(Gaza City) Wisam Afifeh 12 July 06
All local sources refute Israeli claims that they are targeting Hamas-linked resistance members from Al Qassam Brigades when Israeli forces kill Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
This morning Israeli forces used such a claim to explain whey they fired missiles into Abu Salami’s home, killing him and his family of nine. No Al Qassam leaders were in his home, which was entirely destroyed, as the Israeli claimed.
Director of Public Relations at Gaza City’s Al Shifa Hospital, Dr. Jumaa Al Sakka, made the official announcement of death of two parents and seven children Wednesday morning. Dr. Al Sakka said aid that the hospital was delayed in identifying the killed as their bodies arrived sliced and burned. However after taking count of all the members of Dr. Nabil Abu Salami’s family, it turned out to be all of them.
Eyewitnesses reported that two sons, including Mohammad Awad, were recovered from the rubble after nearly four hours of the rescue operation.
According to Dr. Al Sakka the killed family members are: father Nabil Abu Salami, mother Salwa Abu Salami, a 16 year old daughter, 8 year old daughter Huda, 11 year old son Iman, any 7 year son Yahya. Israeli forces injured another 37 Palestinians in the attack, with three of them described in serious condition.
News of this family’s murder and related casualties (including the targetting of ambulances) is absent from MSN’s headline section this morning, which does lead with the news that Hizbollah has captured two Israeli soldiers. Israel’s retaliation against Lebanese civilians is in overdrive, and this bridge and this civilian shelter are now in ruins.
As’ad AbuKhalil analyses LBC-TV’s live coverage of the raids.
Updated: “Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz, the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, warned the Lebanese government that Israel would attack its infrastructure and “turn back the clock in Lebanon by 20 years” if the soldiers were not returned, Israeli TV reported.”
How many countries will Israel be allowed to destroy before it’s stopped?
In Gaza offensive, Israel hits Western aid projects
Beit Hanoun’s veteran bridge builder shrugged off his latest misfortune: the Israelis destroyed the main span into town three years ago. The European Union rebuilt it. And overnight the Israelis destroyed it again.