Skip to main content


Israeli prime minister vows to 'significantly expand' action in Gaza

Eighty people reported killed since hostilities began six days ago


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to "significantly expand" its operation against Palestinians fighters in the Gaza Strip. Fatalities continue to mount, with at least eight people killed in the first six days of the ongoing conflict. Freshly re-elected U.S. President Barack Obama added cautious words, saying that while Israel had a right to defend itself; it would be "preferable" to avoid an Israeli ground invasion.

Palestinian Yoused Abu Khoussa carries the body of his one and a half year-old son Iyad, during his funeral in Bureij Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip. The ongoing hostilities have claimed many civilian lives.

Palestinian Yoused Abu Khoussa carries the body of his one and a half year-old son Iyad, during his funeral in Bureij Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip. The ongoing hostilities have claimed many civilian lives.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Fighters in Gaza continue to fire rockets into Israel. Two rockets aimed at Tel Aviv were shot down by Israel's anti-missile system, police said.

"The operation in the Gaza Strip is continuing, and we are preparing to expand it," Netanyahu said at his weekly cabinet meeting. "We are extracting a heavy price from Hamas and the terror organizations."

Israeli troops have massed along the Gaza border. There are widespread fears that Israel is poised to expand its aerial bombing campaign into a ground operation.

In Gaza, Ashraf al-Kidra, spokesperson of the health ministry says that civilians accounted for half of the Palestinian death toll and that more than 600 other Palestinians have been wounded.

Medical sources in Gaza said at least three children, including an 18-month-old infant and two women were killed in an air raid east of Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

In addition, an air raid in the early morning hours in Gaza City targeted a building housing the offices of local Arab media. Several journalists from al-Quds television, a station Israel sees as a mouthpiece of Hamas, the Palestinian group which rules the Gaza Strip.

"At least six journalists were wounded, with minor and moderate injuries, when Israeli warplanes hit the Al-Quds TV office in the Showa and Housari building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City," Ashraf al-Qudra, health ministry spokesman told reporters.

In addition, Russian television station RT said its office was destroyed, adding that none of its staff were injured.

The Israeli military said it had targeted "two Hamas operational communication sites" and had only targeted communication devices located on the roof to "minimize the damage to non-involved persons."

Gaza has been under attack since Wednesday of last week, when Israel launched a military offensive with the declared goal of deterring fighters in the Palestinian enclave from launching rockets into its territory.

More than 500 rockets fired from Gaza have hit Israel, killing three people and injuring dozens.

Israel says it will keep schools in its south shut as a precaution to avoid casualties from rocket attacks.

The military said Israeli aircraft had targeted dozens of underground rocket launchers overnight, "causing severe damage to the rocket launching capabilities of Hamas and other terror organizations".

While Netanyahu has a lot of support for a ground operation, especially in the southern parts of the country, a ground invasion would cost Israel much international sympathy and support, according to William Hague, UK foreign secretary.

Hague says it will be much more difficult to limit civilian casualties in a ground assault and it would threaten to prolong the conflict.

"A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathize with or support - including the United Kingdom," he said.

Hague says that the United Kingdom would like to see an agreed ceasefire, with an end to the rocket attacks being an essential component of any peace deal.

© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention:
The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, defense, Gaza Strip, fatalities

NEWSLETTERS »

E-mail:       Zip Code: (ex. 90001)
Today's Headlines

Sign up for a roundup of the day's top stories. 5 days / week. See Sample

Rate This Article

Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

0 Comments

Leave a Comment

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment


Newsletter Sign Up

Daily Readings

Reading 1, Sirach 2:1-11
My child, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for ... Read More

Psalm, Psalms 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
Put your trust in Yahweh and do right, make your home in the ... Read More

Gospel, Mark 9:30-37
After leaving that place they made their way through Galilee; ... Read More

Saint of the Day

May 21 Saint of the Day

St. Eugene de Mazenod
May 21: Eugene de Mazenod was born on August 1, 1782, at Aix-en-Provence ... Read More




Marketplace

Click Here

Behind the Mass
Father Shamon penetrates the depth of meaning underlying the Mass. ... Read More


Click Here

Catholic Jewelry. Addiction Recovery. Hand Stamped. Gifts for Men. Read More