Operation Cast Lead
Day 2 - Sunday 28 December 2008
On Sunday 28 December 2008 Israel pressed on with an air campaign in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 280 Palestinians, most of them militants. Israeli warplanes launched fresh air strikes on Gaza targeting installations of the ruling Islamic militant group Hamas. Missiles struck police stations, weapons smuggling tunnels and the homes of Hamas commanders. Israeli warplanes on pounded targets in Gaza City, the northern towns of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, the southern towns of Rafah and Ben Yunis, and two refugee camps in central Gaza, hitting Hamas government and security offices, a mosque and a TV station.
Hamas responded by firing rockets and mortars into southern Israel. Rocket fire towards Israel continued on Sunday (28 Dec), several landing near Ashdod, some 40 km (25 miles) from the Gaza Strip, and one in Ashkelon. Hamas had longer range rockets, several of which hit near the Israeli port city of Ashdod for the first time, 23 miles from Gaza.
Israel's deadly air offensive in the Gaza Strip sparked clashes between Palestinian gunmen and Egyptian security forces. Hundreds of Palestinians breached the Gaza border fence in four places and poured into Egypt on Sunday. Egyptian police opened fire, prompting gun battles with Palestinian militants. Several hours later, Egyptian officials said border guards restored order.
The Israeli Cabinet approved the call up of more than 6,500 reserve soldiers, indicating that the air assault on Gaza could be followed by a ground offensive. Infantry and armor units were deploying on the Gaza border. "We do not necessarily intend to conquer Gaza, but of course we are reviewing all options," said Cabinet Minister Yitzhak Herzog. Hamas says it won't raise the white flag, and warns that if Israel enters Gaza it will pay a heavy price. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said all options are on the table, including rocket attacks and suicide bombings.
On Sunday 28 December 2008 the UN Security Council called for an immediate halt to all military actions in Gaza. The non-binding statement adopted by the 15-member body calls for an immediate halt to all violence and urges the parties to immediately stop all military activity. In its statement, the Council called on the parties to "stop immediately all military activities," and stressed the need for the restoration of calm "which will open the way for finding a political solution to the problems existing in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement." General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto, said in a statement that "the behaviour by Israel in bombarding Gaza is simply the commission of wanton aggression by a very powerful State against a territory that [it] illegally occupies."
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the defense establishment to allow the transfer of medical equipment, medications and basic food products into the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday. The planned transfer of aid and fuel on Monday (29 Dec) had been curtailed due to the ongoing fire from Gaza. Some 50 trucks with foot and medicines were to cross through Kerem Shalom.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Israel had a right to defend its people against terrorists, and he called Hamas "nothing but thugs." He also called on Israel to avoid civilian casualties. "Israel has said that they are targeting security and headquarter elements of Hamas. We have asked and urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties. We want the cease-fire to be restored. But we understand that Israel is reacting to the hundreds of rockets that have been fired upon the innocent people of Israel over the last few days," he said.
Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, told reporters on December 28 that the operation would continue until people in southern Israel "no longer live in terror and in fear of constant rocket barrages." "The Israeli cabinet decided this morning to authorize the calling up of reserve soldiers," Regev said. "Our initial strikes against the Hamas military machine have been successful, but we have no doubt that the Hamas military machine in Gaza remains both formidable and lethal."
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Muslim states to punish Israel. Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei issued a statement condemning the heinous complicity of the criminal Bush's regime with the Zionists, adding that the silence of some international bodies and some Arab states provided for the crimes. "By his complicity in the large crime, the criminal Bush's administration in the last days of his shameful rule more darkened the face of the American regime than ever and added to its dossier of war crimes. ... All the Palestinian Mujahid and other faithful of the world of Islam are supposed to defend the defenseless people of Gaza. Anyone who is killed in the legitimate and holy defense is a martyr and is hoped to be among the ranks of the martyrs of Badr and Ohud battles in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.)."
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