Saturday, December 27, 2008

Over 140 Pal. Martyred, 200 Hurt in IAF Gaza Strikes


Al-Manar

"27/12/2008 Medical sources report at least 140 Palestinians have been killed and over 200 wounded in a series of Israeli occupation Air Force strikes on the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Gaza health official Moawiya Hassanain confirmed the report, saying 120 Palestinians have been killed in the airstrikes.

The massive Israeli bombardment of Gaza is "only just the beginning," Israeli military spokesman Avi Benayahu told army radio on Saturday. "This is only just the beginning of an operation launched after a security cabinet decision. It could take time. We have not fixed a timeline and we will act according to the situation on the ground," he said.

A series of Israeli occupation strikes targeted Hamas compounds throughout the Gaza Strip, causing widespread panic, Hamas officials said on Saturday.

Al-Manar correspondent in Gaza said that what is going on is an unprecedented massacre against the Palestinians in the Strip.

"I'm afraid we have at least 40 dead," police spokesman Islam Shahwan told Hamas radio earlier in the day on Saturday. He said a police compound in Gaza City was hosting a graduation ceremony for new personnel when it was attacked.

IAF strikes on Saturday on the police headquarters in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip killed police Chief Tawfiq Jabber, Hamas radio reported.

At least two people were killed and 30 wounded from an attack in Khan Younis, a refugee camp in the south of Gaza.

TV footage showed bodies of more than a dozen black-clad security men lying on the ground in one area. Palestinian witnesses say one of the missiles struck Hamas police headquarters in Gaza City, with at least 50 people among the casualties in the attack.

Residents reported hearing at least 15 explosions. Many of Hamas' security compounds are in residential areas, and the airstrikes took place as children were leaving school. Plumes of black smoke rose over Gaza City, sirens wailed through the streets and women frantically looked for their children......

On Friday, Egyptian officials said that Egypt had begun boosting the security along its border with Gaza, in anticipation of the imminent occupation army operation within the territory, fearing an Israeli incursion would result in a breach of the border."

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