World

Hamas Kills Israelis, Israel Bombs Gaza, Threatens More, Deja Vu

by 158 | January 27, 2009 at 05:30 pm

165 views | 4 Recommendations | 6 comments

So it goes. No doubt Israel will

hit back 50 times harder. Then

Hamas may resume rocket fire

and back to war. We must hope

someone uses common sense.

Israel is gearing up to respond harshly against Hamas in response to a remote-control bomb attack at the Gaza Strip security fence Tuesday, which killed an Israel Defense Forces tracker and wounded three other soldiers, one seriously.

It was the Palestinians' first deadly attack since the cease-fire ended Operation Cast Lead, and came the day before the arrival of George Mitchell, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East.

In the early hours of Wednesday, Palestinians reported that an Israeli aircraft struck at tunnels used for smuggling goods and weapons on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

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There is little doubt

Hamas started this latest

round of fighting.

Describing the attack on the Israeli patrol, Tamer Mishal, Al Jazeera's correspondent, reporting from Gaza, said an anti-armour shell was fired from inside the territory at an Israeli tank near the area of Khan Younis.

"Witnesses told Al Jazeera that the grenade directly hit an Israeli jeep," he said.

"Palestinian residents reported the sound of gunfire and Israeli helicopters in the area."

The residents of Kissufim said the Israeli army patrol and Palestinian fighters exchanged fire shortly after the blast.

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And there is little doubt Israel will attack even more violently.
[q url="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1059457.html

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned of a "further response" to the attack.

"What the IDF did today was not a response but a preliminary action," he said at a meeting of ministry directors general. "A further response to this serious incident will be forthcoming."

The security cabinet is to meet Wednesday to discuss security projects, but the situation in Gaza might also be discussed.

"] .[/q]---------------------

And of course Hamas pours

gasoline on the fire.

After Tuesday's attacks, a Hamas leader, Mushir al-Masri, blamed the Israelis for breaking the truce.

"The Zionists are responsible for any aggression," he said.

He also said Hamas had only agreed to a "lull" in the fighting.

Israel's border crossings into Gaza were closed to humanitarian aid following the Tuesday attack, AP reported.