GAZA: Israeli forces thrust deep into the city of Gaza on Thursday in what may be their final push against Islamist Hamas militants before agreeing to a ceasefire in the 20-day-old war.
Foreign Miniser Tzipi Livni embarked late Thursday night for the United States to sign an agreement with Washington which aims to put an end to arms smuggling from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.
In Damascus, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, a target for assassination by Israel, reiterated his group's demands.
‘First, the aggression must stop; second, the Israeli forces must withdraw from Gaza ... immediately, of course; thirdly, the siege must be lifted and fourth we want all crossing-points reopened, first of which is Rafah (Egypt)'.
In Gaza, Hamas interior minister Saeed Seyyam was killed by an Israeli air strike on a house in Jabalya refugee camp, along with his son, brother and half a dozen others. Seyyam oversaw 13,000 Hamas police and security men.
At least 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza city during the day, medical officials said. Israeli fire also hit a UN compound, a hospital and a TV office.
In a pool report from an Israel base just outside northern Gaza, Western correspondents quoted a young Israeli sergeant as saying Hamas fighters were ‘villagers with guns.’
‘They don't even aim when they shoot,’ he said. ‘We kept saying Hamas was a strong terror organization but it was more easy than we thought it would be.
A commander said: ‘I know that in the end Hamas will say they won ... Will they put down their weapons forever? For sure, no, but I think they have learned a lesson from this war.’
Israel insists Hamas must no longer be able to smuggle in weapons through tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, and must end its rocket attacks on its southern towns.
In a step to bring a truce closer, the United States earlier told Israel it would be prepared to offer security guarantees. Olmert's office said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told him ‘the United States would be prepared to assist in solving the issue of smuggling.’
About 25 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Thursday, wounding six people, police said.
Source: DAWN.COM
Foreign Miniser Tzipi Livni embarked late Thursday night for the United States to sign an agreement with Washington which aims to put an end to arms smuggling from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.
In Damascus, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, a target for assassination by Israel, reiterated his group's demands.‘First, the aggression must stop; second, the Israeli forces must withdraw from Gaza ... immediately, of course; thirdly, the siege must be lifted and fourth we want all crossing-points reopened, first of which is Rafah (Egypt)'.
In Gaza, Hamas interior minister Saeed Seyyam was killed by an Israeli air strike on a house in Jabalya refugee camp, along with his son, brother and half a dozen others. Seyyam oversaw 13,000 Hamas police and security men.
At least 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza city during the day, medical officials said. Israeli fire also hit a UN compound, a hospital and a TV office.
In a pool report from an Israel base just outside northern Gaza, Western correspondents quoted a young Israeli sergeant as saying Hamas fighters were ‘villagers with guns.’
‘They don't even aim when they shoot,’ he said. ‘We kept saying Hamas was a strong terror organization but it was more easy than we thought it would be.
A commander said: ‘I know that in the end Hamas will say they won ... Will they put down their weapons forever? For sure, no, but I think they have learned a lesson from this war.’
Israel insists Hamas must no longer be able to smuggle in weapons through tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, and must end its rocket attacks on its southern towns.
In a step to bring a truce closer, the United States earlier told Israel it would be prepared to offer security guarantees. Olmert's office said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told him ‘the United States would be prepared to assist in solving the issue of smuggling.’
About 25 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Thursday, wounding six people, police said.
Source: DAWN.COM
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