 23:16  |  james 08/01/09
      35.   #10, Jeff, Even the US considers Gaza is occupied 23:16  |  A Bethlehemite 08/01/09
      36.   G-D what it hurts to lose these young beautiful persons! 23:44  |  Alicia 08/01/09
      37.   Jeff Northridge #10 wrong as usual 23:46  |  Roo 08/01/09
      38.   # 13 Sons of Geremino 00:05  |  Caroline 09/01/09
      39.   The Arabs occupied Israel since 938.....So 1310 00:08  |  Sally 09/01/09
      40.   Israel v the people (not govts) of the world 00:09  |  Gary McFarlane 09/01/09
      41.   To goofy jew #23 03:04  |  Store Hoggestabbe 09/01/09
      42.   A trivia question 02:51  |  Mark Lincoln 10/01/09
      43.   To Ned 16:38  |  Dennis 10/01/09
     Read & React
    UN Security Council calls for immediate Gaza truce
    Responses: 166
    UN: IDF officers admit Gaza school shelling was by mistake
    Responses: 118
    Akiva Eldar: Israeli rejection of Gaza deal may topple Abbas
    Responses: 65
    Gideon Levy: Those who justify Gaza war justify all of its crimes
    Responses: 206
    Bernard Avishai, Sam Bahour: Israel playing into Hamas' hands
    Responses: 61


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