Israel launches air strikes on Gaza, more than 200 dead

Israel launches air strikes on Gaza, more than 200 dead

By ERICA SILVERMAN in Gaza City

Israeli warplanes, in waves of unprecedented airstrikes against dozens of Hamas targets, killed more than 200 people and wounded nearly 400 people Saturday morning in the Gaza Strip.

The relentless attacks, which sent black smoke billowing into the skies and created panic on the streets below, targeted the presidential compound, the police headquarters and the central prison.

Gaza’s most senior police commander, along with scores of officers gathered for a training session with top cop Tawfiq Jabar, were killed in the attacks on more than 40 locations.

Two other senior Hamas officials were also slain - and Israeli officials warned this was only the start of their retaliatory strikes in Gaza.

"It won’t be easy and it won’t be short," said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "There is a time for calm, and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight."

Since Hamas took over rule of Gaza 18 months ago, Israeli officials complained of random rocket fire into Israel from the region. In the last week, Israeli officials said, there were more than 200 mortar and rocket attacks.

Israel approved military action earlier in the week. Hamas responded to Saturday’s air attacks by launching several Grad rockets at Israel, killing one and wounding four others.

A Hamas spokesman said the Israeli offensive would not deter the rocket attacks.

"What happened today is a collective execution of the Palestinian community. There are more than 150 martyrs," Hamas Interior Ministry spokesperson Ehab El-Ghussein told the Daily News.

El-Ghussein said that Gaza City was left without medicine and electricity after the attacks.

Although most of the victims were Hamas security men, some of the Israeli bombs struck in busy neighborhoods as children were leaving school.

Mothers and fathers ran into the streets frantically hunting for their kids. Said Masri, 57, couldn’t find his 9-year-old - sent out to buy cigarettes just minutes before the airstrikes began.

"My son is gone, my son is gone," he wailed, sitting in the middle of a Gaza City street.
"May I burn like the cigarettes, may Israel burn."

Like Masri, Hamas leaders vowed revenge for the Israeli attacks.

"The occupation must pay the price for this massacre against the civilian population in Gaza," said Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum. "(Hamas) will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood."

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