ISRAELIS KILLED – ok

Three Israelis killed, 32 injured in 100 Hamas missile attacks Monday

DEBKAfile Special Analysis

December 30, 2009, 10:56 PM (GMT+02:00)

Israeli tanks still unmoved

On Day 3 of Israel’s Gaza operation, Dec. 29, Hamas hit back hard with volleys of rockets and missiles at points closer to central Israel than ever before. The three Israelis killed were IDF career officer, Sgt. Maj. Lutfi Nasr e-Din, 38, from Daliat Hacarmel, at Nahal Oz, a woman motorist, Irit Sheetrit, 39, mother of four, who sought shelter in the Ashdod bus terminus, 30 km from Gaza; and earlier in Ashkelon, Hani al-Mahdi, 27, a construction worker from the Bedouin Negev village of Ar’ur.

DEBKAfile‘s military sources report that Monday, Hamas had recovered sufficiently from Israel’s air offensive to bring out its new Iranian Grad rockets to expand their range up to 40 km and launch them over the heads of the hundreds of Israel tanks, armored cars and artillery piled up outside the gates of Gaza and awaiting the order to move in.

At the Nahal Oz facility, in addition to the fatality, seven soldiers were injured, one critically, by incoming Palestinian mortar fire. Hamas’ night barrage also struck Ashdod, Ofakim, Yavne (25 minutes drive from Tel Aviv), Netivot, Ashkelon, Sderot, Shear Hanegev. Ashkelon was battered day and night. The last round targeted school yards, kindergartens and bus stations. Ofakim, like Yavne, was hit for the first time by 3 missiles and suffered five injured.

Following this barrage, the Homeland Command extended the radius of schools that would not reopen Tuesday, Dec. 30, after the Hanukkah holiday from 20km to 30km. A quarter of a million Israelis are now on active missile alert around the clock.

Overnight, the Israeli air force pounded the Hamas-ruled government compound in Gaza City, hitting the prime minister’s office, and the foreign, finance and interior ministry buildings and Hamas command centers. The Palestinians report 10 people killed, raising their death toll in three days to 360. All senior Hamas officials and commanders are ensconced safely in underground bunkers with their weapons caches.

Following this barrage, the Homeland Command extended the radius of schools that would not reopen Tuesday, Dec. 30, after the Hanukkah holiday from 20km to 30km. Beersheba, Gedera and Kiryat Gat are braced for attack. A quarter of a million Israelis are now on active missile alert around the clock.

Overnight and early Tuesday, the Israeli air force pounded the Hamas-ruled government compound in Gaza City, hitting the prime minister’s office, and the foreign, finance and interior ministry buildings and Hamas command centers. The Palestinians report 10 people killed, raising their death toll in three days to 360. All senior Hamas officials and commanders are ensconced safely in underground bunkers with their arms caches.

They can only be dug out by special forces and armored units on the ground.

The crucial battle of Gaza is therefore still to come, as indicated by Israel’s deputy chief of staff Maj. Gen. Israel Harel, when he warned Monday that the hardest part of the campaign is still ahead.

<p class=”arttext”>Hamas tacticians pin their hopes on the overcast, rainy conditions forecast for the rest of the week to slow Israeli air attacks, delay an incursion, and further intensify their cross-border missile onslaught.

Homeland Front, police forces, 200 ambulances, 2 medical helicopters and hospitals are on alert around the clock at all targeted locations. Hospitals in central Israel are also on the ready.

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I am completely behind the Israelis and their plan to keep attacking until something MEANINGFUL is done to Hamas’ attacks against them. I wonder when the Jews in America will GET BEHIND the Republicans who truly support them. I can hardly wait to see how Obama handles this.

offmychest

January 3, 2009

Obama needs to make this a top priority when he takes office along with the economy. No one is safe until all the terrorists are dealt with.

~Katherine

Thanks for posting this. I don’t see a lot of support for Israel here on OD. The network news reports make it sound as though Israel is the only one at fault here. Their response is “disproportiante” is what I keep hearing. I suppose it is wished that Israel would just let Hamas keep sending the rockets in and killing them. I support Israel 100 percent. They do what they have to do to protect themselves from Hamas and Iran who have publically declared their mission is to destroy the state of Israel. Thanks again for this entry.

Gypsy Spirit

No killing is justified, and every death is a tragedy. However, the number of Israeli deaths in no way equates or justifies the 440+ deaths in Gaza. Propertionally the comparison is obscene.The entire fiasco needs a shakeup. hugs p

It’s good to hear from you. Do you ever access your Facebook page? I’ve done some research on the Kindle and the Sony Reader and I prefer the Reader. However, since the Kindle belongs to Amazon there are more books available for it.

Mama Blue

January 4, 2009

Hamas is the enemy. Israel understands this. It not about being disporportionate. It is about being allowed to live in peace. Hamas was the agressor.