Hamas Says Gaza War to 'Shorten Occupation Era', Israel Vows to Take 'Whatever Action Necessary'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Israel will take "whatever action is necessary" to defend its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday as Gaza's Hamas rulers noted that the current conflict “will shorten the era of occupation.”
Netanyahu's remarks at a televised press conference in Tel Aviv came after Israel carried out 24 hours of air strikes on Gaza, killing 15 Palestinians, at least seven of them Hamas militants.
Over the same period, militants fired more than 200 rockets at Israel, killing three people and injuring 16, police and medics said.
Israel will "continue to take whatever action is necessary to defend our people," the prime minister said, adding that the army was prepared to "significantly expand the action" in Gaza.
The Israeli air force had "caused significant damage to the Fajr rockets aimed at Tel Aviv, the (surrounding) Dan region and north of that," he added, referring to Iranian-built missiles which have a range of up to 75 kilometers (46 miles).
Earlier on Thursday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, on a visit to an Iron Dome anti-missile battery near Beersheva, said the operation had "nearly completely paralyzed" Hamas' arsenal of Fajr 5 rockets.
Hamas militants said on Thursday they had fired several Fajr 5 rockets at Tel Aviv, but the Israeli military dismissed the claim and there were no reports of any attacks in the area.
Later on Thursday, the Israeli army confirmed that a rocket struck Rishon LeTzion, some 15 kilometers (nine miles) southeast of Tel Aviv, but there were no injuries or damage.
Meanwhile, Hamas said it would not consider a truce with Israel for now, as Israeli planes pounded Gaza and militants fired hundreds of rockets into the Jewish state.
"We will not be exposed to further tricks by the occupation. We consider talk of a truce at this time an attempt to provide more cover for the continuation of the escalation on Gaza," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said at a press conference.
"Talk of a truce is another attempt by the occupation at deception," he said, adding that "the enemy started an open war on our people and our resistance in Gaza."
His remarks appeared to rule out any hopes of a quick end to a surge of violence that began with an Israeli targeted killing of top Hamas field commander Ahmed Jaabari on Wednesday.
“We are fighting a real war with Israel in every sense of the word,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said during the same press conference.
The battle will create new realities and the end will be determined through a gradual, advanced and escalating battle. Today, the resistance is overseeing the battle and we are confident that it will confront the occupation and foil its objectives,” he added.
Addressing the Israeli population, Barhoum said “the Zionists must fully realize that their leaders are putting their lives in danger for domestic political reasons.”
“We call on the masses of our people in the occupied West Bank to rise up,” he added.
The Hamas spokesman lauded “the wise decisions taken by (Egyptian) President (Mohamed) Morsi” and urged the Arab and Muslim countries to “follow suit.”
On Wednesday, Morsi ordered the foreign ministry to summon the Israeli envoy and recall Egypt's ambassador from Tel Aviv, calling for an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers, which is slated to be held in Cairo on Saturday.
“The Arab countries must lay out a strategy to end the suffering of our people and we urge the peoples to mobilize in support of Gaza.,” Barhoum added.
15 November 2012, 18:15
23
Israel seems to be running to the rescue of its allies the Syrian regime and iran through this war, which will expand probably to include Syria and hizbushaitan.
the required result is an international conference table whereby the Syrian regime and iran will negotiate the existence if their regimes.
this probability is at its highest now.
15 November 2012, 19:14
52
As even AFP & Naharnet stated categorically that the terrorists in Gaza were the first to fire missiles and Israel only responded, I can't see how you can see that Israel is running to the rescus of its "allies" in Syria and Iran.
If there is to be an international conference, who exactly will be there? Hamas which specifically states that it will never negociate with Israel or ever recognise its right to exist? Abu Mazen who for over two years has followed on Arafats' example of how to avoid sitting down with Israel in order to establish an independent State of Palestine? Assad, whose regime is tottering and is already not recognised by some countries? Iran...no need to expand?
Wow, what a conference that is going to be.
15 November 2012, 19:47
22
It's a double equation ya phillippo.
1/ Putting sticks in Abbas' wheels for his UN bid scheduled in less than 2 weeks
2/ Giving more time to Bachar by bringing the attention on Gaza which is working, today's internation media only talked about Israel and bla-bla-bla eclipsing the 39.000 people that died in 20 months in Syria, Israel's ally.
15 November 2012, 20:54
00
philippo
nasrallah's speech is self explanatory:
he is setting the ground for hizbushaitan intervention in this war.
15 November 2012, 22:53
00
It is not the fault of Abu Mazen. He took a rightful stand to avoid wasteful talks while Israel continues illegal settlement expansion. The vast majority of the countries in the world (over 90%) do not recognize Israel's claims to land in the occupied territories.
Israel is trying to change the facts on the ground with settlement growth. As soon as Israel agrees to stop the settlement expansion, Abbas will agree to negotiate.
Either build your land-stealing wall at the 67 border, or give every Palestinian the right to vote in Israel. You can't have it both ways. (Apartheid occupation without representation). That's why Israel doesn't care for a settled peace. They want to use the illegal settlements as a trading block to offset Palestinian claims on land inside Israel proper.
15 November 2012, 18:23
00
at a time when the Hamas regime in Gaza continues to launch aerial attacks against the Israeli civilian population,the Jewish Voices for Peace has issued a statement of full support for the Hamas regime in Gaza.
The Israel Advocacy Task Force calls on all supporters of justice and peace in the middle east to demand that the US Justice Department Division of Counter Intelligence to arrest and incarcerate the members of the Jewish Voices for Peace and to prosecute JVP to the full extent of the law.
While Israel is being bombarded by Hamas, WE DARE NOT ALLOW SUCH STATEMENTS TO VILIFY ISRAEL. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT , ISRAEL ADVOCACY TASK FORCE. .
15 November 2012, 19:52
33
where is the "resistance" of ASSad and Hizbollaat when it is most needed? The masks have fallen...
15 November 2012, 19:53
32
neither of those cuntries shares a border with Occupied Palestine where as Lebanon and Syria do...I would expect them to be doing something right now you know with ASSad being the "beacon" of resistance BS and Nasrallaat BS arms of resistance...
15 November 2012, 20:41
32
If Israel was really wanting to destroy the civilian population of Gaza, do you honestly think that the total number of Gazan killed would be just 15. It only goes to show that Israeli attacks are only against military targets.
The rocket which hit an apartment in Kiryat Malachi and killed 3 civilians in their home was specifically directed against the town, not against a military target.
15 November 2012, 21:56
23
do hamas really believe that with there little weaponry they ll stop israel and create a palestinian state? all they ll do is letting innocent people get killed because of their madness or maybe their goal is such: hoping israel kills hundreds of palestinians so that the world help them stop israel! that is evil at its best and iranman hails them for that!!!
in any case it makes them accomplices with israel of murders.no country will help a palestinian authority that praises war or terrorism to achieve their goal but they would help palestinians if they show that they can live in an independent state responsibly. in history the biggest achievements were done peacefully like gandhi who kicked out the strongest military power from his country. can t palestinians do the same?
15 November 2012, 22:50
00
it makes no sense for hamas action, one should ask who is really benefiting from their action? we know for facts: they are nothing against the superpower of israel, we know for fact,they will never get any real support from the so called Arab league, we know for fact it is not in Israel benefit nor the American to have peace in the region.
so i ask again who is really benefiting from Hamas action other then the zionist in Israel?
16 November 2012, 00:09
01
those benefiting for all thai are those who built their policy on the palestinian problem. all those who use as an excuse to build their power:
hezbis: without israel they are nothing.
iran: their sole purpose is to use israel to justify the existence of their islamic regime,hezbis being their faithful pup.
hamas: same as above!
israel: they can play the victims and receive millions of dollars from the usa.
16 November 2012, 01:47
00
rudes, you are very emotional why don't stop for a minute and think before you insult everyone. just think
18 November 2012, 22:52
00
I read a letter from a father to a soldier to my congregants friday night and Saturday since I have different groups and I emailed the letter before Shabbat for them to think about it. We had an amazing discussion at both services.. A number of the NON ORTHODOX RABBIS found it convenient to embarass me publicly. for sharing it with them on a rabbinical site. See THE LETTER IN THE Jewish Press. It cautions the son to be careful not to put his life on the line and die because he is overcautious about harming civilians. This is war and people on both sides dies, unfortunately that includes children. We need a cease fire immediately for the sake of all. Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg, founder and president , israel advocacy task force. iatf
