Gaza rockets fired into Israel
Members of an Israeli bomb squad carry the remains of a rocket that was fired from the Gaza Strip into the coastal city of Ashdod. Photo: David Buimovitch, AFP
Gaza militants launched barrages of rockets deep into Israel early today and Israeli aircraft struck targets in the Palestinian territory in the aftermath of the deadliest attack against Israelis in three years.
On Thursday, gunmen apparently from Gaza and who crossed into southern Israel through the Egyptian desert, ambushed civilian vehicles travelling on a remote road, killing eight people.
Six were civilians, and two were members of Israeli security forces responding to the incursion.
The attack signalled a new danger for Israel from its border with the Sinai Peninsula, long quiet under the rule of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.
Mubarak was deposed in February and the desert of the Sinai Peninsula - always restive and largely controlled by Bedouin tribes - has become increasingly lawless.
Israel responded hours after the attack with an air strike that killed five members of the Palestinian group that Israel said was behind it, an organisation known as the Popular Resistance Committees. The dead included the group's leader.
A spokesman for the group, Abu Mujahid, would not confirm or deny responsibility for the attack inside Israel, but said militants would avenge the killing of the men in Gaza.
Hamas denied any connection with the attacks, but hurriedly evacuated all of its security facilities in anticipation of more Israeli retaliation.
Those strikes continued through the night, targeting what the military said were smuggling tunnels and sites used by gunmen.
Hamas officials said two children, three and 13, were killed in the Israeli strikes.
The Israeli military's chief spokesman, Brig Gen Yoav Mordechai, said it was "too early" to say that a broad escalation in Gaza was imminent.
"If we see that Hamas is choosing to escalate, we will not hesitate to expand the scope of our actions, respond in strength and exact a price from Hamas," he told Army Radio on Friday morning.
Militants in Gaza launched at least 10 rockets into Israel today, the military said. One, aimed at the city of Ashkelon, was intercepted by the new Israeli anti-missile system known as Iron Dome.
Another hit the port city of Ashdod and wounded six Israelis, according to Israeli emergency services.
Israel's south has been equipped with early warning systems and bomb shelters over years of rocket fire from Gaza, and those measures have helped keep casualties low.
The attacks focused Israel's attention on its border with Egypt - 125 miles of mountainous desert with no fence for most of its length.
The border has traditionally been crossed mainly by Bedouin smugglers ferrying drugs and thousands of African asylum-seekers into Israel.
Thursday's attack - the deadliest for Israel since a Palestinian gunman killed eight people in a Jerusalem religious seminary in 2008 - took place near Israel's popular Red Sea resort city of Eilat, at the height of the tourist season.
Though the desert outside Eilat showed signs of an increased military presence today, the city itself appeared unaffected. Joggers and cyclists were visible along the beach.
A new fence is currently under construction, and the military says it will be complete by the end of 2012.
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Mr Robert Callus
Aug 19th 2011, 19:45
@Martin Chetcuti
"If I were you I prefer to ask who is ALWAYS provoking this attacks"
The answer is - ISRAEL. By the occupation, the settlements. By turning Gaza into an open prison. By humiliating Palestinian people at the zillion checkpoints. It can take more than 24 hrs to arrive to a hospital. By the blockade, by not allowing basic necessities enter Gaza. By attacking those who try to help Palestinians and label them as terrorists. By creating buffer zones inside what's left of Palestine.
I'm not justifying the violence and it's unacceptable to kill or harm innocent people because you are "provoked" by their government. But to blame the "provocation" on the Palestinians too, is a little to much, isn't it?
Mr martin chetcuti
Aug 19th 2011, 16:51
@Warmer Libri
You mentioned that this conflict is in continous bias in favour of Israel by Europe and the USA because this case didn't contain photos of the incident... If I where you I prefer to ask who is ALWAYS provoking this attacks. This Palestinian terrorists don't care to shoot on innocent civilians and tourists, in this attack these vile terrorists took advantage of the Egyptian instability to attack, but hopefully it would be there last chance as now the Israelis will soon erect obstacles to enforce this weak point , unfortunatley that is the only method to keep off these terrorists as happened when the dividing wall was erected.
You also mentioned that yesterday Israeli airstrikes killed 6 palestinians. Well do you know that that 6 palestinians were involved in the attack, at least they are the 6 terrorists involved not the 6 innocent Civilians. I am not justifying this but again you are not right when you quote that ''Israeli Airstrikes attacked'' you must say why they did so.
I do agree that a common solution can be found between the two but not with the present Hamas who there creed to instigate hate can lead to nowhere if not to the Palestinians own doom......
Warmer Libri
Aug 19th 2011, 19:06
@Mr martin chetcuti
The 6 Palestnians who were killed included children and women(civilians)! The main problem in Palestinian-Isreal conflict especially in Europe is the misperception of the situation because we just follow certain types of media which do not give us the truth! Palestine is under Isreal occupation! occupation according to the international law is the worst threat to the human beings live. All the international laws give the rights to people underoccupation to use all possible tools to free their land from the occupied forces. the last attack that done against Isreal soldiers and that why they hardly show them in the media!! if it involved civilians, I am quite sure they will bring them straight a way!! the palestinains in gaza or in west bank they live extremely tough life because of Isreal occupation!! just to go pray in their holly mosque, they need permission, oh comeon that is not fair!!! Imagine I need a permission to go to vatican!! all reasons which are given continously by Isreal are vague just for the media they decieve the world by their version of false stories. I do not know what is all fuzz about HAMAS!! you know that hamas goverment included christian in ministry of education!! these people are just reservative to their religion and culture but not as we imagine and as the media shows us! the palestinains are struggling for their freedom(they are not terrorists), the terrorists are the occupying forces who are destroying all life features in palestine including(tree, animals.....etc).It is important for us to know the reality and facts and to be humans before any thing else.GOD BLESS YOU.
Warmer Libri
Aug 19th 2011, 13:58
This Palestinian-Isreal conflict in the middleeast can not be solved unless the two parts will be committed to a common solution, however the continous biased backing of isreal by Europe and USA,...etc, keeping this conflict far from being solved!!! Isreal airstrikes are continously killing people in Palestinain territories, yesterday about 6 palestinains were killed by Isreal airstrikes which involved children and women!! I do not know why this news did not contain photos of that to be neutral!! Isreal always trying to comprimise the peace process by all possibile means!! recently they challenged all the world who trying to push peace process by giving permission to build more illegal settlments in west bank!!! this is not a normal situation, as isreal abuses the backing of world superpowers to humiliate and killing the hope of Palestinains to make their independent state!!! as happened when Isreal attacked tukish boat mamara and killed intentional > 10 turisk proactivist and torturesd alot of others and then Isreal crying for support of the world!!!!!! that is radiculous because by supporting these criminal acts of Isreals, the humantarian sense of solidarity of others will decline!!!!!!.Godbless.