Report from Gaza: Israel Launches New Offensive on Besieged Palestinian Territory in Crisis | Democracy Now!
Violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories is escalating as Israel
bombs the Gaza Strip and threatens a new full-scale assault. On Monday,
the Israeli military announced "Operation Protective Edge," which it
says aims to stop Palestinian rocket fire into southern Israel. At least
nine Palestinians were wounded in Israeli strikes on more than 50
targets in Gaza overnight. Six Hamas members were killed in Israeli
strikes on Sunday, the deadliest by Israel since an eight-day assault in
late 2012. Palestinian militants have fired dozens of rockets into
southern Israel since the weekend, causing no casualties. To prepare for
a potential attack, Israel has called up more than 1,500 troops to
fortify a contingent already massed along the Gaza border. Hamas says
the latest bombings "exceed all red lines" and has vowed to respond with
broader rocket fire. If Israel invades Gaza, it would be the third
major assault on the coastal territory in six years. The first invasion
in 2008 left more than 1,400 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians.
We go to Gaza to speak with Mohammed Omer, an award-winning Palestinian
journalist who has been covering the Israeli offensive.
