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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan | ||
| For the first time, Gaza militants fire phosphorus shell at Israel | ||
| 2009-01-15 | ||
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday fired their first phosphorus shell into Israel, which exploded in an open area in the Eshkol area in the western Negev. No injuries or damage were reported.
White phosphorus is not considered a chemical weapon. Militaries are permitted under laws of warfare to use it in artillery shells, bombs and rockets to create smoke screens to hide troop movements as well as bright bursts in the air to illuminate battlefields at night.
Human Rights Watch on Sunday accused Israel of firing artillery shells packed with white phosphorus over populated areas of Gaza during recent fighting, including a crowded refugee camp, putting civilians at risk. Israel maintains that it uses munitions in complete accordance with international law. Palestinian militants have fired at least 16 rockets into Israel since Wednesday morning, all of them hitting open areas near Ashdod, Ashkelon, Be'er Sheva and in the western Negev. Five Israelis in Ashdod were treated for shock. No injuries or damage were reported in the attacks. More than 15 rockets were fired at Israel Tuesday, some of them during a three-hour humanitarian truce. One rocket hit an Ashkelon educational institution, causing some damage. The Shin Bet security service said Tuesday that Palestinian militants in Gaza have fired some 565 rockets and 200 mortar shells at southern Israel since the Israel Defense Forces launched its offensive on the Hamas-ruled coastal territory on December 27 - an average of more than 30 a day. | ||
| Posted by:Fred |
| #16 But I've got more important things to do than run the world. (It's college application season for formerly temporary daughter, and next year it's the turn of trailing daughter #2.) Can't we just make them run themselves more or less properly instead, Silentbrick? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-01-15 22:52 |
| #15 Maybe Hamas should read up on how Alexander the Great dealt with Gaza. |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2009-01-15 22:42 |
| #14 Very long ago I saw a movie where they had no bombs,(Ran out) so loaded the airplane with tons of bricks, worked like a charm. |
| Posted by: Rednek Jim 2009-01-15 20:43 |
| #13 I have the Evil Overlord list, and I'm not afraid to use it! (Big Evil Grin) YES consider Ima on board, Mr. Evil Silentbrick Wid Red Brick poised on hand..! |
| Posted by: Red Dawg 2009-01-15 15:02 |
| #12 Okay, but just keep in mind that the true goal of this "Brick Doctrine" is nothing less than the United States total take over of the world. That's my goal anyway, which is why I created and belong to the Imperialist Warmonger Party! Besides, if a few countries have to be stepped on during the process, it's fine with me. Laurence of the Rats can confirm this. I have the Evil Overlord list, and I'm not afraid to use it! (Big Evil Grin) |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2009-01-15 12:13 |
| #11 Can we call SilentBrick's idea the "Brick doctrine"? |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-01-15 11:04 |
| #10 Actually, the Arabs haven't done terribly with losing wars, making demands, and then getting some of what they demand. The '73 war ended with Egypt's army surrounded and facing annihilation or surrender when Russian threats helped bring about a cease-fire. The end result of losing that war was that Egypt got back the Sinai including some oil wells Israel had developed. France should really take a look at copying this 'strategy'. |
| Posted by: Odysseus 2009-01-15 10:52 |
| #9 WP is a weapon of terror. Why has Hamas,Hizb,etc not gone there until now? |
| Posted by: bradeous 2009-01-15 09:17 |
| #8 Did Human Rights Watch complain? From what I can tell HRW has been careful not to charge Israel with using White phosphorus (WP) as direct munitions. Which, of course, would be a violation of International protocols. They have only raised concerns regarding the potential for civilian wounds when used close to population centers. Given the fact that there were no Palestinian troops in western Negev needing cover from WP the only conclusion can be they used this as direct munitions. If confirmed this clearly would be a violation. Once again, we see the Death Culture Warriors cut off their nose to spite their face. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2009-01-15 08:13 |
| #7 [me has been pooplisted.] |
| Posted by: me 2009-01-15 06:06 |
| #6 The longer they keep firing rockets, the more certain the border will be effectively sealed for weapons smuggling, which means the end of Hamas in Gaza. Unless the ham buttocks are allowing themselves to be used as a diversion to call attention away from the bigger players, in which case, they are doing a good job of keeping the attention focused their way instead of elsewhere. |
| Posted by: Glolusing Barnsmell3409 2009-01-15 03:50 |
| #5 Silentbrick's proposal is just plain common sense. Unfortunately, it would require an Israeli leadership capable of finding it's a$$ with the aid of both hands and a flashlight -- so it's obviously not going to happen. |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2009-01-15 03:03 |
| #4 Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday fired their first phosphorus shell into Israel We should all give thanks for how unbelievably clueless Hamas is. If they had stopped firing rockets, Israel would have stopped its offensive and Hamas may well have kept access to its tunnels and been in a position to do it all again and perhaps better in 6 or 12 months time. The longer they keep firing rockets, the more certain the border will be effectively sealed for weapons smuggling, which means the end of Hamas in Gaza. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2009-01-15 03:02 |
| #3 Did Human Rights Watch complain? You're getting way ahead of yourself there, Steve. :-) |
| Posted by: gorb 2009-01-15 02:43 |
| #2 I agree totally, Silentbrick. Unconditionnal surrender is the only option. |
| Posted by: Leroidavid 2009-01-15 00:41 |
| #1 What Israel really should do is say, "Okay, here's the deal. We'll give Gaza 24 hours to stop firing rockets and pull out all our troops and stop the airstrikes. If a single rocket is fired after 24 hours, then we will consider a declaration of war and only accept total unconditional surrender after that. Once that rocket is fired, Gaza will cease to exist and all people ( I use that term loosely) will be removed and the land will be annexed. Gaza will no longer exist, only Israel will." You know the vermin would fire a rocket, but it's too bad Israel doesn't have the spine it needs to end the problem forever. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2009-01-15 00:22 |