Israel strikes Gaza targets after Grad rocket attack

Hamas declared a moratorium on rocket fire, but can't control every nut in Gaza who wants to fire a rocket, just as Israel can't control every settler who kills an Arab. Israel claims it permits an average of 80 truckloads a day of aid to enter gaza. That is an admission of genocide. According to UN World Food Program, Gaza, with a population of 1.5million, requires daily 400 trucks of just food to meet basic nutritional needs. Israel forbids entry of building materials, medicine, electrical appliances,spare parts for cars and machines, fabrics,threads, needles, candles, matches, mattresses, sheets, blankets, cutlery, crockery, cups, glasses, musical instruments, books, tea, coffee, sausages,and shoes. UN relief agencies report 80% of Gazans depend on meager trickle of International aid Israel permits to enter; 450,000 (30%) Gazans are without clean water; patients are in dire need of medical care. WHO reports not enough IVs. Blood must be kept in plastic bottles. This is a war crime.

"They did nothing wrong to the Israeli people before 67"!!! Are you out of your mind or havent you learned your lesson properly?!! They were the Arabs who started the 67 war and all other wars against Israel! They are the ones who refused and continue refusing to recognize Israel right to exist and, as long as they keep doing that and keep their hostility against the state and its citizens, nothing will change in their situation. I am NO "mouthpiece" of Israel, i am simply against bias which, you people,are always showing! Always blaming Israel!! simply because it is a well established state while palestinians arenot! But guess what: it is not Israel problem that they arent! They have to learn to behave different in order to improve. Please keep your "Dutch tolerance" to yourself, the middle east isnt in the Netherlands.

In the end, it is all about money and casualties. In early June 1967 Israel had NO intention to Empire. It wasn't even certain it had to have a war. The cost of maintaining IDF reserves on full alert decided the issue and Israel launched a war which caught Egypt and Syria off guard. It also drew in Jordan because Israel struck the other two nations. And when the war was over, Israel had advanced to the most defensible lines it could hold. The Suez Canal, Jordan River and Golan Heights. Israel had no intention of Empire and didn't have a clue to do with the one it had conquered. It still does not. But even Arik Sharon eventually realized the cost wasn't worth what Israel gained. . . At least in Gaza.

"Both sides target and don`t target civilians. Or rather, neither side gives a sh** about civilians as collateral damage." - Mark of Lewiston Wrong. Both sides DEPEND upon civilian casualties to justify their depravity. The Netanyahu government has everything to gain from the actions of the PFLP; and the PFLP has everything to gain from the actions of the IDF. The single factor which BOTH depend upon to justify their actions are the incidental civilian casualties. Thus it is in the interest of NEITHER to limit civilian casualties, and far easier to not do so. For both the PFLP and IDF, actions which cause civilian casualties are a win-win situation.

The Israeli right, and PFLP, have much to celebrate. They are back in control of the situation in Gaza. Whoopeee!

I think that they need it explained to them like that. Palestinian rockets arm Israel's propaganda machine, enabling Israel's military might to be unleashed upon them, and there is nothing a peace activist can do. These rockets might not hit much in Israel, but for the peace activists involved every rocket is a heavy blow.

Thank god for Israel and that Arabs dont rule the world ... yet.

Don't ask the Israelis what they expect the Palestinians to do. Ask the Palestinians if what they have been doing for the past 60 odd years has made their lives any better. Why do you never say to the Palestinians to try a different method. Like really talking. Making tough decisions that might hurt but in the long run will lead to peace. For years you have only put down Israel....never finding an iota of wrong on the Pals side. I along with so many other pro-israel posters see faults in Israel and say so right here. You and your friends see no fault on the Palestinians ever...for anything. Are they Angels ?

And what Israeli action preceded the Grad launch? The illegal Blockade of the Gaza prison colony is, on its own, an Act of War ...

The pattern seems to be that every time there is a rocket terror attack the IAF bombs a smuggling tunnel the day after. If we have the intel on the tunnels why wait for a reason to strike them but strike them ASAP we know of their existence? Maybe if we did that first we would not have rockets in Gaza and maybe we should be building a underground wall around Gaza as Egypt is doing and I wonder why that was not done twenty years ago???

Israeli settlers may have left Gaza but the Israeli army still maintains control over Gaza 's entry and exist points. That's still an occupation under international law and this i exactly what the blockade is about-- the Israeli army imposing its cruel and ugly will on Gazans access to the outside world and the flow of supplies of goods in and out. Shame on you for being a mouthpiece for Israel's evil oppression against the Palestinian people.They did nothing wrong to the Israeli people before their fanatical army invaded their villages in 1967 and shot people on site and burned their houses and poised their water. See URL http://www.alternatefocus.org/SittaShow.html Then, they sent in their fanatical settlers in claiming God's name was on their deed when they had no direct family ties with the land or with Palestine How outlandish! (I have seen gypsies showing more sense and sensibility and showing more respect for the rule of law and other peoples' property ) Dutch

The only way positive change will happen for the Pals is internally. The Pals must take responsibility for bad leadership and bad government that is not interested in the welfare of Pals in the here and now. It's not up to Israelis to re-configure Pal society but up to Pals to get on with creating a peaceful society where families are safe and hopeful. When that reality sets in, it will seem miraculous how quickly a Palestinian state will be born.

don't hold your breath brother, its very pasee to condem the guilty today.

Haaretz and co I suggested this before for the following reasons. 1:Topple Hamas like Bibi suggested=no more siege necessary 2:give us more control on what happens in there. 3:from a humanitarian point of view it will be easier for Pals to rebuild their lives under the watchful eye of IDF ground forces. 4:bar settlers from returning 5:riots will break out against our army but we can deploy correct crowd control measures by now. 6: by the time the Gazans are serious about peace and we have someone just as serious negotiations can bear fruitful results. 7: in the longrun a a longterm ground occupaation will be unpleasant but will end a blockade or a need for one so pals can rebuild their lives.

I never thought I would agree with a west bank settler, But Hamas has to go a pathetic wargame like Cast Lead to "Deter" Hamas is just that pathetic. all those dead civilians,our boys getting killed in combat is not worth a publicity stunt which charecterised Olmerts reign. Just send in the Army and Magav to hold the place after kicking Hamas out, observe the rebuilding of Gaza and lift the blockade since once we inside it would be futile, sure the pallies will hate us for this but its for their own good in the long run and we doing them a favour. BTW: Didnt Bibi say he will topple Hamas by force???Its time we took control of Gaza again, but that does not mean settling into Gush Katif(only the army and security forces)!!!

Why not try showing yourselves as self respecting human beings who choose people who are capable and willing to engage in a peace process that will ultimately get them what they are entitled to which is a state of their own. As soon as Palestinians are willing to accept the reality of Israel, there will be a positive future for Palestinians. Let's get on with it. There is no economic value to spending enormous amounts on either military defence or aggression for Israel or Hamas, Fatah, et al.

what are you talking about?!! gaza isnt an occupied territory as Israel left it years ago. Israeli strikes on and the current besieging of gaza are due to hamas continuous harrasment of Israel Sovereignty manifested in its continued missiles! It is called RETALIATION.

You have to hand it to the Israelis and their Semitic cousins, the Arabs of Palestine, both groups share an enormous capacity for self-delusion and both share a penchant for counter-productive strategies to achieve unobtainable ends. Both camps are filled with religious fervor, yet both camps claim to believe in the G-d of Abraham - this is internecine holy war. The tragedy lies is in the fact that the USA has been sucked into this unholy conflict. The Iraq War and the Afghanistan War are being fought to make the world safe for Zionism - at US taxpayer's expense. Earth to Israel: Uncle Sam is about tapped out, folks...his credit stinks, his cash is diminishing in value. He's growing weary of the burden. Who will become Israel's next Sugar Daddy?

realized by now that they are not nor were they ever been in position to "Get Israel" so why not stop the foolishness for the sake of "their people"!!...if they really care about them! Am i asking for surrender?! Call it whatever, I am simply suggesting that you open up your eyes.

weak and useless government! Bibi and Barak have lost the fear and respect of their enemies and the confidence and respect of their supporters. People deserve and expect more from their leaders than this. Pitiful, pitiful, pitiful ! With leaders like Barak , enemies are not our worst fear or liability !

There is nothing like blaming and targeting the vicims for Israel's unlawful policies in the Palestinian territories and especially the blockade of the Gaza Srtip. What does Israel expect the Palestinians to do anyway? Lie down and die and starve? People have a right to fight an un -lawful occupier on their land and the law recognizes their right --not Israel's right. Occupiers have no rights except to get off other peoples' land. Clear out! Dutch

6 palestinians - introduced as "terrorists" - were killed last week. "They were "terrorists" ! If IDF said so !!!! Anything the israelis are told is MORAL. IDF murdered 1500 civilians last year but the MORAL made them press the red button. Poor israelis ! such blindness, such intellectual dishonesty and eternal justifications.

They know when they fire a missile or mortar at Israel there will be an immediate response. Works every time. If Hamas had bothered to provide bomb shelters instead of buying weapons, the civilians might have somewhere to go every time a missile is let off by these nutters.

PFLP shot a rocket that sent one civilian for treatment. IDF drops bombs that send 4 civilians for treatment. Both sides target and don't target civilians. Or rather, neither side gives a sh** about civilians as collateral damage.

The Palistinians are firing rockets to kill us and we fire back on tunnels. BRAVO!!!!!!

government that is fast proving to be ineffective in dealing with real security threats to Israel. The only threats Barak wants to focus on are those he perceives to by threats posed by settlers. Barak and Bibi are weak and useless and can only be counted on to kowtow to Obama and World opinion.

Only a full scale operation removing Hamas permanently from Gaza will create security for the resident of the South and allow us a chance to pursue peace.

Our satellite imaging technology is sophisticated enough to detect and laser paint, face paint. Instead of launching mortars and screaming back to mommy as the IDF retaliatory barrage rains down. I suggest these "brave men" take the more honorable approach; en masse goose-step line formation marches, face painted and armed, to the Erez Checkpoint. That is if the Gazans wish to live on other than pita and thyme as their Hamas masters eat fattened lambs and tabouli.

No targets hit by the IDF?

Israel must respond to every attack, as any other country would. Where are the United Nations and why do they do nothing when Hamas or PA attacks unprovoked? Israel must respond to each and every rocket attack, no longer can the days go by where 8000 rocket attacks go unanswered. Get ready for 2010 and hopefully the international community will begin to understand the threat of extreme (only fundamental) forms of Islam against the west.

We showed them again that it is not worth it for them to try to kill us. Well done.

I like the optics of that best. The citims of unprovoked rocket attacks fighting back. Israeli civilians can mobilize and do far more and can be be much more potent than Hamas. The failure of Israel to intervene can be dealt with by the same way hamas deals with its criticisms by saying "its not us, its natural and we are doing all we can."

israel shopuld follow the lead of the 'pals' when they lobby mortar shells into gaza...Israel should give them back the 2 grads,and all the other 8000plus rockets they send over the border into Israel.But hit them where it hurts,do not waste ammo on empty fields

more crimes against humanity by firing rockets into civilian populations at random by the Palestinians. Where is Ban's condemnation? Where are the rest of the world leaders who see living on contentious land as more of a problem than trying to kill civilians?