Hamas warns Israel: Halt air strikes on Gaza or we'll intensify rocket fire
Spokesman for Hamas blames Israel for escalation in violence, says Gaza militants must fire rockets to protect Palestinian citizens; dozens of rockets fired from Gaza at southern Israel.
By Reuters and Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Hamas GazaHamas said on Saturday it would escalate its attacks against Israel to include a wider range of targets if Israel failed to halt its aerial assaults on the Gaza Strip.
Dozens of rockets and mortar shells were fired into Israel on Saturday, as the IDF launched several strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, killing at least four Hamas operatives, one of them a senior commander.
 |
Militants in the Central Gaza Strip October 10, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri blamed Israel for an escalation in violence. "If the Israeli escalation continues, amid international silence and complicity, the reactions by resistance factions will broaden," he told Reuters, saying such actions would be necessary to protect Palestinians in Gaza.
Violence has flared since Hamas claimed responsibility for firing a rocket at an Israeli school bus on Thursday, critically injuring a teenager. Hamas has said it was responding to previous lethal Israeli assaults on its members.
Palestinians sources said that 18 Palestinians were killed in IDF strikes since Thursday.
More than 80 rockets had been fired at Israel's southern towns since Friday night, and two Grad rockets were fired at the southern Israeli city of Ofakim on Saturday, shortly after 24 mortar shells were fired at the Eshkol Regional Council.
Residents of southern Israel spent the night in protected areas as cross-border fire with Gaza militants seriously escalated overnight.
A barrage of rockets and missiles was fired at southern Israel over the last two days, and the Iron Dome anti-missile system, deployed earlier in the week for the first time, succeeded in intercepting several rockets.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Hamas........The 2011 Pathetic liars . We have heard a hundred times over and over "Halt air strikes on Gaza or we'll intensify rocket fire" Israel halts all bombings and guess what within days dozens of rockets and mortar shell get fired at Israel. Once and for all It's time for Israel to totally destroy Hamas's entire infrastucture.
They are warning Israel to stop, or they will realy get angree,that is realy comical ,i dont believe what i am reading.they are suffering braindamage , no doupt about that. first they say 11pm thursday we have a ceasefire on fryday they send a heap of rockets now they are treatening Israel,this must be the higth of stupidity. they are banking on the fact if Israel start to bomb them to kingdom come, the UN will come down on Israel,but the way things are going in the midle east, Israel migth just tell the UN to go and fly a kite. you stop the rockest and we stop the bombing elementery dear Watson.joseph theeboom
If Hamas' logic is to fire rocket twd Israel from residential area thus to protect those within that residential area, well.... it speaks for itself!
When one does the same thing over and over again, and expects a different result; This is the definition of insanity. Israel must understand that strength comes from strength. To think otherwise is defeat. I ask the leaders of Israel to give this simple "thought" much consideration; When fighting "wild dogs" , you can't stop the attacks by killing them, as "wild dogs" breed at a very fast rate. One must kill the masters of these "dogs", because the masters "feed" the dogs, and without food, "wild dogs" can not survive. "Wild dogs" don't have a superior brain, but their master do. Take the charge directly to the masters, because with their superior brain, they will understand the consequences. Lord Howard Hurts freedomfiles.blogspot.com
Just struck me - whenever Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel are reported, the number of rockets is mentioned. This never happens in the other direction, we just hear about an Israeli "strike". How about reporting the number of shells, rockets, mortars, bombs etc that Israel uses on the largely defenceless Palestinian population? Not to mention the weight of high explosive.
how exactly does firing anti tank rockets at a school bus make the palestinians safer? what kind of backassed ancient logic is this? how about this stop trying to kill jews and maybe that will make the pals safer.
Both sides must put an immediate end to their military action.
another example of Hamas' reasoning, for which Palestinian and Israeli citizens pay the daily price. Palestinians, come to your senses, and do away with this despicable Hamas gang. You can do it, Tunisia and Egypt got rid of their irresponsible and cruel leaders, and Libya and Syria may hopefully follow soon If you want your freedom you have to fight your immoral and perfidious leadership. Down with Hamas!!!
Even the shot at the bus was not meant to kill. It is more difficult to avoid killing when hitting a bus with an anti-tank round, but Hamas managed it. By the use of their normal strategy of indiscriminate killing of Gazans, Israel is testing the hatience and humanity of Hamas. This is not a good idea if Israel values the lives of it's citizens.
starting a war only appeal to Islamists&Leftists
We have to remind the Hamasleaders that Israel is the strongest force in the region. Time to restore deterrence - Time for Mr. Security, Ehud Barak to act. Time to reset the rules of the game. The current situation is intolerable and unacceptable.