Israelis move into Central Gaza

Israel began a major assault on the Central Gaza Strip yesterday, braodening its offensive against the Palestinians.

In Gaza, launched an air strike that destroyed a three-story building where top Hamas commanders were meeting. The Israeli military said the air raid wounded Mohammad Deif, leader of Hamas's Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades.




Urban renewal, Hamas style


The air strike also killed a local Hamas leader who was hosting the meeting, Nabil Abu Selmeya, his wife and seven sons and daughters aged 7 to 19. Abu Anas al-Ghandour, commander of Hamas' armed wing in northern Gaza, was also wounded.

"The fact that the meeting between Deif and the others took place in a residential building is an indication they intended to use the inhabitants as a human shield to protect themselves," an Israeli military spokesman said.

Yet another example of the Palestinian's willingness to sacrifice children..what kind of father and husband uses his wife and kids as human shields while hosting a Hamas get together?

The Israelis claim they acted on intel that Deif and the others were meeting in the Gaza building and planning attacks on Israel. Given Hamas' actions, the Israelis were probably right about that.

The IDF has begun moving against Palestinian positons in Khan Younis and the outskirts of Gaza City.

One Palestinian gunman was killed in clashes with the IDF near the town of Deir el Balah, and three more Hamas jihadis were killed trying to fire qassam rockets
Militants tried to fire makeshift rockets towards the Kissufim border crossing with Israel.

There is still no indication that Hamas will free Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit or end the rocket attacks on Israel.