PrintMarch 13, 2008
So much for the Gaza 'Truce'
A day after Israel and Hamas agreed to an "unofficial truce," a barrage of 15 rockets targeted the western Negev:
At least 15 Kassam rockets slammed into the western Negev early Thursday morning, shattering a period of calm during which the IDF refrained from conducting operations in the Gaza Strip, and Palestinian gunmen largely kept from launching attacks against Israel.Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade is closely linked with Fatah, the so-called "moderate" Palestinians. Even though Hamas can deny responsibility for any attacks initiated by them, when it comes to Islamic Jihad they have less of an excuse. That terrorist group usually operates in Gaza with the blessing of Hamas although how much material support Hamas gives them is in dispute.
Following the rocket barrage, the IAF launched pinpoint air strikes against Kassam rocket launchers in northern Gaza. It was not immediately known if anybody was wounded in the attacks.
The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the latest round of Kassam rockets, saying that it was in retaliation for IDF operations in the West Bank which killed the senior-most Islamic Jihad commander in Bethlehem, as well as four other Jihad operatives. Following the operations, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades also declared that it would no longer abide by an unofficial truce with Israel.
I suppose the Israeli response to the launching of rockets from Gaza will be reported as a violation of the undeclared "truce." After all, Hamas is expected to act beastly toward the Israelis and violate understandings of this nature. But Israel must hold itself to a different standard.
This is the reality of how news like this is usually reported in most of the world. Any action taken by the Jewish state in its own defense is almost always seen as either misguided or wrong.
