Tel-Chai Nation

We see here that the IDF has begun attacking the Gaza strip, which in a short time this past week became a Hamas stronghold.

EREZ CROSSING, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israel fired missiles and sent tanks on a foray into Gaza on Wednesday, killing four Palestinians in the first military action since Hamas militants took control.

At the same time, Israel eased restrictions on travel in and out of Gaza, letting in a few seriously ill Palestinians who had been holed up for days at a fetid border crossing.

A teenager with leukemia and two other chronically ill Palestinians were on their way through the tunnel at the Erez crossing in Israel, the military said. Israeli officials also authorized entry of all foreign nationals living in Gaza.

Israel's Supreme Court was hearing a petition by a human rights group demanding that Israeli authorities also offer immediate medical treatment to 26 critically ill Palestinians hospitalized in Gaza.

I should hope that any who're allowed to go to a hospital here are being scrutinized, as we cannot allow the potentially dangerous to be let loose.

Israeli aircraft, meanwhile, fired missiles at two rocket launchers in northern Gaza, in the first aerial attack since the Islamic militants of Hamas took over the coastal strip last week. No injuries were reported in the strike, which came in retaliation for militant rocket fire on Israel.

Earlier in the day, Israeli tanks entered southern Gaza, and four people, including at least two militants, were killed in an exchange of fire, Palestinian hospital officials said.

In the West Bank, two Palestinian militants were killed in a shootout with Israeli troops during an arrest raid near Jenin.

Now here's an exit question: is this by any chance an attempt by Ehud Barak, since he's become defense minister, to try and do something to please the Israeli public? Considering that he led to some of this, certainly the second Lebanon war, that's why I wouldn't be in such a hurry to congratulate him for this, since he did after all lead to much of the damage in the first place.

Labels: Israel, military, war on terror