Ceasefire Under Threat As Six Die in Gaza Raid
GAZA - A four-month-old ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza was in jeopardy yesterday after Israeli troops killed six Hamas gunmen in a raid into the territory.
Hamas responded by firing a volley of rockets into southern Israel, although no one was injured. The violence represented the most serious breach in a ceasefire agreed in mid-June. Despite the bloodshed, both sides suggested they wanted to return to a period of calm.
Israeli troops crossed into the Gaza Strip late on Tuesday night near the town of Deir al-Balah. The Israeli military said the target was a tunnel it claimed Hamas was planning to use to capture Israeli soldiers positioned on the border fence 250 metres (820ft) away. Four soldiers were injured in the raid, the Israeli military added.
One Hamas gunman was killed and Palestinians launched mortar bombs at the Israeli military. An Israeli air strike then killed five more Hamas fighters, including Wajed Moharib. Hamas launched 35 rockets into southern Israel, one reaching the city of Ashkelon.
"This was a pinpoint operation intended to prevent an immediate threat," the Israeli military said in a statement. "There is no intention to disrupt the ceasefire; rather the purpose of the operation was to remove an immediate and dangerous threat posted by the Hamas terror organisation."
In Gaza a Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, said the Palestinian Islamist group had fired rockets as a "response to Israel's massive breach" of the truce.
"The Israelis began this tension and they must pay an expensive price," he added. "They cannot leave us drowning in blood while they sleep soundly in their beds."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
GAZA - A four-month-old ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza was in jeopardy yesterday after Israeli troops killed six Hamas gunmen in a raid into the territory.
Hamas responded by firing a volley of rockets into southern Israel, although no one was injured. The violence represented the most serious breach in a ceasefire agreed in mid-June. Despite the bloodshed, both sides suggested they wanted to return to a period of calm.
Israeli troops crossed into the Gaza Strip late on Tuesday night near the town of Deir al-Balah. The Israeli military said the target was a tunnel it claimed Hamas was planning to use to capture Israeli soldiers positioned on the border fence 250 metres (820ft) away. Four soldiers were injured in the raid, the Israeli military added.
One Hamas gunman was killed and Palestinians launched mortar bombs at the Israeli military. An Israeli air strike then killed five more Hamas fighters, including Wajed Moharib. Hamas launched 35 rockets into southern Israel, one reaching the city of Ashkelon.
"This was a pinpoint operation intended to prevent an immediate threat," the Israeli military said in a statement. "There is no intention to disrupt the ceasefire; rather the purpose of the operation was to remove an immediate and dangerous threat posted by the Hamas terror organisation."
In Gaza a Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, said the Palestinian Islamist group had fired rockets as a "response to Israel's massive breach" of the truce.
"The Israelis began this tension and they must pay an expensive price," he added. "They cannot leave us drowning in blood while they sleep soundly in their beds."
GAZA - A four-month-old ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza was in jeopardy yesterday after Israeli troops killed six Hamas gunmen in a raid into the territory.
Hamas responded by firing a volley of rockets into southern Israel, although no one was injured. The violence represented the most serious breach in a ceasefire agreed in mid-June. Despite the bloodshed, both sides suggested they wanted to return to a period of calm.
Israeli troops crossed into the Gaza Strip late on Tuesday night near the town of Deir al-Balah. The Israeli military said the target was a tunnel it claimed Hamas was planning to use to capture Israeli soldiers positioned on the border fence 250 metres (820ft) away. Four soldiers were injured in the raid, the Israeli military added.
One Hamas gunman was killed and Palestinians launched mortar bombs at the Israeli military. An Israeli air strike then killed five more Hamas fighters, including Wajed Moharib. Hamas launched 35 rockets into southern Israel, one reaching the city of Ashkelon.
"This was a pinpoint operation intended to prevent an immediate threat," the Israeli military said in a statement. "There is no intention to disrupt the ceasefire; rather the purpose of the operation was to remove an immediate and dangerous threat posted by the Hamas terror organisation."
In Gaza a Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, said the Palestinian Islamist group had fired rockets as a "response to Israel's massive breach" of the truce.
"The Israelis began this tension and they must pay an expensive price," he added. "They cannot leave us drowning in blood while they sleep soundly in their beds."