May 14, 2003
IDF Activity in the Gaza Strip
In response to an increase in the number of shooting and mortar attacks against IDF forces and Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip, IDF infantry, armor and engineering forces, accompanied by attack helicopters, operated in the city of Khan Yhunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

During the operation, IDF forces demolished two empty buildings used to launch anti-tank missiles and mortars. The buildings were also used for sniping as well as light arms fire attacks against IDF forces and Israeli communities in the southern Gaza Strip.

It should be noted that before the buildings were demolished, IDF forces checked to ensure that they were empty. In addition, IDF forces uncovered a number of tin huts used to launch anti-tank missiles at IDF forces.

During the operation, three explosive devices were detonated and a number of anti-tank missiles were fired at IDF forces. In addition, grenades were hurled and fire was directed at IDF forces.

IDF forces opened fire towards the sources of fire and discerned that a number of terrorists were hit.

In addition, an IDF attack helicopter opened fire at a terrorist cell hurling grenades at IDF forces.

No injuries to IDF forces were reported.

Since the beginning of May, 16 mortars were fired and hit IDF positions and Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip, including 7 mortars fired during ceremonies marking Israeli Remembrance Day and Israeli Independence Day. During the past week, 12 Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers were wounded from mortars in the southern Gaza Strip.

It should be noted that the demolition of buildings from which terrorist activity emerges, such as firing mortars, anti-tank missiles and small arms toward Israeli communities and IDF positions, is a clear operational need, aimed at protecting Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.

In additional activities in the northern Gaza Strip, south of the Netzarim Junction, IDF forces identified a cell of armed terrorists approaching. IDF forces fired, and hit the cell.

It should also be noted that many attempted terrorist attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians have taken place in the area.

Not exactly renowned for honesty, are you baby.

Why don't you stick to your expensive propaganda tools, and leave this independent and alternative site to those who are concerned with truthful reporting?

"It should be noted that the demolition of buildings from which terrorist activity emerges, such as firing mortars, anti-tank missiles and small arms toward Israeli communities and IDF positions, is a clear operational need, aimed at protecting Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers."

Firing on IDF positions and illegal settlemants is not terrorism. It is legitimate armed resistance.

And the 'anti-tank missiles' you refer to are RPGs - most of them not even proper ones, but improvised munitions.

Protect your borders against suicide bombers by all means, but don't try to dignify your occupation by claiming that all resistance is terrorism.

Bri.

I'm absolutly appalled by the callous nature of that last comment. There is no difference between state terrorism by Israel and terrorism in the form of "resistance". Innocent people are f*cking dying on both sides. This is not a case of one side trying to get one over the other, until people see both sides, then peace will never come. People are DYING. ALL human life is sacred please don't try to make violence sound like romantic resistance.

Think about it. Should ISM spokespeople who have gone to Palestine to support the intifada and produce pro-palestinian reports be relied upon for completely honest accounts of events on the ground. Those who allow themselves to be deceived by the ISM reports are just as bad as those that take the IDF reports as the complete truth.

by either side.

It is quite difficult to feel sympathy for the IDF in their shiny, US-funded, high-tech killing machines.

Pull out the tanks and maybe the killing will stop? Did you think of that? Did you try that?

No - instead you follow the Demon-Sharon into hell...

....... for yourself. I'd like to read your reports.

In fact, I reckon some of these pro-zionists would really benefit from spending a week in Rafah, in the community, without any tanks.

There's actually no need for ISMers to lie. The horrible reality is enough to deal with, without the need to go conjuring up fairy stories.

Besides which, ISMers work in groups and get to read each others accounts. I haven't always liked the reports of my fellow Internationals, but I've yet to see one lie.

But then, we're not the ones pretending that we're there for the security of Israelis, when in fact the real task is to make life unbearable for Palestinians, degrade and humiliate them, steal their land and destroy their infrastructure.

Yes, "IDF spokesman" there ARE two sides to every story: The right side and the wrong side.

Attacking civilian areas in illegally occupied territory is wrong; trying to stop this happening is right.

And to you fluffy hippy type "they're all as bad as each other no killing is justified types":

Look. There sometimes is a legitimate reason for violence. Sorry but there is. There is also a genuine difference between armed resistance and terrorism.

Terrorists deliberately target civilians and kill them; the object being to cause "terror". Just like the Palsetinian suicide bombers and...surprise surprise...the Israeli Army (NOT a "defence force" for fucks sake) are fond of doing.

An armed resistance tries to drive the illegal occupiers out of their country/region and targets those military forces responsible for the occupation.

The Palestinian Intifada is no more "terrorism" than was the French Resistance to the Nazi Occupation or Castro/Guevara's guerilla war against the fascist forces of Batista.

It is not "callous" to accept this tragic truth. But it is no more than philosophical posturing to sit here and claim that Palestinians have no right to fight back against their oppression.

Nelson Mandela and the ANC was branded a "terrorist" by apartheid South Africa, and its supporters in the West.

Face it war crime apologists - if Israeli soldiers were not defying the UN and BASIC MORALITY by stomping about in someone else's country it would be bloody hard to attack them wouldn't it.

But as somebody has already pointed out, Sharon's government doesn't seem to want to try that.

MM