Israel bombs university in Gaza, death toll increases to 300 
Israeli warplanes struck by air-to-ground rockets early on Monday several buildings into the Islamic University of Gaza, 300 Palestinians were killed and over 1000 wounded during unprecedented intensive Israeli airstrikes started on saturday.
The residents in Remal neighborhood in western Gaza City said they heard four huge explosions that wrecked the whole area, and white and gray pillars of smoke were seen coming out of the building.
Several buildings, which surround the Islamic University were badly damaged, said the residents, adding that another college run by the Islamic University in southern Gaza City was hit too.
Israeli drones and F16 warplanes still hover over Gaza City. The buzz of the drones and war fighters was strongly heard shortly before the four airstrikes were carried out.
Israeli air force jets have bombed the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip, a significant cultural symbol for Hamas.
Warplanes also struck Hamas government offices as air raids aimed at forcing Palestinian militants to halt rocket fire into southern Israel continued.
Palestinian medics say nearly 300 people have been killed in the air raids that began on Saturday.
Israel has threatened to launch a ground assault and is now calling up 6,500 army reservists.
Witnesses in Gaza said they saw six separate air strikes on the Islamic University, hitting a laboratory building, just after midnight.
The university is a centre of support for Hamas - the Islamist militant group which controls the Gaza Strip. Many of its top officials graduated from there.
A BBC journalist in Gaza said the university authorities had evacuated the campus a few days ago as they had been expecting a strike.
Now Public member Sameh Habeeb is on the ground reporting this event. Read his last despatch at http://my.nowpublic.com/world/news-update-gaza-100-killed-300-injured. As you would read his house has also come under sharpenal attack and he has very limited access to the internet.
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Sanjay Jha
New Delhi, India
judyinjerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel
Cody Bralts Photography
United States
reshmi
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Tanweer
Kabul, Afghanistan
ddas-edEn
Kolkata, India
Blue Crush
Toronto, Canada
Lee Lecu
Sliema, Malta
dunkelberg
United States
Art_By_Alida
Ohio River Valley, Indiana, United States
mudricky
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Heritage
Taipei, Taiwan
Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Sign in to NowPublic
Truemors
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (25)
at 21:53 on December 28th, 2008
Have pity for the residents of the Gaza Strip - they are held prisoner, treated like dogs, starved, have essential services rationed....yet countries like the US line up behind Israel who are responsible for making these people's lives hell.
They deserve to be put in the same category as Mugabe.
at 23:02 on December 28th, 2008
The only people responsible for making Hell in Gaza is Hamas. Period.
at 23:21 on December 28th, 2008
why, they are the ones imprisoned. They are the ones struggling for survival against an oppressive regime. Saddam had nothing compared to the inhumane actions of Israel.
at 23:27 on December 28th, 2008
Good question. They are isolated because Hamas does NOT want peace with Israel. It is interested only in its destruction. If there was a willingness to work together for peace then Gaza would be blossoming with economic and social success. That is the real tragedy to this story. Hijacking an entire population for extremist ends.
at 10:57 on December 29th, 2008
at 08:27 on December 29th, 2008
And Hamas has Israel to thank to giving it that power.
at 23:33 on December 28th, 2008
Yeah, really! If they'd just stop trying to defend themselves, I bet Israel would let a few of them survive instead of wiping out every last occupant. They're ASKING FOR genocide.
at 03:14 on December 29th, 2008
Gaza is the modern Warsaw ghetto.
at 04:20 on December 29th, 2008
Folks, a little reminder that while this is a very touchy and explosive subject, the terms of use and code of conduct are still being enforced. This means no blatant racism and no attacking members.
at 06:13 on December 29th, 2008
Source: RFI English
"I've just seen an attack which is about 50-100 metres from where I am standing right now," said Abu Alaa, a lecturer at the Al Aqsa University.
"The streets of Gaza are empty right now, because people are in a state of shock, they didn't expect such vicious attacks."
at 07:42 on December 29th, 2008
~what a shame, maybe they'll actually abide to cease-fires in future, instead of continuing to lob bombs over into Israel, as a matter of fear-if not conscience (-which apparently, the cowardly terrorists are sincerely lacking).
at 08:19 on December 29th, 2008
So that we've got both sides of the story...
Source - RFI English:
On Monday morning Ashkelon was hit by nine rockets. Thirty-two people were wounded and one died, according to Dr Ron Lobel, deputy Director-General of Barzilai.
"The problem for us is that the entire hospital is within the range of the rockets and we might be hit within," Lobel told RFI, adding that the hospital, the only one of its kind serving 500,000 people in the area, does not have fortified walls.
at 08:29 on December 29th, 2008
As long as it is "only" Palestinians dying, Israel will do as it wishes, with the blessings of its lackeys in the Boy George administration.
at 08:46 on December 29th, 2008
To think that Israel doesn't care about killing civilians just shows me that it is silly to even present another prospective. Hamas must stop rockets and Israel will stop destroying Hamas and other terror organizations. The entire Arab world that aligns itself against Iran is quietly pleased by Israel's willingness to end this insanity with terror. They are so terrified of the Iran-Syria-Hiszbullah-Hamas axis that they pray that Israel will have the will to finish them off.
at 08:48 on December 29th, 2008
In a news conference today from Cairo, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas placed the blame for the violence in the Gaza Strip squarely on the shoulders of Hamas. He described how he repeatedly made contact with Hamas and implored them not to break the ceasefire. He lamented that the violence in the Gaza Strip could have been avoided had Hamas not broken the ceasefire.
The following is Mahmoud Abbas's statement at a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit.
at 08:59 on December 29th, 2008
The current Israeli and U.S. governments are the best friends a Hamas recruiter could have.
It would be nice if this electioneering by bombs and blood backfires in the upcoming voting, but I fear it will not.
at 15:25 on December 29th, 2008
Maybe Israel should try opening borders so people can mingle and work together, opening borders allowing food and medicines to pass freely into Gaza, maybe they should stop bulldozing people's homes to build a big concrete wall, perhaps they should try not forcing people from their homes and installing Israeli people into them.
at 00:28 on December 30th, 2008
Matte,
I think that you have been rerading too much science fiction about Israel.
at 00:37 on December 30th, 2008
Israel was only created in 1948 as part of a geopolitical ploy for the Middle East - the funding from the USA since then supports this.
There is no Israel - it is a fabrication. The land belongs to the Palestinians.
at 00:51 on December 30th, 2008
Listen Matte,
Don't start with all this trying to de-legitimatize Israel's right to exist. It is a waste of time. Hot air blown into the wind. We are HERE if you cant handle Jews having a State then tough Sh.T.
The country you live in has done and continues to do more damage to this global mess then any small potatoes like Israel. We are here and personally I dont give a hoot whether it is fair in your eyes or not. If that is the best you can come up with then bankruptcy is your only option.
We will win this war against terror with what ever means necessary. Period.
at 01:35 on December 30th, 2008
There is only one means. That is not to steal land, and not to use violence. What is irrational to me is that why does Palestine need to seek being a State? It has been a State since its beginning in time. Does Israel really think killing innocent people moves their cause forward? Why doesn't Israel recognize Hamas? How can Hamas recognize Israeli legitimacy when Israel refuses to recognize Hamas? Israel needs to recognize Hamas. Israel can not win the war on terror. They have been at this war on terror since 1948. How much time does this war go on? Why use bombs, when kindness is needed at such times? There are no winners in war. It takes 2 to fight. The better one is the one who refuses to fight, or take anymore senseless blood.
Where are the Patriot Missiles that can shoot down missiles? Where is the technology and esteem to reaching for peace, instead of going to the brink of extinction. Israel's continued attacks do not help Israel's position. It strengthens Hamas resolve to exist. Mankind is so very very inhuman, and the Israeli leaders are as bad as Hamas. No one needs to die, or fight. Give up the fight.. its not worth fighting for.
Rev. Jermano
at 04:10 on December 30th, 2008
Totally and factually incorrect. It Maybe the anti-Israel wet dream but nevertheless just a bunch of propaganda not worth responding to. The sad thing is you know deep down in your heart the Jew Jesus loves you. And we even forgive you for you know not what you say.
at 04:16 on December 30th, 2008
I think the tide is showing that all nations and all peoples see the error in the upstart's actions.
Maybe someone will realise the truth and cease to recognise Israel. Certainly the expressions on this site are so rationally against the terror antics of Israel - if it were Saddam leading Israel, the nation would already be obliterated. This is what is so perplexing, why this inhumain treatment of a historically valid peoples be allowed to continue??
at 04:31 on December 30th, 2008
Nice encouraging the destruction of Israel. Maybe it is time for all the haters of Jews and Israel to come out of there sewers on Now Public and be counted.
at 16:11 on December 31st, 2008
I don't hate Jews. I hate Jews who take up and use violence. I hate anyone who uses violence. Jesus did not use violence Tikun. He was the exact opposite. Jews who think they are fighting for Jesus by using force and violence are mistakenly wrong.
Rev.