Bomb blast rocks Gaza Red Cross convoy in possible attack
Explosion comes as U.S. reportedly says Israel should ease Gaza blockade to counter Goldstone report.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Hamas Gaza Israel newsAn explosive device was detonated near a Red Cross convoy in the Gaza Strip, Army Radio reported on Thursday, adding that it had not yet been made clear whether the explosion was a premeditated attack.
No injuries were reported in the Gaza blast, the Army Radio report said, and one of the armored vehicles was damaged.
The Hamas-ruled coastal enclave has been sealed off by both Israel and Egypt since Israel's invasion of the Strip during Operation Cast Lead early last year, although Israel has allowed the Red Cross to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The explosion occurred just as the United States reportedly suggested to Israel that easing the Gaza blockade could help counter the fallout from the Goldstone report on alleged war crimes during Operation Cast Lead a year ago.
The U.S. message on the blockade was relayed last week when a Foreign Ministry delegation met in Washington with senior officials from the State Department and the White House. Much of the meeting dealt with steps that Israel could take to help the United States and others block the Goldstone report and prevent it from reaching the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Last month, Hamas sharply criticized Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak's defense of his country's expanded fortifications on its border with the Gaza Strip, saying they aided Israel's efforts to stifle the Hamas-ruled territory.
"Mubarak's remarks defending the steel wall are an address on the blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip," Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri told reporters in Gaza City.
The Egyptian president's statements "contradict his earlier remarks that he would not allow the starvation of the Palestinian people in Gaza," al-Masri accused.
On Sunday Mubarak marked the national annual Police Day holiday by declaring: "Fortifications along our eastern border are a work of Egyptian sovereignty, and we refuse to enter into a debate with anyone [about them]."
A lucrative smuggling trade in basic commodities, contraband but also in weapons has taken root along the Gazan-Egyptian border since Egypt and Israel closed the territory's borders after Hamas took control of its security services nearly three years ago.
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Muslims between Gaza and Lahore generally hate all non-Muslims, and have no compunctions about doing egregious crimes against them.
# 4 you ask what's new ? Well. The Hamasniks kill those who come to help them.
Who were in Gaza to interview potential Fulbright scholars in 2003.
Its time for the Palestinians to take full responsibility for the group of thugs (Hamas) that they voted into power years ago. I hope they enjoy creeping Sharia Law and the other joys of spending the next century "Resisting." Resisting?? More like "resisting reality." Israel is under no obligation to assist the de facto government of Gaza in murdering their own citizens. When they change agenda, things can be different. Hamas seems to always have enough money for bombs, let the PALs complain to them so they can eat. This is the ONLY population in the world that inherits "refugee" status from generation to generation, with UNRWA happy to perpetuate it indefinitely to keep their jobs. Message to the PALs: Islamic Terror=Poverty
The settlers of course. They dont want the people of Gaza getting any kind of aid. Thats BS that Hamas would attack the convoy bringing in supplies. As many here have stated they need the supplies to build more rockets, so why would they blow up their stuff. I guess tho the same people that said they use the supplies to build rockets will now change the story to deflect from the real culprits.
the Red Cross at one stage stopped delivery in protest at Hamas stealing.
who ever heard of easing a blockade on your enemy? when Hamas declared war on Israel, this is the logical result.
Perhaps a terrorist bomb exploded by accident in a Red Cross ambulance.
what a bunch of bloodthirsty losers hamas are...I love it...but you know what? where is the red cross demanding visits to shalit? you do know it's a war crime holding him as they do without visits...right?