Devil Soul
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Israel prepared to widen Gaza offensive: Netanyahu
By Reuters / AFP Published: November 18, 2012
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israel was prepared to widen its Gaza offensive significantly.
We are exacting a heavy price from Hamas and the terrorist organisations and the Israel Defence Forces are prepared for a significant expansion of the operation, he told his cabinet, in broadcast remarks.
The soldiers are ready for any activity that could take place, AFP quoted him as saying.
He gave no specifics and made no mention of the possibility of a ground offensive.
Fresh Israeli air strikes hit a Gaza City media centre and homes in northern Gaza early Sunday as the death toll mounted, despite suggestions from Egypts President Mohamed Morsi that there could be a ceasefire soon.
At least six journalists were wounded, with minor and moderate injuries, when Israeli warplanes hit the al Quds TV office in the Showa and Housari building in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qudra said.
Witnesses reported extensive damage to the building, and said journalists had evacuated after an initial strike, which was followed by at least two more on the site.
In the northern strip, Israeli war planes carried out two separate raids on houses that killed two and injured 10 others, Qudra said.
In Gaza City, as the Israeli air force attacked from above, Israeli naval forces opened fire, launching more than a dozen shells towards the shore, an AFP correspondent reported.
Gaza invasion would cost Israel international support: UK
A ground invasion of the Gaza Strip would lose Israel much international sympathy and support, British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned Sunday.
Hague told Sky News television it was much more difficult to limit civilian casualties in a ground assault and it would threaten to prolong the conflict.
His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the armed forces were ready to significantly expand their operation against militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip as it entered its fifth day.
Britain has said that Hamas bears the principal responsibility for the crisis due to perpetual rocket attacks on Israeli territory.
But Hague said it would be hard for the international community to maintain sympathy with Israel if it launched a ground operation.
That, of course, is a different proposition, he said.
The prime minister (David Cameron) and I have both stressed to our Israeli counterparts that a ground invasion of Gaza would lose Israel a lot of the international support and sympathy that they have in this situation.
Its much more difficult to restrict and avoid civilian casualties during a ground invasion and a large ground operation would threaten to prolong the conflict.
So we have made our views very clear on that with Israel, just as we have made very clear our view that the barrage of rockets from Gaza onto southern Israel is an intolerable situation for the Israelis and its not surprising they have responded to that.
A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathise with or support including the United Kingdom.
He said Britain would like to see an agreed ceasefire, with an end to the rocket attacks being an essential component of any peace deal.
In the absence of that ceasefire, we of course are calling on all involved to deescalate, to avoid civilian casualties and to abide by international humanitarian law, he said.
Hague said it would be a mistake for the Palestinians to try to gain observer status at the United Nations at this point as it would be divisive with the United States.
By Reuters / AFP Published: November 18, 2012
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israel was prepared to widen its Gaza offensive significantly.
We are exacting a heavy price from Hamas and the terrorist organisations and the Israel Defence Forces are prepared for a significant expansion of the operation, he told his cabinet, in broadcast remarks.
The soldiers are ready for any activity that could take place, AFP quoted him as saying.
He gave no specifics and made no mention of the possibility of a ground offensive.
Fresh Israeli air strikes hit a Gaza City media centre and homes in northern Gaza early Sunday as the death toll mounted, despite suggestions from Egypts President Mohamed Morsi that there could be a ceasefire soon.
At least six journalists were wounded, with minor and moderate injuries, when Israeli warplanes hit the al Quds TV office in the Showa and Housari building in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qudra said.
Witnesses reported extensive damage to the building, and said journalists had evacuated after an initial strike, which was followed by at least two more on the site.
In the northern strip, Israeli war planes carried out two separate raids on houses that killed two and injured 10 others, Qudra said.
In Gaza City, as the Israeli air force attacked from above, Israeli naval forces opened fire, launching more than a dozen shells towards the shore, an AFP correspondent reported.
Gaza invasion would cost Israel international support: UK
A ground invasion of the Gaza Strip would lose Israel much international sympathy and support, British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned Sunday.
Hague told Sky News television it was much more difficult to limit civilian casualties in a ground assault and it would threaten to prolong the conflict.
His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the armed forces were ready to significantly expand their operation against militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip as it entered its fifth day.
Britain has said that Hamas bears the principal responsibility for the crisis due to perpetual rocket attacks on Israeli territory.
But Hague said it would be hard for the international community to maintain sympathy with Israel if it launched a ground operation.
That, of course, is a different proposition, he said.
The prime minister (David Cameron) and I have both stressed to our Israeli counterparts that a ground invasion of Gaza would lose Israel a lot of the international support and sympathy that they have in this situation.
Its much more difficult to restrict and avoid civilian casualties during a ground invasion and a large ground operation would threaten to prolong the conflict.
So we have made our views very clear on that with Israel, just as we have made very clear our view that the barrage of rockets from Gaza onto southern Israel is an intolerable situation for the Israelis and its not surprising they have responded to that.
A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathise with or support including the United Kingdom.
He said Britain would like to see an agreed ceasefire, with an end to the rocket attacks being an essential component of any peace deal.
In the absence of that ceasefire, we of course are calling on all involved to deescalate, to avoid civilian casualties and to abide by international humanitarian law, he said.
Hague said it would be a mistake for the Palestinians to try to gain observer status at the United Nations at this point as it would be divisive with the United States.
