155 killed as Israel targets Hamas
Israeli warplanes retaliating for rocket fire from Gaza pounded dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of air strikes, killing at least 155 and wounding more than 310 in the bloodiest day in Gaza in decades.
Hamas said all of its security installations were hit and in response fired several medium-range Grad missiles at Israel, reaching deeper than in the past. One Israeli was killed and at least four were wounded.
The offensive began eight days after a six-month truce between Israel and the militants expired. During that time, the military says, rocket and mortar squads have fired 200 projectiles at Israeli targets, and in recent days, Israeli leaders had been voicing strong threats to launch a major offensive.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said "the operation will last as long as necessary," but it was not clear if it would be coupled with a ground offensive. Asked if Hamas political leaders might be targeted next, military spokeswoman Major Avital Leibovich said, "Any Hamas target is a target."
The strikes - which targeted more than 100 security compounds and rocket-launching pads - caused widespread panic and confusion in Gaza, ruled by Islamic Hamas militants for the past 18 months. Some of the Israeli missiles struck in densely populated areas as children were leaving school, and women rushed into the streets frantically looking for their children.
Said Masri sat in the middle of a Gaza City street, close to a security compound, alternately slapping his face and covering his head with dust from the bombed-out building. "My son is gone, my son is gone," wailed Mr Masri, 57. The shopkeeper said he sent his nine-year-old son out to purchase cigarettes minutes before the airstrikes began and now could not find him. "May I burn like the cigarettes, may Israel burn," Mr Masri moaned.
Black clouds of smoke rose above the territory.
In Gaza City's main security compound, bodies of more than a dozen uniformed security officers lay on the ground. One survivor raised his index finger in a show of Muslim faith, uttering a prayer. The Gaza police chief was among those killed. One man, his face bloodied, sat dazed on the ground as a fire raged nearby.
Later, some of the dead, rolled in blankets, were laid out on the floor of Gaza's main hospital for identification. Hamas police spokesman Ehad Ghussein said about 140 Hamas security forces were killed. Defiant Hamas leaders threatened revenge, including suicide attacks. Hamas "will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood," vowed spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
Israel told its civilians near Gaza to take cover as militants began retaliating with rockets, and moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for restraint. Egypt summoned the Israeli ambassador to express condemnation and opened its border with Gaza to allow ambulances to drive out some of the wounded. Israeli leaders approved military action against Gaza earlier in the week.
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