iraq isnt the only place where terrible things are happening

deniedjunkie · Post by **deniedjunkie** » 5/19/2004, 2:45 pm

At least ten Palestinians were killed and 35 wounded when Israeli forces fired on a crowd demonstrating against the invasion of a Gaza refugee camp today, according to hospital sources.
Witnesses and Palestinian security sources said tanks and a helicopter had fired on the crowd in Rafah. The wounded were taken to a nearby hospital in ambulances, private cars and donkey carts.

It is believed that around 3,000 people were taking part in the protest against the Israeli invasion of the Rafah refugee camp.

Protesters scattered in panic as the air and artillery attack took place, dragging bloodied people from the streets as smoke rose from the area.

Palestinian hospital sources cited by the Associated Press said the 10 dead were children and teenagers.

Israel's military acknowledged it fired four tank shells, one missile and machine guns to stop 3,000 Palestinian demonstrators it said were heading toward a battle zone in the Gaza Strip.

The incident prompted international condemnation. The EU said Israel's actions were "completely disproportionate" and showed "a reckless disregard for human life".

Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, speaking on behalf of the EU presidency, said: "The killing of children does not serve any legitimate cause and degrades any purpose which it purports to advance."

President George Bush urged "restraint" by Israel and Palestinians, but declined to condemn the deadly attack on demonstrators, saying he had not yet spoken to Israeli leaders.

Reports of the attack came soon after Israeli troops launched fresh raids on the Rafah camp, killing at least four Palestinians and confining thousands of residents to their houses amid power cuts and water shortages.

The incursion marked the second day of "operation rainbow", the Israeli army's latest hunt for militants, weapons and arms-smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt.

Today's fighting was concentrated in the Tel Sultan area of Rafah, where around 25,000 of the camp's 90,000 inhabitants live. Hospital workers said four Palestinians, including two teenage boys, had been killed by Israeli gunfire.

The workers said an unarmed 14-year-old boy had been shot dead after troops ordered men in the camp to leave their homes and surrender. The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the incident.

Residents remained holed up in their homes as gunfights raged between Palestinian militants and Israeli troops.

Palestinians accused the army of intentionally taking out power to the camp, an accusation dismissed as "ludicrous" by military officials.

Lt Col Grisha Yakobowits, the army's humanitarian coordinator in the area, said forces had restored power overnight, and were working to resolve disruption caused by today's action. "There is no humanitarian crisis, and we are not nearing the point where there could be a humanitarian crisis," he said.

The army said it had demolished the Rafah home of an Islamic Jihad militant. The army blamed the militant for a shooting attack in which a pregnant Israeli settler and her four daughters were killed earlier this month. Palestinian witnesses said at least three homes had been demolished overnight.

Twenty Palestinians were killed yesterday, the highest single-day death toll for more than two years. The deaths prompted the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, to denounce the incursion as a "planned massacre".

The massive invasion - the largest in the Gaza Strip for years - came less than a week after Palestinian militants killed 13 soldiers, including seven in the Rafah area.

The UN and EU have demanded a halt to the invasion. US officials described the violence as "troubling", but affirmed Israel's right to defend itself.

In London today, the prime minister, Tony Blair, condemned Israel's actions in Gaza as "unacceptable and wrong". Mr Blair told MPs that the Middle East road map remained the only way to resume final status negotiations.

Tattooed Angels · Post by **Tattooed Angels** » 5/19/2004, 2:54 pm

do you remember that article with Raine in Chart last year.

He said something like there are 30 wars( at the time of interview) going on in the world today.

In the USA, Iraq is spoken about on a daily basis, so people tend to know of only that. Unless it is a bombing like what happened in Madrid, or something of that nature, you won't hear or see about it here.
Unfortunately, people aren't exposed to alot of things. Unless you belong to some kind of group or go on line, you are in the dark here.

There is so much we aren't shown, and people would probably be sicken by all the travesty going on in the world today.

What is really sad is people just are ignorant to it all, or don't care.

Neil · Post by **Neil** » 5/19/2004, 4:41 pm

What kills me......is that Bush refused to condemn the attack. I'm sorry, but if Israel felt threatened by 3000 civilian people, then they seriously need......

Need..............................something. At any rate.........the attack was another way for Israel to be rather over-zealous, which lately they've been doing a good job.

I don't think the Palestinians are anywhere NEAR innocent either. Over the years the proof has shown that they are the aggressors. But......I guess things change.

Clumsy_Birdman · Post by **Clumsy_Birdman** » 6/23/2004, 6:23 am

u didnt know every day there are wars going on? hes about right when he says 30, even some countries are warring with other parts of the country!! its terrible to think how unfortunate others are. we have to think how lucky we really are

Joe Cooler · Post by **Joe Cooler** » 6/23/2004, 8:50 am

I find it funny how President Bush "Urges Restraint." Is he urging his own troops to restrain? Probably not.