Monday November 19, 2012, 3:42 pm
(Smoke rises following an Israeli attack, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)


The death toll in Gaza continued to rise on Monday -- 108 people at last count -- following a night of Israeli airstrikes in the densely populated occupied territory, which continued throughout the day Monday. Israeli forces openly targeted residential and public areas and continued targeting media centers in Gaza City -- making it increasingly difficult to report ongoing Israeli war crimes.

Civilian causalities doubled over the weekend as Monday marked the sixth day of attacks. Monday has proven to be the dealiest day so far with at least 24 deaths.

Overall, the Israeli onslaught has killed 108 Palestinians, including at least 24 children, and wounded roughly 800 people, including roughly 227 children, according to Gaza health officials, with tolls on the rise.

On Monday a missile struck a three-story home in Gaza City's Zeitoun area, destroying the building and several surrounding homes. Associated Press reported this morning:

Shell-shocked residents searching for belongings climbed over debris of twisted metal and cement blocks in the street...Sitting in mourning with her mother and siblings just hours after her father's death, 11-year-old Aya Kitati clutched a black jacket, saying she was freezing, even though the weather was mild. 'We were sleeping, and then we heard the sound of the bombs,' she said, then broke down sobbing.

The strike killed three adults and a 2-year-old boy, and wounded 42 people, officials said.

Another four were killed, including two children, in a strike on a sports stadium, adding to the alarming child death toll.

ATTACK ON MEDIA SITES

Reporting such scenes is becoming an increasingly deadly task as Israel continues attacks on media centers within Gaza. At least eight journalists were injured Sunday after Israeli jets bombed two media buildings in Gaza City -- the home of several news agencies covering the military campaign. The Gaza City Media Center in the the Shuruq Tower of the city's crowded Rimal neighborhood, which is used by media outlets including Britain's Sky News, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network, Russia Today and Iran's Press TV, was struck again Monday, reportedly killing a "senior Islamic Jihad official."

"One Palestinian was killed and three others injured in a strike on the Shuruq Tower," including two cameraman, an ambulance services statement said.

Additionally, the Israeli army took over the airwaves of a Gaza-based Hamas television station on Monday claiming its aim was to "broadcast warnings" of air raids.

Al-Aqsa television officials said in a statement that the Israeli army "is interfering with Al-Aqsa TV," causing the pictures to scramble or lose frequency entirely for several hours at a time.

SOLIDARITY, PROTESTS GROW

Meanwhile Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas said on Monday they have decided to end their rivarly and come together in solidarity, symbolically rejuvenating unity between the West Bank and Gaza for the first time in years, an Agance France-Presse reporter said.

"From here, we announce with other (factional) leaders, that we are ending the division," senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub told a crowd of about 1,000 who gathered for a demonstration in Ramallah, West Bank.

Palestinians outside of Gaza have organized several protests against the Israeli attacks and the ongoing threat of a ground invasion, holding demonstrations across the West Bank and Jerusalem, and inside Israel itself, according to Inter Press Service.

“We are here to demonstrate against Israeli aggression and Israel’s war on Gaza. We are here in solidarity with the people of Gaza and with the resistance,” said 23-year-old Said Suidan, who was among some 40 people demonstrating in Haifa, Israel Sunday evening.

Over 500 Egyptian protesters crossed into the Gaza Strip on Sunday to show solidarity with Palestinians.

"For us to mobilize, and not close our ears and close the crossing like what used to happen before, is something good," said Islam Mahmoud, a 30-year-old engineer speaking in Cairo.

"A military confrontation is very difficult now, but there are a lot of things that Arabs can do like pressuring countries that have interests with us to call on the U.S. and others to stop Israel's savage assault."

CEASE-FIRE TALKS

Egypt has been trying to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Gaza, with the help of Turkey and Qatar. A senior Egyptian official told the Associated Press that Egyptian mediators are hoping Monday to have a clearer idea of whether a Gaza ceasefire is possible. Israel and Hamas are said to be presenting respective conditions for a halt to the strikes.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the Arab League, and a delegation of Arab foreign ministers are expected in Gaza on Tuesday.

"The barbaric bombardment we saw yesterday of Gaza children is a crime against humanity," Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, who will join the ministerial trip, told Reuters.

"The world must not stand silent. This is a terrorist act by all standards," he said.
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Common Dreams Staff | Common Dreams |

Monday November 19, 2012, 3:46 pm
I'm afraid this is all Israeli posturing for an attack on Iran. By taking out Palestinian missile sites and killing top leaders, they (Israel) will wait for Iran to try to resupply Gaza and there will be the opening for what they have wanted.

I fear this aggression and baiting by Israel will spread to Lebanon and other countries in the middle east. So very sad and unnecessary.

Monday November 19, 2012, 4:45 pm
Israeli missile systems are so sophisticated that a ship barely visible from land is able to take out out a single individual sitting in a chair on land. That I believe is from Richard Engle. Hardball Clip

My opinion is from several days of reading various articles and watching news programs and is only my opinion.

Monday November 19, 2012, 5:20 pm
The one glimmer of hope is that if the rival factions are unified as reported, negotiations could be easier to arrange. The saddest aspect is the children: "War is not healthy for children and other living things."

Monday November 19, 2012, 6:08 pm

War is not the answer, give peace a try. The leaders of these two entities are destroying the lives of the children, creating total devastation for no purpose, who wins? Not the people on either side,

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 4:38 am
Green star to Carrie B

Also - Obama is the only one, probably for a long time to come that is distanced enough to disassociate America from the Jewish financing that gags Western politicians from speaking out against Israel's intimidation and aggression towards it's neighbours. Israel has created a total imbalance of power in region, with them the threat.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 4:58 am
The Hamas have just sent two missiles to the Jerusalem area!!! I don't understand this, do you? You who protest the Israeli actions? This is the second time and they fell in Palestinian territories, Beth Lehem, Chevron. They could have easily killed their own people! Do they care? No!! The only reason Israel has very few casualties is because they have the "Iron Dome" which has really proven itself this time around. The Hamas station themselves within the civilians and so there are casualties. The Israelies do not fire purposely into civilians!! The Hamas's aime is to kill civilians and the aim their missiles towards Israeli cities and settlements in order to kill innocent people and children. Doesn't the world see this? Do you believe everything you read and hear?? These Muslims are absolutely crazy and fanatics and are destroying the world for both sides!! They don't even have any logic or sensibility in their statements. They are all lies and are a result of a warped mind!!

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 5:15 am
Giana, not only Hamas rockets CAN kill Palestinian Arabs, it is exactly what they do. The killed Palestinian child which Hamas Fuhrer handed to hold to the visiting Egyptian ambassador was killed by Hamas rockets.

The two Islamists of course blamed Israel, but everyone knows who started the war, and whose program includes destruction of Israel. No matter how many Islamist PR workers are sent to spread lies about the war, by now too many people know who Hamas is, and how the guys like that kill Americans, Israelis and Malalas of the world.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 5:42 am
Noted with great sadness for the escalating violence in the Middle East.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 6:23 am

That Gina is not true. I believe most people reading these articles do care about the civilian causalities, on both sides of this conflict. Israel has the military might and ability to use diplomacy toward the people of Gaza. I'm not about to say that all of the people of Gaza are supportive of the actions of Hamas, that has not been shown to be true. Nor it is true that all of the people of Israel want this or any war.

To be honest my greatest concern is for the children, they follow what they have seen. Children learn by the actions of the adults. If the people of Gaza and their children can not live in peace because of the actions of Hamas, and the people of Israel and their children can not live in peace because of the actions of their governing body, perhaps it is time for a re-think by all involved. War is never an answer. The path to peace will not be an easy one, there are too many years of violence and accumulated hate, given a couple of generations of allowing the people to live quite peaceful lives, learning to adapt to each of the different cultures, things could change for the better.

I do not live in Israel, so I am speaking as one from the outside looking in, and perhaps a little more objective because of that fact.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 7:01 am
Giana Peranio-paz (84)
Tuesday November 20, 2012, 4:58 am
The Hamas have just sent two missiles to the Jerusalem area!!! I don't understand this, do you? You who protest the Israeli actions? This is the second time and they fell in Palestinian territories, Beth Lehem, Chevron. They could have easily killed their own people! Do they care? No!!

EXACTLY Giana! I find it incredible that some people outside of Israel care so little for the Israeli civilians (Jews, Arabs, Christians, Palestinians, etc ..) or even when Hamas fire rockets into Palestinian territory in Jerusalem!

Yet when a known terrorist leader ( Ahmad Jabari) is taken out in order to protect Israeli citizens (Jews, Arabs, Christians, Palestinians, etc) - there is outrage against Israel!

Does not sound very objective or even-handed/fair-minded to me at all ...

Is a Palestinian life in Gaza worth more than a Palestinian life in Jerusalem or Israel? For us here in Israel all life whether Palestinian in Israel or Palestinian in Gaza are equally worthy, that's why IDF goes to all the trouble of warning Gazian civilians before targeting terrorist bases. Israel does it's best to keep civilian casualties to a minimum and would have preferred zero civilian casualties if that was at all possible when taking out terrorists.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 9:20 am

This article addresses the cause of the people of Palestine, the world in general addresses, loudly with support of Israel. As Israel is by far the stronger military, it should fall to Israel to end this. They have the power, and yes, Alexandre, I do feel deeply for people in fear and jeopardy on both sides. I deepest concern is for the children. Children are again dying while the leaders sit in bunkers safe from harm. What are the children learning from this, that war is diplomacy or an answer to anything but more war? There are no winners in war.

I don't care for language that addresses human life causally with the term "taking out".

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 9:23 am

The real terrorist are those who support this with finance that builds a war machine. At one point in time the Hamas was using faulty missiles, now they have more sophisticated long range missiles. Each encounter grows more dangerous for the people on both sides of "the wall".

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 10:57 am
And this is what you call 'the world in general addresses, loudly with support of Israel' Kit?

~~~~~~~~~~~

BBC’s Gaza Correspondent Jon Donnison Tweets Picture of Syria Child Victim, Blaming Israel

For the Twitter uninitiated, Donnison is retweeting to his 7,971 followers a Tweet by one Hazem Balousha – a Palestinian ‘journalist and social activist’ – including a picture titled “Pain in Gaza”, to which Donnison adds his own commentary – “Heartbreaking”.

The picture is indeed heartbreaking:

Except – as has already been pointed out to Donnison – it does not come from Gaza.

Up to now, it may have been possible to put down Jon Donnison’s frequently problematic reporting to a lack of knowledge and understanding of the region.

However, his decision to promote deliberate misinformation – either knowingly or as a result of a complete failure to check facts – indicates that he is not merely naïve.

Donnison has rendered himself no longer fit for the purpose of accurate and impartial reporting from the Middle East in accordance with the BBC’s legal obligations.

http://www.algemeiner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/BBC-61.jpg

Donnison simply retweeted an apology saying that the pic he tweeted earlier was in fact not Gaza but Syria.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry – that is nowhere near sufficient.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 12:01 pm
Alexandra, many cat calls protesting killing the mass murderer Jabari indicate only the level of activity and capacity of Islamist propaganda machine.

Having 1,000 web sites grieving the "National Hero" shows where the European humanitarian aid goes to. These are the same voices that protect terrorists from US justice. These voices never condemn Malala's assassins, but won't miss a chance to curse Israel on any occasion.

These people love pretending being Jewish, because this takes away accusations of racism and anti-Semitism, and also add some credibility. These people can hire Jews know for their leftist or defeatist views.

They offer to sign petitions, where the text is ready, and email address hidden from signers. THey are afraid, that average people will email opposite text, because this is what they think.

Don't be concerned - all this noise i's not a public opinion, but orchestrated campaigning, you can see it even here, on Care2.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 12:07 pm

I don't use twitter as source information. At no point did I say that I did.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 12:41 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Kit because you have done so within the last week

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 12:43 pm
Thanks for the reassurance and explanation Bob!

Send a Green Star to Bob Algeron
Sending a Green Star is a simple way to say "Thank you"

You cannot currently send a star to Bob because you have done so within the last week.

Tuesday November 20, 2012, 1:19 pm
I care about all civilians on both sides being killed, especially since this is all unnecessary and not done on the behalf of any citizens, but rather leaders who will put their people in harm's way for their own purposes. There is no good guy or bad guy here, only all being wrong and destructive.