Israeli Airstrike Collapses Gaza Apartment Tower
Source: Associated Press
Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a 12-story apartment tower in downtown Gaza City on Saturday, collapsing the building, sending a huge fireball into the sky and wounding at least 22 people, including 11 children, witnesses and Palestinian officials said.
Israel has launched some 5,000 airstrikes against Gaza in nearly seven weeks of fighting with Hamas, but Saturday's strike marked the first time an entire high-rise was toppled. The explosion shook nearby buildings.
The Israeli military said the airstrike targeted a Hamas operations room in the building, but did not explain why the entire tower with 48 apartments was levelled.
Gaza police say Israeli aircraft fired a warning missile at the roof of the tower at dusk, followed five minutes later by two missiles with explosives.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hamas-backs-international-criminal-court-bid-25095502
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)Then destroying their homes and killing or wounding them if they are tardy....criminal.
alsame
(7,784 posts)Purveyor
(29,876 posts)candelista
(1,986 posts)Like the sentry who yells "Halt-halt-halt!" (all one word) before he shoots.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)How'd that happen?
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)GeoWilliam750
(2,522 posts)Give the fit and able militants time to get out, but kill the slow and weak.
It sometimes seems that Israel does not really want Hamas to go away, but rather they want constant war to distract people from what the government is doing elsewhere. Corruption, inequality, injustice. "But look over there, Hamas." I also noticed that we have been hearing relatively little lately about the imminent existential threat from Iran.
If a threat did not exist, one would have to be invented. Imagine the domestic discord in Israel if there were no external existential threats.
BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)The Israeli right wants Hamas around. They need Hamas. Hamas is the gift that keeps on giving. Using Hamas as the big bad wolf allows Israel to commit whatever crimes it wants. Hamas is always their go to excuse to kill any peace prospects.
Bragi
(7,650 posts)X
They both have innocent Israeli blood on their hands.
FLPanhandle
(7,107 posts)The people of Gaza should just hunt all members of Hamas down.
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)onwardsand upwards
(276 posts)I'm not sure why you put inverted commas around the word crime, though.
This was a war crime, pure and simple.
Because Israel is an "ally" of the USA, though, this crime will go unpunished ...
BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)Murdering civilians is not a problem for them. They always know the US will cover for them.
SnakeEyes
(1,407 posts)they know significant elements of the international community will cover for them
WhoWoodaKnew
(847 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Did you not read the article?
Mosby
(16,350 posts)The Israel Air Force struck a 13-story building in Gaza City on Saturday evening that housed an enormous Hamas command center, IDF sources said, adding that only combatants were inside at the time.
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/IAF-strike-destroys-residential-tower-block-in-Gaza-372030
SnakeEyes
(1,407 posts)not even Hamas is claiming many dead from this strike
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)لحظة استهداف برج الظافر 4 - تصوير عين ميديا:
FLPanhandle
(7,107 posts)Even before the airstrike.
Galraedia
(5,027 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)daleo
(21,317 posts)Though on a smaller scale, of course.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Among other differences.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)almost the same precision as a demolition team.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Who will be the first president to say "Mr. Netanyahu, tear down that wall"?
SnakeEyes
(1,407 posts)Until Israel is certain that palestinian suicide bombers are no longer a threat.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)quadrature
(2,049 posts)steel re-bar and concrete and needed
to build tunnels
oberliner
(58,724 posts)That is pretty amazing.