Israel conducted 180 air strikes against Gaza Saturday

The difficulties endured by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were further exacerbated by the Israeli attacks. Schools and services in general have stalled. Despite the heavy bombing, the Palestinians say they have no fear. Attacks by Israel on the Gaza Strip, which have been extended by four days and that were intensified on the eve, have caused 39 dead and 330 wounded.

teleSUR

This Saturday, the Israeli Air Force destroyed the headquarters of the Hamas Government and movement.

The Israel Air Force conducted about 180 air strikes on Gaza, one of which struck the seat of government of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. The fourth day of  "Operation Defensive Pillar" so far has killed about 39 people and injured about 330.

TeleSUR special envoy to Gaza, Oskar Epelde, reported that after about 180 attacks by Israel during Saturday, citizens were praying in the mosque, "very quietly with few explosions."

Media say the Prime Minister of Gaza and Hamas leade,r Ismail Haniyah, was not in the building during the bombing that caused a fire of great intensity.

In addition to the headquarters of Hamas, airstrikes hit the police headquarters in Gaza Islamic University, Palestine Stadium for the main sports of the territory, the residence of a member of the Al Qassam Brigades and a refugee housing camp, Bureij.

According to the BBC news agency, it was reported that Israeli military forces want to attack hundreds of targets in Gaza and said it's "legitimate" to attack any target that belongs to Hamas.

"The nightmare in Gaza continues to rise.  The solution to the problem still cannot be seen. Today, the foreign minister of Tunisia had harsh words and condemned the attitude of the Israeli government.  He said that after the Arab Spring, nothing will equal impunity for Israel, and it cannot continue humiliating the Palestinian population," Epelde added.

The journalist noted that economic activities in the region are at a standstill, which is causing serious problems for the population. In this regard, he highlighted the case of fishing families who could not leave their homes to fish and are surviving only due to the solidarity of family and friends.

"The Palestinians in Gaza are hopeful that the support and solidarity have awakened those in the Arab world. They are united, resisting and trying to survive the Israeli bombardment," he added.

So far Israel's operation in Gaza has been limited to air and artillery attacks, but the government has estimated that it will increase to 75,000 (2.5 times more) the reservists to be mobilized to launch a possible ground intervention.

According to the Israeli news site, Ynet, the chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, Benny Gantz, ordered his troops to increase the rate of attacks on Gaza, after an evaluation meeting.

The offensive was intensified on the eve of an "anti-terrorist operation" that began on November 14 and killed the military leader of the Hamas movement, Ahmed Jabari.

"This Israeli action implements its cruel blockade of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza, in violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention that prohibits any form of collective punishment directed at an occupied people.

Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, collective punishments are a war crime. Article 33 of the Fourth Convention states: "No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed," and "collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited."


Translated from the Spanish version by:

Lisa Karpova
Pravda.Ru

 

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Author`s name Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
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