Israeli warplanes pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 227 people in one of the bloodiest days for the Palestinians in 60 years of conflict with the Jewish state.
Hamas vowed revenge including suicide bomb attacks in the “cafes and streets” of Israel. But Israeli leaders said the offensive would continue as long as necessary and suggested it may also involve land forces.
“There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight,” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that “it may take time, and each and every one of us must be patient so we can complete the mission.”
A series of air strikes were launched after darkness fell. Israel telephoned some Palestinians to warn them their homes were targeted and they should leave to avoid being killed. In at least one instance a home was bombed after the occupants left.
See, the Israelis can be nice. I wouldn’t have warned anybody.
“The United States … holds Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement. “The ceasefire should be restored immediately.”
The United Nations and the European Union, in contrast, simply called for an immediate halt to all violence.
Mild surprise about the first part, the last is surprising in that they didn’t demand that Israel surrender.
Now if they can keep it up….
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