MID: Israeli strikes hit Gaza hard
By Ibrahim Barzak27 Dec 2008 10:19 PM
Eds: Updates death toll
GAZA CITY, Dec 27 AP - Israeli aircraft have struck Hamas security compounds across Gaza in unprecedented waves of simultaneous strikes. Hamas and medics reported that dozens of people were killed and that others were still buried under the rubble.
The strikes on Saturday caused widespread panic and confusion, as black clouds of smoke rose above Gaza. Hamas health minister Bassem Naim said at least 140 had been killed and more than 100 others were wounded.
In one of the Hamas compounds, bodies of more than a dozen uniformed security officers were seen lying on the ground. One survivor raised his index finger in a show of Muslim faith, uttering a prayer.
Among the dead was the Gaza police chief, Major General Tawfiq Jaber, witnesses said.
Hamas officials said all of Gaza's security compounds were destroyed. Hamas said it would seek revenge, including launching new rocket attacks on Israel and sending suicide bombers to Israel.
"Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, speaking on a Gaza radio station.
Israel confirmed it carried out a series of air strikes on Hamas installations, but did not provide details. Israel has warned in recent days it would strike back hard against continued rocket fire from Gaza on Israeli border towns. There was no sign of an Israel ground offensive, in parallel to the air attacks.
Military spokesman Avi Benayahu told army radio: "This is only just the beginning of an operation launched after a security cabinet decision. It could take time. We have not fixed a timeline and we will act according to the situation on the ground."
Israel had urged Israelis living near Gaza to seek refuge in secure locations, in apparent anticipation of Hamas rocket fire.
The first round of air strikes came just before noon, and several more waves followed.
Hamas security compounds are often located in civilian areas. The first air strikes took place as children were leaving school. Plumes of black smoke rose over Gaza City, sirens wailed through the streets and women frantically looked for their children.
One man 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 Sadi Masri, 57. The shopkeeper said he sent his son out to purchase cigarettes minutes before the air strikes began and now could not find him. "May I burn like the cigarettes, may Israel burn," Masri moaned.
Civilians rushed to the targeted areas, trying to move the wounded in their cars to hospitals.
Television footage showed Gaza City hospitals crowded with people, civilians rushing in wounded people in cars, vans and ambulances. "We are treating people on the floor, in the corridors. We have no more space. We don't know who is here and what the priority is to treat," said one doctor who hung up the phone before identifying himself at Shifa Hospital, Gaza's main treatment centre.
In the West Bank, Hamas's rival, moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said in a statement that he "condemns this aggression" and calls for restraint, according to an aide, Nabil Abu Rdeneh.
Israel has targeted Gaza in the past, but the number of simultaneous attacks was unprecedented.
