IAF strikes Hamas Gaza training facility in wake of Qassam, mortar attacks
Fourth projectile fired from Gaza in three days explodes in western Negev region on Friday morning; Hamas officials report 5 people wounded in IAF air strikes on Thursday night.
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press Tags: Israel news Gaza Hamas IDFA Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in the western Negev region on Friday morning, causing no injuries or damage.
 |
Masked Palestinian militants in Gaza prepare to fire rockets into Israel. |
| Photo by: AP |
Late Thursday, Israeli aircraft struck two sites in Gaza in retaliation for rocket and mortar fire from the territory on southern Israel during the preceding 48 hours, the Israeli military said.
Security officials with the ruling militant Hamas movement and Palestinian residents reported that four sites were hit. There was no way to immediately reconcile the conflicting reports.
Hamas officials reported five people were wounded in an attack on a training base for security forces of Gaza's militant ruling Hamas movement. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.
The Israel Defense Forces said aircraft also struck southern Gaza, where Palestinians operate underground tunnels to smuggle weapons and other contraband from Egypt.
In the two days before the IAF air strikes, three rockets and mortars fired from Gaza landed in Israel, the military said. No injuries were reported in those attacks.
Rocket and mortar fire from Gaza were a near-daily event for years before Israel launched a bruising war in Gaza in the winter of 2008. Attacks and border clashes continue, but on a much-reduced scale.
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
I understand that the age-old money libel of anti-Semitic nature is close, but it doesn't strike me as intending that, but actually being surprised that a country like Israel, which holds peace so dearly in her heart, has somehow overwhelmingly turned her back to the belief that peace is possible with the Palestinians. And that sociological, anthropological question is indeed legitimate and interesting to me. Perhaps, having focused on Palestinian feelings twoards peace in the West Bank, where there is also an economic boom, may have helped to extricate the article from shaddows of suspiscion.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Apply this to the Israeli military. Barak is the weakest link in that chain and that chain will eventually be broken if Barak is allowed to remain in place. He is only interested in grabbing as much power as he can.
Hamas' new methods: Multiple small attacks by unknown imported terrorists Another drive-by shooting claimed by Hamas injured Moshe and Shira Morani from Maaleh Efraim at the Rimonim junction near Ramallah Wednesday night, Sept. 1. It was exactly the same as the attack which left four Israelis dead near Hebron Tuesday night - except that the couple saved their lives by fleeing their vehicle to a nearby wadi to escape a second round of point blank fire.When finally rescued, Moshe was in serious condition. Counter-terror sources report that although the method of attack did not vary the two incidents were the work of different Hamas cells. Several of these cells are believed to be loose on the West Bank with instructions to accompany to keep up their terrorist attacks for as long as the Washington talks between Israeli and the Palestinians continue. Some of these death squads are expected to try and cross the Green Line from the West Bank and reach targets inside Israel.
Barak the Coward strikes again ! Another tunnel? Another empty field? Yes that will show 'em ! Israel, why do you put up with the lame brain? You know he is inept and you know he is a failure !
The word "occupation" has been used for many years now to describe the rule of Israel in Judea and Samaria (known as the "West Bank") and the Gaza district which Israel took from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and from Egypt respectively in the course of the Six Day War in 1967. In the distorted language of the media and of politicians, both in Israel and in most parts of the world, these two territories are described as "the occupied Palestinian territories" as if Israel occupied a country called "Palestine" in 1967 and took Palestinian lands. Sadly, very few of the media consumers in the West and the East are aware of the lie behind the usage of these terms. First, let us review the simple facts about this "occupation." Israel took the "West Bank" from Jordan and not from a non-existent "Palestinian" entity; and occupied Gaza that was held by Egypt. Both countries had occupied these territories during the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 and had ruled them illegally. The Jordanians even annexed territory to the west of the Jordan and called it "The West Bank." Egypt established its administration in Gaza. Both these areas were, therefore, in Arab hands for 19 years, but nobody, during these years of Jordanian and Egyptian occupation, even thought about the establishment of a Palestinian State in them, although such a state could have been established easily and recognized, even by Israel
Nobody is listening or cares to listen to reasoned logic or facts. It doesn't fit in with their re-written history or follow the leftist party line. As they say, " a lie will travel around the world before the truth has a chance to put their shoes on." Israel seems to be the last hold-out to the One World Order agenda.
You both have it wrong. The territories cannot be obtained by war, whether aggressive or defensive. Neither of you have read Geneva IV to which Israel is a signatory and to which Israel sometimes adheres. Israel even passed laws to implement Geneva. Israel's current government ignores those same laws, even though its own courts have determined that those laws and treaties actually do apply. If the lands are part of Israel, then the people who lived there before Israel acquired them are and should be Israeli citizens, just like those acquired in 1948. Learn some of the actual history and law. Just repeating hasbara is no way to see any future except unending forever war.
I always smile when I read about the IAF bombing tunnels. When there are no better targets, the IAF hits "tunnels". Of course, Israel does not know where those smuggling tunnels are, or else they would have notified the Egyptians who would have destroyed them. "Bombing tunnels" means that the IAF drops bombs in the area of Rafah, the border town which the tunnels lead to. The bombing then has to be between the border and the town, namely very close to the town itself. The purpose, apparently, is to frighten the residents by loud noisy explosions. This used to be Israeli policy even in northern Gaza, using canons to hit near homes. If anybody gets hurt, well, the "tunnels" are a good cover story. I don't object to this type of "retaliation", but let us not fool ourselves that it is anything more than loud fireworks.
those would be located under the tents immediately opposite the border. It's where they come out on the other side that's "secret" (hint, that ain't much of a secret either!)
The Arabs have shown they do not want peace and refuse to acknowledge Israel right to exist, & on a holy day, they decide to send missiles into civilian population - which they consider legitimate targets like the four parents who were murdered recently. Allah forbids we say or do anything offensive to their way of thinking under the pain of death threats. There seems to be two sets of rules according to the Arabs & Muslims- one rule for us to respect their “principles” and one rule that state anything goes for the rest of the world. Keep it IDF; most of the USA is behind you.
so according to many of these talkbacks... it is acceptable that the hamas shell us but when we respond it is bad? i hope anti israel and german owned haartez prints this but haaretz does not like israel or israelis and censorship of us is what haaretz does. haaretz is not read by many israelis... i read it for the laughs.... we in israel look at haaretz as a sham and a joke.... anti israel, anti jewish and anti zionsit german owned haaretz NOT and israeli national paper.
Far more pro-Israel comments are published than pro-Palestinian ones. Maybe you are posting at the wrong time of day? It might make a difference.
Just killing and bombing people at random is what I object to. By your logic suicide bombings of civilians are justified retaliation for any act the IDF commits if the IDF hits or scares civilians. Palestinian children have the same right to life and security as do Israeli children. Your logic and that of many uber-Israelis denies that right you want your kids to enjoy.
Mendacity as usual. The rockets stopped during the truce June 2008 till Nov 4 2008 when the "IDF" killed 6 Palestinians. You refused to extend the truce , attacked the imprisoned Gazans. The rockets do no damage. The "contraband" is the only way of getting ANYTHING through the blocade. What would you do without $3bn of US weapons, if YOU were impisoned and attacked?
What is happening? What is the plan? Can someone explain what the logic behind the mortar fire is. Is it just a permanent war of attrition/ or what we in Northern Ireland used to call an acceptable level of violence.
I only understand that whatever the plan, it is to be found in Iran's overall response to the challenges its regime faces on various fronts. They are the ones who turn up or down the valve of Hamas' rocket shooting and terror.
All roads lead to Iran, the puppet master.
If Iran had any actualy influence Hamas would be armed with something better than primitive rockets and motars. Wake up!
Iran has been sending Hamas missles and other arms. I guess you conveniently forgot about the ship Israel intercepted that was loaded with Iranian weapons. It's not just luxury goods being sent through the tunnels either. Maybe you don't think Hezbollah has any missles either. Do you also doubt that the IED's that are killing US troops in Iraq and Afganistan don't come from Iran either?
Very different entities, very different circumstances for Iranian influence. However I don't believe that Hezbollah is ready to jump at Iran's every beck and call, that's just more BS.
i gave up commenting haaretz articles after being systematically censored. When I was a Israel supporter all my comments were published. When my views did change almost none of my comments got throught. Such fact does show that there is ideological censorship in Haaretz comments edition
All their discusion is to "overtalk" not to find reasonable argument. In the end they can always use "god given land" , "chosen nation" , antisemitism" etc. I realy don't know if it is profitable to discuss jewish problem with jews.
It happens a lot with early morning talkbacks; most of mine from that time frame are not published either.
and you may call me Nabuchodonozor . It is the same exotic for me as Moshe or Muhammad ( I do not mean that any of this name is wrong , just exotic )
Actually I just make one comment every three weeks or so. I had not been published for months. I guess I do not disturb anyone with my tirades , as far as Haaretz is concerned.
That's a lot of crap. I have remarked on Israel in both a negative and positive fashion. More negative lately and never felt my comments were being withheld from publication.
And his kids and then his cabinet, and then of Zarqawi, and the list goes on. You cannot kill a nationalist movement by killing it leaders. It may use terror as a tactic, but its aim is no different than Menachem Begin's aim was.
He was also fighting for freedom ..
Brute force, targetted assininations ... poor AS hasn't noticed the game changing events of past years... Cast Lead, Dubai, Flotilla, etc.
I don't think "Mark of Lewiston" actually executed anybody. Your nationalistic tendencies do you no favours, they only serve to perpetuate the unhelpful "them and us" mentality. Your answers in these posts always go along the lines of "bomb them", and this hasn't worked for either side so far, so try thinking a little more rather than just endlessly being ultra rightwing and supporting killings.
Since - in your opinion- both begin and hamas have similar goals, the only difference would be the means used for their achievement. Since goals justify the means, it's permissible to use any - including terror. It seems that is what you are saying. But even the goals of Begin and h
Starting from your favorite Vegetarian Socialist ,a.h ,thru Stalin ,Mao and Pol Pot-they all have been on the Left. And your "new ,progressive way of thinking"-have you got rid of police yet ? Afters ll those striving after your wallet and your belongings are the poor and undertrodden -submit to them ,police won't help
Since - in your opinion- both begin and hamas have similar goals, the only difference would be the means used for their achievement. Since goals justify the means, it's permissible to use any - including terror. It seems that is what you are saying. But even the goals of Begin and h
Absolute Sweden: How on earth can you put Hitler with the "left"? National-socialism has -as its name suggests- a socialist element. But the nationalistic, anti-Semitic, racist, bigoted, German-over-everything-else is Right, not Left. Nevertheless, even without Hitler, the Left has murdered millions and millions of people, from Pol Pot to Stalin to Mao to all the others. Now, back to the rockets issue: Hamas and its terror, is it "right" or "left"? It is a fanatic, Islamist sect dedicated to terror and cohercive welfare, sharia, anti-Semitism and hegemony. Lefitist embrace it due to their lunatic projection of Arabs as underdogs, plus their underlying -now overet- anti-Semitism. But if you would ask me, Hamas is much more national-socialist than communist in its essence. So is Iran, its patron, sponsor, and puppeteer.
i am going to stick my neck out but i will say it anyway, most of you who reply to the likes of natalie and this sylvane, or whatever her name is, are being downricht stupid,dont you understand that they get their kicks from seeing all those replies, if you would just ignore them, than they get absolutly no trilll from the uterly stupid things they write and say, and after a while they will give up, when they see nobody gives a damm about what they say,besides, a jew hater is a jew hater is a jew hater, til the day they die, you cannot convince them of anything else, so stop wasting time and energie on this perferted frustrated ladies, notice, i said ladies, as God forbid i dont want to upset them by calling them nasty names ha ha ha .joseph theeboom
Happy New Year!
I agree with you that a Jew-hater remains such. Likewise, I agree that neither will anybody persuade them out of their passion, nor will they stop posting. As for ignoring them and waiting till they get bored; for what I see that doesn't jappen. I guess some change their "name" and continue unabated. My point is this: If posters would only uphold the guiding principles of this talkback, and do so strongly and determinedly to Haaretz, until the "moderators" -human or otherwise- do respect the guidelines, Haaretz itself has stated for years. Otherwise, posters will have to face the byzantine question on whether to ignore or to respond anti-Semitic, free hate-pamphleting, and -yes, as you say- lose energy and time. The fact the talkback guidlines were up until a few months ago visible and explicit, and now have been shoved out, says a lot about Haaretz. Of course, if this talkback ever sees the light beyond the "moderator". Thank you, Joseph for sticking out your kneck. I accompany you, sit and wait for the tsunami of thumbs-down. What the heck.
Aren't you supposed to be participating in a discussion, not a kindergarten name-calling session? Posting personal attacks means you've lost the argument already.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Campaign-for-Sderot-and-West-Negve-Kids/7771487910?ref=ts Shana Tova to all Kids in Sderot and the negev we all love you!
Give the land back.
WE DID GIVE THE LAND BACK AND THEY VOTED FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT WANTS ONLY WAR. SO HAMAS AND ALL GAZA GET THE WAR THEY WANT AND THE WORLD BLAMES ISRAEL. HAMAS ARE NO REASONABLE ELECTED GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE FASCISTS WHO WILL SHOVEL US AND THIER OWN INTO THE FURNACE. IF THEY CARED ABOUT PALESTINIANS THEY WOULD NOT PURSUE AN AGENDA THAT WILL NEVER WORK TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN CRUSH THEIR OWN PEOPLE. ISRAEL IS HERE TO STAY. GET USED TO IT OR DIE TRYING TO GET RID OF US.
You're right the so called Palestinians ARABAS have been occupying and destrpying the land for over 800 years, it's time they gave it back to its rightfull owners the Jews
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE JEWISH NATIINAL FUND BOUGHT LAND FROM ARABS. ASK THEM TO GIVE BACK THE MONEY
I said Barak would wipe out two or three tunnels. I was wrong; it was only 1 this time. He is saving the other 1000 tunnels for the next thousand rockets that fly into Israel. This is a typical weak-kneed response from a weak-kneed minister of defense. It seems the people of Israel have no control over inept leaders such as Barak. Israel is no longer a truly representative democracy when imbeciles like Barak can go on with failure after failure with impunity. How long will the people of Israel put up with his incompetence?
Obama didn't get any of my political contributions ! Even Obama would do something if rockets were coming into our cities and play grounds. Even Obma is not that big of a coward but Barak is. You have a PM and DM who are traitors to Israel !
...but the opposite side wasn't much better.
Isn't it obvious? Hammas is trying to start another war. Israel should give them what they want, only this time don't stop until you get to Cairo.
So not only do you propose another vicious war, you also suggest starting a war with a country which is formally at peace with yours (Egypt). And then you say the Palestinians don't want peace!
Just look at how you Israelis want war in retaliation for every rocket despite the low or no casualties. Now why would you expect a different reaction from them despite their very high casualties? Do their civilians not count? And no one believes your collateral damage/human shield excuse. You used the same excuse when you raided Egypt (like Bahr el-Bakar junior school, to name one of many incidents). It is YOU who is a hypocrite, if you expect them to just lie down and let you steal their land, destroy their homes and kill their women and children in the name of peace!
Mohab, I don't understand your logic. If some one is standing outside your house and blindly shooting into it , do you try and stop him before or after some one is hit ?
You have the person's house under seige and held in a blockade. Wouldn't you expect them to try to break out of it?
It is time for Operation Cast Iron.
....to the Israel supporters who replied (?) to me: Personal attacks are the last resort of those who have nothing left to say. Just thought I'd let you in on this, Fortuna Benmeyer!!!
I couldn't be more impersonal vis a vis a nickname in cyberspace. I respond to the utter drivel the nickname "Silvienne" has laid out here. I'll try to help you out a bit: 1. If you read -not just rant automatically- you'll see "Associated Press" being the source. 2. "Infrastructure" is the term used by your posting nickname, where AP, WAFA, and Al-Jazeera have already reported Hamas' training camps having been hit by the IAF. If you consider that "personal", then I don't know how to help you out. Shanah Tovah.
You have no inside information to guide you to your previous conclusion (irrational distrust of Israel); thus calling you an "anti-semite" isn't a foregone conclusion.
do as they do, keep going back and forth to the desired page and each time rapidly hitting the vote, i know thats what they do, i've tested it and it works, haaretz needs to work on this. but i love it when i see so many votes against us, it just means we're really annoying themm.
You're too foolish for any serious discussion...Just a nonentity.
Back again for more serious discussion?
You must have fabulous humint on all posters, something Big Brother would only dream about. And regarding the article, is there anything you wish to comment?
Nato Goliath is really giving David a pounding these days eh? Using advanced weapons every day against club waving aboriginals. None of 'em can get a plane airborne.
Daviv never attacked innocent civilians,children,eldery with intent to kill ,Hamas refuses to recognize Israel,its intent is to destroy Israel . Israel only responds to uncalled for vicious rocket bombardment on its villages ,
Yes indeed and kudod to the IDF for their prompt action.This state of affairs will have to be stopped once and for all.And IT WILL BY DESTROYING THE WHOLE OF GAZA TOTALLY PIECEMEAL.
during Cast Lead already? If not, then what was the purpose of killing so many and destroying all those houses? Surely not just to humiliate and punish a whole population, while leaving Hamas standing as a convenient yet weak enemy? The IDF would never do sucha terrorist act, would they???
Carefully look at Gaza with Google Earth. Unless you have specific information about a particular building hit, it looks exactly like it did two years ago. You must believe Gaza looks like Hiroshima or Dresden in 1945. Kool aid?
time to bring hamas in talks or have it like this forever
An appropriate relatiation that wouldn't cause harm to civilians, and would make the cost of launching rockets into Israel by Hamas very heavy, was sorely needed. Bravo to the IAF and intelligence agencies which located these targets and taught Hamas a lesson, without any harm to civilians. As ubelievably hard as it is, the IAF made it. Congrats ! Keep up the excellent job.
...but wait! It was a Hamas training facility! Oh yes, who says so? The IDF. Oh well, then of course it was!
It amazes me how you haters are so quick to judge.
Poor creature: No harm to civilians. No harm to civilian infrastructure. Palestinians themselves are mum, not ranting their usual hysteria that moves Silvienne's tender heart. Nice try at spinning this, but -just between us- you failed, Silvienne. Some days are hard for an anti-Semite. They are few such days though, and you will overcome your frustration and be back posting your habitual projections onto Israel and the Jewish people in this Israeli online newspaper again. Happy New Year.
Why of course it was! Can you prove different?
That's the psychological frame of free, completely anonymous talkback. There are no bigger or smaller gods in a talkback.
hamas will no dou8bt step on tehir apendages and make a huge miscalculation which will set everything off
They know that three rockets into the dust won't bring them Cast Lead 2. And they have instructions from Tehran to keep up the psychological warfare. Ahmadinejad will visit southern Lebanon, close to Israel these days, so you know who's behind an eventual miscalculation. Israel doesn't need it, Iran does.
That was a gently said as possible. Thank you!
That was a gently said as possible. Thank you!
... and I doubt there was "rocket fire" from Gaza. In the 6 months before the slaughter of Cast Lead, the American general on the Goldstone commission said there were "probably two rockets" fired from Gaza.
Stop with your anti Israel propaganda. Unlike you, I read the Goldstone from cover to cover. The report did NOT say anything close to it.
Stop with your whitewashing campaign. The IDF has lied so many times about so much I wouldn't trust its members to tell the time of day correctly...
Absolutely its a digrace that has to be stopped once and for all the lobbing qassams on a daily basis that has to be dealt with once and for all. Ido not know how the Israeli civilians put up with this cvonstant attacks everyday. Heard it on the late news and was glad the IDF has begun to return the compliment to Hamas as that deserves the worse possible punishment long overdue.
Are you suggesting you trust Hamas over IDF/Israel? Just curious. Also what's your reaction to the Qassams that landed in the Negev?
when i was in Israel I saw the shrapnel and damage they did(and most of the time didn't do thank G-d) on the evening news. so yeah, 2 rockets? saw plenty more than that in the time I was there.
During the ceasefire, which started 18 June 2008 and ended 4 Nov 2008 (the day Israel launched a military strike into Gaza and killed 6 Hamaz militants), there were 18 rockets and 6 mortars fired into Israel from Gaza. (see section 1633 and 1634, page 451)
So lets see John even when Hamas and Islamic Jihad take credit for the rockets and mortars fired into civilian towns and villages you doubt that there was "Rocket Fire" from Gaza plus you post blatant lies and islamic propaganda about there being only two rockets fired into israel. perhaps you can explain how 13 people including several children under the age of four werre killed by two rockets. We have a word for people like you. You sir are a "Putz". Take your lies and propaganda and shove it.
Who are you to know they've lied?
....and he wasn"t an American General. He was a bigoted Irish colonel,,,,,
As we all know, Hamas was responsible for making sure that NO rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel whether it be from Hamas or others. As the entity with effective control in Gaza, it was Hamas' responsibility, as understood by the agreed upon terms of the ceasefire, that Hamas would ensure that no rockets were fired. The ceasefire ended on November 4 when Israel, acting under its inherent right to self-defense as enshrined in the UN Charter, preemptively struck Hamas operatives preparing an aggressive incursion into Israel.
It is probably best to view a situation before you comment on it firsthand. Make-up your mind based on what you see after extensive time and then participate in the endless commentary that exists here in cyberspace. It is not a matter of trusting others, it is a matter of trusting yourself.
IDF lied? Really? More anti Israel propaganda...pure and simple.
The "rocket fire" didn't come from Gaza. Elvis tossed the "rockets" from Mars.
One has to stop for a moment & ask why all this sudden flurry of rocket fire into Israel. It is all connected .a) To Ahmabienjad's visit to Lebanon, b) to the Christian pastor from Florida who wants to Burn.the Koran/s. the Muslim world wants to shift the focus to another Theater of conflict....In this particular juncture I would ask the IDF not to fall into their trap. Let the two sides fight it out by themselves.
If you do not belief that the rocket was fired from Gaza Strip, may be you will believe that it was fired from Mali in Africa or from Britain in Europe. Do not be foolish my friend.