Two hurt in Ashkelon rocket strike; 36 rockets hit Negev

[oberliner]

Palestinian militants in Gaza launched at least four rockets at Ashkelon Saturday, one of which directly struck a house. Three rockets slammed into a residential neighborhood in the city. Two people were injured while two others were treated for shock. One car was left burning nearby.

The wounded underwent treatment at Barzilai Medical Center in the city, according to Israel Radio.

The barrage that struck Ashkelon is among the 36 rockets which rained down on the western Negev on Saturday. A missile also struck a building in the educational youth village of "Kfar Silver", causing damage to the structure.

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959172.html

[Vegasaurus]

1. NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

would take rocket attacks on its cities. Not a single one.

Except Israel is supposed to supply food and fuel to the very people trying to kill them. They are supposed to provide electricity when the terrorists are trying to blow up the electircal plant.

Only Israel is expected to both take rocket attacks (and care for their enemies).

[Violet_Crumble]

2. You have to be fucking joking...

I'd started a thread not an hour ago about how 32 Palestinians have been killed (not injured, but killed) by rocket attacks by Israel on Gaza. How about just for once you apply the standards you apply when it comes to Israel to the Palestinians and see where it leads you...

btw, several people in this forum have already told you that no-one expects Israel to sit back and just take attacks, but their response must adhere to international law, because it gets to a point where they get just as bad as what they're responding to...

[MaryCeleste]

3. What international law do you think they are violating or not adhering to?

Note that I said law, not UN policy or pronouncements

[subsuelo]

10. I'd say massacres of civilians violates some int'l law

[MaryCeleste]

12. You need to be a bit more specific, which Geneva Accord etc.

you are also assuming indiscriminate targeting of civilians or intentional targeting of civilians, which is very hard to prove.

Not saying its not happening, just pointing out the need for specifics

[Violet_Crumble]

13. I think you've already seen the info from B'Tselem I posted in another thread...

But before I start, how do you think international law comes into being? It's got something to do with UN conventions and resolutions...

Here's the info from B'Tselem...

A primary principle of international humanitarian law is the distinction between combatants and civilians. According to this principle, it is forbidden to attack civilians who are not taking part in the hostilities. When it is unclear if the persons are civilians or combatants, they must be treated as civilians. Automatically opening fire at every person who enters a certain area, regardless of the person's identity or the circumstances of the incident, such as in the cases described above, is "indiscriminate firing," which is liable to constitute a war crime.

and...

The laws of war require the sides to aim their attacks at military objects, and to distinguish between combatants and civilians. The principle of proportionality, one of the pillars of international humanitarian law, prohibits carrying out attacks, even those aimed at a legitimate military target, if the attacking side knows that the attack will result in injury to civilians in excess of the advantage anticipated from the attack. The killing and wounding of civilians as a result of the artillery shelling, which is imprecise, at targets close to residential areas is a grave breach of fundamental principles of the laws of war and constitutes a war crime.

http://www.btselem.org/english/Gaza_Strip/Hostilities.asp

When it comes to the blockade of Gaza, collective punishment is a violation of international law.

Article 33. No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.

http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/WebART/380-600038?OpenDocument




These laws apply to both sides in the conflict, not just to the groups firing Qassams...

[Vegasaurus]

4. So what should Israel do?

Negotiate with people whose expressed goal is their annihilation?

Seems pretty stupid to me.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

8. there are 3 choices for Israel: Negotiate for 2 viable states; annex the terroritories

and provide citizenship, or genocide.

Seems Israel has decided upon the latter.

At least have the guts to name what is going on, own it, and quit hiding behind the skirts of women in Sderot.

[MaryCeleste]

9. I would vote for a return to the orignal UN borders

Which is to say annexation. However, that is unlikely to happen.

[Violet_Crumble]

14. The original UN borders?

Are you talking about the partition plan?

[Violet_Crumble]

15. I've asked you that question before and you never answer it...

I've been very clear that I think Hamas and Israel need to negotiate a cease-fire, something that yr clearly opposed to...

So what is yr solution?

[ohio2007]

17. Actually it's true. not even Iraq put up with the Turkish attacks very long. nt

[breakaleg]

5. Oh no! The people are scared? In shock? By all means, kill every one in Gaza. It's only fair. n

[Vegasaurus]

6. That's stupid

Offer some real solutions.

[breakaleg]

7. What's more stupid is accepting a policy that has proven ineffective. And defending the murder of

civilians.

[Violet_Crumble]

16. You missed the biggest bit of stupid!

And that's demanding that everyone else come up with solutions, while Vegasaurus has refused to answer my questions in the past about what their solution is :)

[Englander]

11. Meanwhile, a few miles away -

(For anyone who has a sense of perspective)

Gaza: new washing machines at last for beleaguered hospital

Following five months of intense negotiations with the Israeli Authorities, the ICRC has been allowed to bring two washing machines into the Gaza Strip from Israel, destined for the European Gaza Hospital (EGH), a 210-bed hospital in the town of Khan Younis.

Since the closure by Israel of the crossing points into Gaza in June 2007, only limited amounts of humanitarian goods have been permitted to enter Gaza. In August 2007, ICRC was asked to help facilitate the transport of the machines into the Strip.

Reliable, functioning laundry services are an integral part of a hospital, essential for maintaining hygiene. Since June 2007, three of the original four washing machines in the EGH had stopped working due to age and lack of available spare parts.

In addition to its own needs, the EGH also manages the laundry of the nearby Najjar hospital and at least 15 public health centres in the southern district. For over six months there has been just one machine to cope with over 500 kgs of laundry a day.

Alexandre Equey, head of the ICRC office in Khan Younis, expressed his satisfaction at being able to hand over the washing machines. But he stressed the continued difficulty in bringing supplies into the Gaza Strip: "ICRC is very concerned about the measures imposed by Israel, and constantly reminds the authorities of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ease the restrictions, which are paralysing the Gaza Strip."

Dr Mohammed Abu Shahala, the general director of the EGH, expressed relief that the washing machines had finally arrived: "We are surrounded by so many crises and difficulties. Today is truly a special day for me, because something positive is happening."

http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/israel-feature-290208