Operation Hot Winter
| Operation Warm Winter | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and War on Terrorism | |||||||
 Area of the conflict | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel (Israel Defense Forces) |
 Hamas | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Gabi Ashkenazi |
Khaled Meshaal Ahmed Jabari | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
2 killed 5 wounded | 50 killed | ||||||
|
Palestinian civilians: 40 killed 5 Israeli civilians wounded20+ Israeli civilians treated for shock | |||||||
Operation Warm Winter is an Israel Defense Forces military campaign in the Gaza Strip, launched on February 29, 2008.
According to the IDF, the operation is aimed at harming terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
Troops from the Givati Brigade, Combat Engineering forces and the Armor Corps are so far known to be involved in the ground operation. The Israeli Air Force is also involved, carrying out airstrikes and providing tactical support for the ground troops. A source in the IDF said that the cooperation between ground and air forces was satisfactory.[1].
Casualties
As of March 2, 2008, 70 - 100 Palestinian fatalities have been reported. While Israel claims that most casualties were militants, Palestinians say more than half of the killed were civilians.[2]
Civilian casualties included children, women and even infants, including one that was only two days old. A 13-year-old Palestinian youth was also killed in the West Bank in the demonstrations staged by West Bank Palestinians in support of Hamas in Gaza.[3] Militant deaths were mostly Hamas members, as well as some Islamic Jihad members, and one member of the Popular Resistance Committees.[1].
One Israeli 8 year-old had his leg amputated in a rocket attack. One Israeli civilian was killed in a rocket attack in Sderot.[2] As a result, the Israelis have launched this retalitory operation. Two Israeli soldiers were also killed by Hamas forces during an incursion into the Gaza Strip.[4]
Reactions
- A Hamas official declared that Israel has "crossed the line" by attacking Ismail Haniye's office building.[5]
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that Israel's attacks were "more than a holocaust", while Hamas Chairman Khaled Mashaal claimed that they were "the real holocaust"[6]
- Mahmoud Abbas also temporarily suspended contacts with Israel, with "Israeli aggression" as the stated reason.[2]
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged the Israelis and Palestinians to end all violence, and condemned Israel of using excessive force.[7]
- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert slammed criticism of Israel for the operation, and stated that Israel had no intention to stop it.[8]
- The Saudi Press Agency also compared Israel's actions to "Nazi war crimes" and called upon the international community to stop the "mass killings" that go against international law and humanitarian norms.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b Greenberg, Hanan (2008-03-02). "70 Palestinians killed in IDF operation in Gaza". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ a b c Kershner, Isabel. "Abbas suspends contacts with Israel," March 2, 2008, International Herald Tribune.
- ^ "From Gaza to the (West) Bank: Youth Killed in Confrontation. Officer Wounded" (in Hebrew). Ynet. 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ Greenberg, Hanan (2008-03-01). "2 IDF soldiers killed in Gaza". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
haniyeh articlewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
bbc articlewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "UN Security Council urges end of Gaza violence". Reuters. 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ Sofer, Roni (2008-03-02). "Olmert: Don't preach morals to Israel". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ Reuters (2008-03-02). "Saudi Arabia compares IDF Gaza operation to Nazi war crimes". Haaretz. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
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