In These New Times

“Ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks into Israel and continuing Hamas resistance has cast doubt on whether Tel Aviv can achieve its proclaimed goals with the deadly military operation it has launched in Gaza. 

Later on, it added toppling the democratically elected Palestinian government of Hamas to that list, despite backtracking on it as Operation Cast Lead unfolded”

Palestinian Grad missiles hit three Israeli towns as Hamas fighters fire mortars at Israeli Special Forces stationed in Northern Gaza. 

The Israeli settlements of Ofakim, Hatsarim, and Netivot have been targeted by Grad-type missiles, Arab, and Israeli news channels reported on Saturday. 

Western Negev has been hit by five Palestinian missiles, reports added. 

Meanwhile, Palestinian Al-Aqsa TV reported that Al-Qassam fighters of the military wing of Hamas had fired eight mortars at Israeli Special Forces stationed at the Palestinian al-Shati refugee camp in Northern Gaza Strip. 

Ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks into Israel and continuing Hamas resistance has cast doubt on whether Tel Aviv can achieve its proclaimed goals with the deadly military operation it has launched in Gaza. 

At onset of the attacks against the coastal strip, Tel Aviv said that stopping rocket fire into Israel was one of its primary goals. 

Later on, it added toppling the democratically elected Palestinian government of Hamas to that list, despite backtracking on it as Operation Cast Lead unfolded. 

In the past three weeks of violence, Israel has killed almost 1200 Palestinians and injured more than 5300 many of whom are civilians. 

The Israeli army has attracted international condemnation by targeting mosques, schools, UN-run shelters, hospitals, journalists, and aid workers. The UN Security Council, however, has issued no binding resolution for immediate ceasefire. 

MJ/DT