The Battle for Gaza has begun!

[CanDo]

Soldiers exchange fire with Hamas gunmen inside Strip

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

From the article:

=== "For the first time since the start of Operation Cast Lead, IDF ground troops entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening, exchanging fire with Hamas gunmen.

The IDF said that a large amount of troops from the Armored Corps, Engineering Corps and Infantry Corps entered the territory with the purpose of destroying Hamas infrastructure and preventing rocket fire by taking control of launching pads "in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians."

The IDF warned that terrorists using civilians as human shields would bear full responsibility for their fate. The IDF spokesperson emphasized that "anyone who hides a terrorist or weapons in his house is considered a terrorist," adding that "the residents of Gaza are not the target of the operation." " ===

God Speed the IDF to defeat Hamas so that Jewish children no longer have to sleep in dread and fear of Muslim rockets bursting into their bedrooms.

[varian]

Soldiers exchange fire with Hamas gunmen inside Strip

God Speed the IDF to defeat Hamas so that Jewish children no longer have to sleep in dread and fear of rockets bursting into their bedrooms.

I'll second that!!!

[Ariaku]

I'm all for the IDF to kill or capture every rocket launching happy palestinian.

I'm just curious about what the rules for the IDF are concerning the Sabbath?

Just curious.

Ariaku

[CanDo]

I'll second that!!!

Man......! My stomach is in knots! Hoping....... waiting....... wanting to hear only good news from the battle against the demented, uncivilized Hamas barbarians by the civilized, intelligent, brave soldiers of the IDF.

[Rob]

I'm just curious about what the rules for the IDF are concerning the Sabbath?

Pikuach Nefesh.
Same as Yom Kippur...

[genghis_tom]

edit

[genghis_tom]

edit

[CanDo]

Huge explosion and fire southern part of Gaza City!

The fire is lighting up the night sky

Can anyone imagine what life would be like in Israel if Hamas is neutralized, and would not be able to seriously threaten anyone else but their own Palestinians.

[Parsi]

Israel must finish this campaign quickly and effectively, or it'll be another victory for Hamas.

[Rob]

er...could you translate that?

Pikuach Nefesh

Pikuach nefesh (Hebrew: פיקוח נפש‎, "saving of human life") is the principle in Jewish law that the saving of a human life is paramount, overriding virtually any other religious consideration.

The laws of Shabbat and the Jewish holidays may be suspended for the purposes of pikuach nefesh. The earliest known example of this took place in 167 BCE, when Mattathias and the Hasmoneans declared that it was permitted for their followers to fight on the Sabbath day to defend themselves from attack

and does that have to do with the campaign starting on saturday night as opposed to during the sabbath?

I donot think so, but I am not sure.

[CanDo]

Israel must finish this campaign quickly and effectively, or it'll be another victory for Hamas.

Israel wants international monitors in Gaza to oversee a Gaza that cannot threaten Israel.

I would assume that Israel is going to hold onto portions of Gaza, like the border with Egypt, until some kind of a reasonable, workable solution can be worked out for international monitors.

I would prefer NATO forces, if at all possible, rather than UN or EU representatives for there to be any chance of success. Plus..... Hamas needs to be neutralized, without any ability to re-arm, or re-attack Israeli communities.

[codedvirus]

Hamas vows to turn Gaza in a graveyard for Israeli troops

Associated Press - January 3, 2009 3:43 PM ET

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas says Israeli troops are approaching the trap it's prepared for them in Gaza that will turn the territory into "a graveyard" for them.

Israel launched a ground offensive into Gaza after nightfall today. Defense officials have said about 10,000 soldiers have been massed along the border in recent days.

Hamas says it broadcast a message in Hebrew on Israeli military radio frequencies promising to kill and kidnap Israeli soldiers. The message warned troops they would "suffer mental illness from the horrors" its fighters would show them.

Hamas has long prepared for an Israeli invasion, digging tunnels and rigging some areas with explosives. Before moving the ground forces moved in, Israeli artillery shelled border areas, apparently to detonate hidden explosives and mines.

[Yala]

Israel wants international monitors in Gaza to oversee a Gaza that cannot threaten Israel.

And what will that achieve? We saw what having international monitors in Lebanon has achieved. Nothing.

Livni needs to be held accountable for UN 1701 first and foremost.

[CanDo]

And what will that achieve? We saw what having international monitors in Lebanon has achieved. Nothing.

Livni needs to be held accountable for UN 1701 first and foremost.

I think that an International buffer of monitors, especially from NATO, would not stand by idly while a "neutralized" Hamas fired rockets into Israel. As I said before, it would take a neutralized Hamas that would not be able to rearm itself. For that to happen, Israel would have to take control of the Gaza/Egypt border.

It could work.

[Steven]

I'll second that!!!

Ditto.