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Gaza City - Dozens Of Hamas Eliminated, IDF Soldier Killed And Some Injured |
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Last updated on: Jan 04, 2009 at 01:32 PM
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Another Israel Defense Forces soldier was critically wounded Sunday morning in clashes with Gaza militants. The soldier's family has been informed of his condition.
Also Sunday, the IDF moved to bisect Gaza, as officials in the coastal strip said 19 Palestinians have been killed since midnight.
Gaza doctors and hospital officials said Sunday said that just three of the dead are Hamas gunmen, and the rest civilians.
Meanwhile, the Israel Air Force on Sunday struck and wounded Husam Hamdan, a senior Hamas militant responsible for the Qassam rocket infrastructure in the Gaza town of Khan Yunis and the firing of Grad rockets on Be'er Sheva and Ofakim. The strike also wounded Hamas militant Mohammed Hilo, a member of Hamas' special forces who helps supervise the construction and firing of Qassams from Khan Yunis.
The operation was carried out through the combined planning of the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security services.
Israeli ground troops entered Gaza on Saturday night, following a week of aerial strikes aimed at ending rocket fire on Israel's southern communities. Despite repeated bombing raids, the rocket fire continued, killing four Israelis over the last week.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Israel could not allow its southern residents to be targeted continuously, and had been left with no choice but to act.
The bisection of the Strip by IDF ground forces Sunday was aimed at cutting off the north - including Gaza City - from the rest of Gaza. According to Palestinian reports, the split runs from the Karni crossing on the Israel border in central Gaza to the sea.
Sky News reported Sunday that around 150 tanks had gathered at the site of the former settlement of Netzarim.
Israeli soldiers advance in the northern Gaza Strip January 4, 2009.
Since the ground incursion began, 30 Israel Defense Forces soldiers have been wounded, two of them seriously, in clashes with Gaza gunmen. Palestinian sources also said that Israeli troops have clashed with gunmen on the outskirts of Gaza City.
Among those killed in Gaza since Saturday night were five people who Palestinian medics said died when shells fired by IDF troops exploded in the center of Gaza City's main shopping area. Dozens of others were wounded, the medics said.
Initial reports from both Israel and Gaza on Saturday night indicated that IDF troops had killed dozens of Hamas gunmen as they traded heavy fire upon entering the Strip.
Once the ground operation got underway at around 8 P.M. Saturday, the IDF Spokesperson's office issued a statement emphasizing that this stage of the operation would further the goals of the eight-day offensive as voiced by the IDF until now: To strike a direct and hard blow against the Hamas while increasing the deterrent strength of the IDF, in order to bring about an improved and more stable security situation for residents of Southern Israel over the long term.
Smoke caused by explosions rises over Gaza City, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.
"The objective is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations," said Israel Defense Forces Major Avital Leibovitch, a military spokeswoman, confirming that incursions were under way. "We are going to take some of the launch areas used by Hamas."
The ground operation includes large numbers of infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence, who are supported by the Israel Air Force, Israel Navy, the Shin Bet security service and other security agencies.
The invasion was preceded by hours of artillery fire at the strip from military staging areas dotted along the Gaza-Israel border. One of the aims of the fire was to detonate Hamas explosive devices and mines planted along the border area before troops went in.
**UPDATE** 12:00 PM EST
The solider killed has been identified as Staff-Sergeant Dvir Emannuellof, 21, from Givat Ze'ev.
IDF Staff Sergeant Dvir Emmanueloff, 22, was killed Sunday in a firefight with Hamas gunmen in northern Gaza. (IDF Spokesman's Office)
**UPDATE** 12:05 PM EST
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was interviewed by CNN Sunday and stressed that Israel will not yield to international pressure to call a ceasefire in Gaza at this time.
Livni said she expected Hamas to hold its fire as well and to stop all weapons' smuggling into the Strip. Livni also rebuffed claims that Israel was using disproportionate force in Gaza.
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Read Comments (41) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 04, 2009 at 09:54 AM Anonymous Says:
May these 2 Jewish boys be the only dead please G-d. May HKBH help their mothers and wives
2
Jan 04, 2009 at 09:57 AM Anonymous Says:
Guy's, let's keep praying for these brave men out there who are risking their lives for us!
3
Jan 04, 2009 at 10:04 AM Dov Says:
What do they mean when they say...
"We are going to take SOME of the launch areas used by Hamas."
Why not ALL of the launch sites?
4
Jan 04, 2009 at 10:00 AM Geflte Fish Says:
Hashem yeracheim. May he be the first and last fatality we'll have to bear with in this operation.
5
Jan 04, 2009 at 10:26 AM Anonymous Says:
“ May these 2 Jewish boys be the only dead please G-d. May HKBH help their mothers and wives ”
Only one was killed - the other was injured
6
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:43 AM Anonymous Says:
“ What do they mean when they say...
"We are going to take SOME of the launch areas used by Hamas."
Why not ALL of the launch sites? ”
If you have some way to detect and locate ALL of the launch sites, you might want to contact the IDF.
If not, leave the IDF alone - they're doing the best they can.
7
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:12 AM Anonymous Says:
The IDF took over the gaza tv station (al aksa) and are giving messages via tv to hamas.
8
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:03 AM Dani Rose Says:
Last night at the Avos U'Bonim learnuing they said tehillim. It was explained to the children that each letter of tehillim recited is a bullet and each work a rocket. So let us all use the tools at our disposal to get to dispose of the terrorists.
9
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:03 AM Destroy Hamas Says:
only 1 are you kidding me !!!!!!!!!!!! 1 is one to many.... 1 Jew is not worth 1 million arabs
10
Jan 04, 2009 at 10:53 AM Anonymous Says:
India and Israel can no longer afford to remain aloof by themselves. Both must join hands now and finish the scrouge from the face of earth. Indian soil for the first time in known history has experienced jewish blood and it can never go unavenged. may god bring india and israel together in fight against the terror.
11
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:49 AM hates gefilte fish Says:
May he be the first and last fatality.
12
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:55 AM john Says:
“ If you have some way to detect and locate ALL of the launch sites, you might want to contact the IDF.
If not, leave the IDF alone - they're doing the best they can.
”
no the IDF is not doing all it can for am yisrael
they should retake gaza to the general sovereignity of ISRAEL and that anyone who doesnt like it open the airports for them to fly out and anyone who dares to think of thinking of planning to hurt any member of the citizentry of the nation of am yisrael will be met with the fiercest force under the circumstances
why have we become soo ambiguous to good and evil in our times
the day the arabs see that the jewish people are serious abt themselves they will be like sheep which for 80 yrs we have never done
may it be done soon
13
Jan 04, 2009 at 12:26 PM Satmar Man Says:
Can someone post the names of those injured so we can daven for them.
We also need to daven for the lives and safety of each and every Jew whose life is in danger, no matter the cause or origin of the danger.
14
Jan 04, 2009 at 12:25 PM Anonymous Says:
Amen to #11..and may Hashem avenge his blood..and bring Moshiach Now!!
16
Jan 04, 2009 at 01:14 PM Anonymous Says:
“ only 1 are you kidding me !!!!!!!!!!!! 1 is one to many.... 1 Jew is not worth 1 million arabs ”
Please read the entire context before ranting.
One person commented about 2 dead chayalim, c"v, and the second corrected him that there was only one dead r"l and one wounded r"l.
17
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:06 PM JJ Says:
today I will say tehillim for the IDF and for the Miami Dolphins
18
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:29 PM Anonymous Says:
“ today I will say tehillim for the IDF and for the Miami Dolphins ”
that's disgusting!!!!!!!!!!!
19
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:21 PM Anonymous Says:
“ If you have some way to detect and locate ALL of the launch sites, you might want to contact the IDF.
If not, leave the IDF alone - they're doing the best they can.
”
The best the IDF can do is obliterate the enemy from the relative safety of the skies, thus fully exploiting the Israeli technological edge. But they worry too much about being "humanitarian" to those who have proven themselves repeatedly as being sub-human, and more concerned about international opinion than an existential crisis.
20
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:17 PM Anonymous Says:
“ today I will say tehillim for the IDF and for the Miami Dolphins ”
Based on your comment in such a matzav I will say Tehillim for you
21
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:17 PM Anonymous Says:
“ today I will say tehillim for the IDF and for the Miami Dolphins ”
I appreciate the attempt at humor, but I doubt it is appropriate here.
22
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:39 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I appreciate the attempt at humor, but I doubt it is appropriate here. ”
you said that so nicely.
23
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:37 PM Anonymous Says:
three of the dead are hamas gunmen the rest civilians.." it's been very publisized that the IDF is comming in so why are "civilians" in the area. get out!!
24
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:53 PM Anonymous Says:
I am a satmare chosid. I know many of my fellow chasisidm dont belive in the medina.
but I do, since its a yideshe medina. all yidden are heilik in the eyes of the beshefer.
i am saying extra kapitlach every day for the idf' safety and success.
25
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:10 PM Anonymous Says:
TO JJ - If that what u use Tehillim for, than please DO NOT say Tehillim for the IDF - it could only hurt c"v.
Your equating the two, shows your low level of Yiddishkeit R"L.
26
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:45 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I am a satmare chosid. I know many of my fellow chasisidm dont belive in the medina.
but I do, since its a yideshe medina. all yidden are heilik in the eyes of the beshefer.
i am saying extra kapitlach every day for the idf' safety and success. ”
Then you are NOT a satmer chusid! sorry
27
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:36 PM Anonymous Says:
“ TO JJ - If that what u use Tehillim for, than please DO NOT say Tehillim for the IDF - it could only hurt c"v.
Your equating the two, shows your low level of Yiddishkeit R"L. ”
hey what are you educated in a box. you only see what you were programed.
28
Jan 04, 2009 at 04:14 PM esther Says:
“ I am a satmare chosid. I know many of my fellow chasisidm dont belive in the medina.
but I do, since its a yideshe medina. all yidden are heilik in the eyes of the beshefer.
i am saying extra kapitlach every day for the idf' safety and success. ”
if you belive in the medina or not is totaly irrelevant.we need to daven for Eretz Yisroel and thr Yidden there,especially the soldiers who stand between hamas y's and our jewish brthers and sisters there.also daven that the Israeli goverment should grow a brain and stop givingland releasing terrorists etc. whichOBVIOUSLY has only served to embolen our enemies.
29
Jan 04, 2009 at 04:31 PM murray Says:
“ The best the IDF can do is obliterate the enemy from the relative safety of the skies, thus fully exploiting the Israeli technological edge. But they worry too much about being "humanitarian" to those who have proven themselves repeatedly as being sub-human, and more concerned about international opinion than an existential crisis. ”
The ground invasion is a humanitarian act, but try to tell that to the UN!
30
Jan 04, 2009 at 05:55 PM Anonymous Says:
Hi Murray,
Exactly my point. So the poster who said the IDF is doing its best is only correct as it relates to saving the lives of our enemies, not our own, and that "best," in my opinion, is not good enough.
31
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:27 PM Yankelowitz Says:
“ Then you are NOT a satmer chusid! sorry ”
I doubt very much if even the Satmer rebbe'ZL would have had the chutzpah to suggest that it is forbidden to daven on behalf those fighting the safety of yidden liven in eretz yisroel. I don't know what planet you live on but questioning the motives of someone saying tehilim for the brave young men and women of the IDF is beyond disgraceful.
32
Jan 04, 2009 at 07:29 PM mnb Says:
The world should stop being blind, and look over the events of the past few years. They've been shooting rockets at our brothers and sisters for who knows how long, and when finally Israel decides to finally do something , whole world erupts. And to JJ, why would someone want to waste z'chusim on the miami dolphins when there are people to be saved.
33
Jan 04, 2009 at 07:34 PM Shaul in Monsey Says:
Are there really people here that need a Rav to approve what they daven for in their heart? Last I checked that was a catholic methodology, not a Jewish one. If someone feels like saying tehillim for the IDF, then, uh, say tehillim for the IDF. You don't need a psak or a heter to do so any more so than you need a heter to breath. Yeah, rebbe, my lungs keep inhaling air, is that ok? Does that make sense to anybody? Of course not. So what kind of automatons do we have amongst us that feel the need to ask such shailos?
34
Jan 04, 2009 at 07:25 PM mnb Says:
To JJ- What kind of meshugenah are you?
35
Jan 04, 2009 at 07:07 PM Anonymous Says:
Dear Satmar Chosid (anonymous #24 at 2:53 p.m.),
For the sake of my children and my relatives and klal yisroel, I thank you with all my heart for expressing your sentiment of support. My deepest gratitude. I read on this site because it provides excellent news and because it allows me to feel optimism about the goodness in so many of our people --in your community as well as in mine. May you and yours be well. May others in your community AND in mine find more ways to rejoice over good news in each other's homes. Sincerely, Invisible Jew
36
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:42 PM Anonymous Says:
“ TO JJ - If that what u use Tehillim for, than please DO NOT say Tehillim for the IDF - it could only hurt c"v.
Your equating the two, shows your low level of Yiddishkeit R"L. ”
If you are saying what you appear to be saying, may hashem have compassion on you and your family. I feel truly sorry for anyone with the misfortune to have to live with a jew who would object to prayer on behalf of the brave men and women of the IDF.
37
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:41 PM Avraham Says:
“ Then you are NOT a satmer chusid! sorry ”
If you disagree with this guy when he says that all yiden are heilig to the beshefer, then B"H I'm not a satmar chossid and you are definitely not a talmid of the Besh"t!!!
Get off your high horse and stand together with the rest of us and say tehillim for yidden. Your neshama is from exactly the same shoresh as theirs.
38
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:42 PM Anonymous Says:
“ TO JJ - If that what u use Tehillim for, than please DO NOT say Tehillim for the IDF - it could only hurt c"v.
Your equating the two, shows your low level of Yiddishkeit R"L. ”
If you are saying what you appear to be saying, may hashem have compassion on you and your family. I feel truly sorry for anyone with the misfortune to have to live with a jew who would object to prayer on behalf of the brave men and women of the IDF.
39
Jan 04, 2009 at 10:09 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I doubt very much if even the Satmer rebbe'ZL would have had the chutzpah to suggest that it is forbidden to daven on behalf those fighting the safety of yidden liven in eretz yisroel. I don't know what planet you live on but questioning the motives of someone saying tehilim for the brave young men and women of the IDF is beyond disgraceful. ”
Forget chutzpah. In fact, although you certainly didn't mean it, claiming it was only a lack of chutzpah that kept reb yoiel from saying such a thing is takeh chutzpah.
Reb Yoiel ZTK"L was as great an oihaiv yisrorel as anybody. He was anti-Zionism, not anti-Zionists. If you think there was a yid out there who would have cried more for the boy killed in Gaza today than Reb Yoiel you are very, very misinformed.
40
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:27 PM Anonymous Says:
“ The world should stop being blind, and look over the events of the past few years. They've been shooting rockets at our brothers and sisters for who knows how long, and when finally Israel decides to finally do something , whole world erupts. And to JJ, why would someone want to waste z'chusim on the miami dolphins when there are people to be saved. ”
you just said everything thats been bothering me for past 2 weeks. thanx!!! it really doesnt make sense and yad hashem is so obviouse here just like when obama was elected.
41
Jan 04, 2009 at 11:31 PM Anonymous Says:
“ If you are saying what you appear to be saying, may hashem have compassion on you and your family. I feel truly sorry for anyone with the misfortune to have to live with a jew who would object to prayer on behalf of the brave men and women of the IDF. ”
sorry i dont mean to disagree but i think u misjudged wat he was saying. jj said he was going to say tehilim for some stupid sports team(which i think was the most insensative thing anyone could have written right now) and he was just saying that jj was using tehilim for the wrong things
42
Jan 05, 2009 at 08:39 AM david Says:
“ only 1 are you kidding me !!!!!!!!!!!! 1 is one to many.... 1 Jew is not worth 1 million arabs ”
What he meant by only 1 was in response to the poster who wrote 2 of course 1 is way to many and they should have never pulled out of gaza in the first place.