Israeli troops and tanks moved toward the border of the Gaza Strip today
and the government authorized the call-up of reservists as air strikes
failed to halt the rounds of rockets being fired from the
Hamas-controlled territory.
The U.S. State Department today blamed Hamas for the escalation of violence.
"This is violence instigated by Hamas," said Mark Toner, the
department's deputy spokesman. "As we've said very clearly in our
statement yesterday, that we extend our sympathies to the victims,
innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians that have been affected by
this violence. But let's be very clear where the onus lies."
Israeli air strikes that hit more than 150 targets across Gaza since the
operation dubbed "Pillar of Defense" began Wednesday evening.
The first strike was on Ahmed Jabari, the chief of staff of the military wing of Hamas, the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades.
It was followed by a wave of airstrikes on other militants, buildings
and installations, notably launching sites and rockets, which included
the long-range Fajar rockets that could reach Tel Aviv.
Hamas and other militant groups retaliated against Israel with a fresh
barrage of rockets that killed at least three Israelis -- the first
Israeli deaths in the escalation -- in the southern town of Kiryat
Malakhi.
At least one rocked from Gaza militants landed in Tel Aviv, Israel's
commercial capital, as sirens blared and residents ran for cover.
Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups have fired more than 200
rockets into southern Israel today, according to Israel's military.
"We are still at the beginning of the event, not at the end, and we
expect some complicated tests ahead," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud
Barak said in a nationally televised address Monday night, standing next
to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to The Associated Press, Israel has started moving its troops
toward Gaza and has called up reservists in anticipation of a ground
operation. Military officials, however, had not decided whether to enter
Gaza, the AP reported.
Israeli officials say the operation is in response to more than 800 rockets that have landed in Israel this year.
Barak laid out the four goals of "Pillar of Defense": to strengthen
deterrence, damage the rocket launching network, hit Hamas and its
allies and to minimize the damage in Israel.
When the Israeli offensive began Monday, its military tweeted, "We
recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders,
show their faces above ground in the days ahead."
Hamas fired back saying that Israel "opened the gates of hell" by assassinating Jabari.
No comments:
Post a Comment