Israeli Air Strike Hits Reuters Car

JaJae · 08-26-2006, 07:49 PM

Israeli air strike hits journalists' vehicle near Gaza City, wounding 5

Israeli air strike hits journalists' vehicle near Gaza City, wounding 5

Canadian Press
Published: Saturday, August 26, 2006
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israeli aircraft fired two missiles early Sunday at an armoured car belonging to the Reuters news agency, moderately wounding five people, including two cameramen, Palestinian witnesses and hospital officials said.

The Israeli army said it was checking the report.

The air strike came as Israeli soldiers backed by two dozen tanks, two bulldozers, helicopters and drone planes moved into an area just inside the Gaza Strip near the Karni crossing, witnesses and Palestinian security officials said.

The army said the troops were searching for explosives planted by Palestinian militants alongside the border fence.

The Reuters cameraman, Fadel Shama'a, 23, and Sabah Hamida, 25, who worked for a local television company, had the doors open and were about to leave the armoured vehicle in the nearby Shajaiyeh neighbourhood to film the raid when it was struck by the missiles, said Shamas Odeh, chief of Reuters TV in Gaza.

The cameramen, along with three bystanders, were moderately injured with shrapnel wounds and all five were to have surgery, hospital officials said.

The front seats of the car were covered in blood and shrapnel had ripped up much of the inside of the vehicle. One of the bulletproof windows was completely destroyed.

The white sports utility vehicle was emblazoned with the Reuters logo and had TV and Press written on it in English, Arabic and Hebrew.

"This is a cold-blooded crime," said Mohammed Dawdi, head of the local journalists' union.

During the raid early Sunday, aircraft fired missiles into fields where Palestinian militants were gathering on the edge of Shajaiyeh, seriously wounding one person, emergency officials said. Helicopters also fired machine-guns at gathering militants, witnesses said.

The army also told residents in three nearby buildings to evacuate their houses as bulldozers cleared land near the border, witnesses said. Soldiers also took over some rooftops and searched several houses, they said.

Israel has stepped up raids and air strikes in Gaza over the last two months as part of a wide-scale offensive that began after Hamas-linked militants captured an Israeli soldier in a cross-border raid.

On the West Bank of the Jordan River, Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen traded heavy fire during a standoff at a fugitives' hideout Saturday and doctors said a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed.

Twenty Palestinians were wounded in the clashes in the West Bank city Nablus, the doctors said.

The Nablus standoff began early Saturday when troops surrounded a four-storey apartment building where the army said two Palestinian fugitives were hiding. Troops called on the fugitives to surrender but by mid-afternoon, they were still inside the building.

The army brought in bulldozers who started chipping away at the walls of the building and destroyed a water tank. At one point, the building came under heavy automatic fire by the army

This is a fuckup of epic proportions. Israel hasn't said anything regarding this yet. They claim to be checking in with their military.

We don't have the full story yet, but it looks like Israel needs to tone it down. This is getting ridiculous.

Thorgrim · 08-26-2006, 07:54 PM

As I've said before, the entire IDF upper command and Israeli government need to be arrested by US forces and brought to the The Hague to stand trial for crimes against humanity

JaJae · 08-26-2006, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

As I've said before, the entire IDF upper command and Israeli government need to be arrested by US forces and brought to the The Hague to stand trial for crimes against humanity

Arrested by the US? Wow, under what authority can we arrest people from another nation who have committed no crimes against the US?

While we're at it we should arrest Iran's president and Castro too. Oh, and Elton John. That British moron wants to make a rap CD.

Nonphixion · 08-26-2006, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

As I've said before, the entire IDF upper command and Israeli government need to be arrested by US forces and brought to the The Hague to stand trial for crimes against humanity

It's the reasonable thing to do, as it would also force Hezbollah and it's leaders to comply.

Thorgrim · 08-26-2006, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Arrested by the US? Wow, under what authority can we arrest people from another nation who have committed no crimes against the US?

While we're at it we should arrest Iran's president and Castro too. Oh, and Elton John. That British moron wants to make a rap CD.

They violated the US arms agreement by using our military missles on civilian targets, thats the authority

On the authority of the UN resolutions, like the one we used against Iraq

For breaking a US-sponsored cease-fire in a blatant act of war-mongering, they are a destabilizing force in the region just like Saddam

We have all the authority, the only question is, do you have the will?

JaJae · 08-26-2006, 08:01 PM

Iraq resulted in war with Iraq and backlash from the entire world. Are you suggesting war with Israel? I thought you were against the way we went about Iraq...

Thorgrim · 08-26-2006, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Iraq resulted in war with Iraq. Are you suggesting war with Israel?

I am saying our "special forces" should be up to the task of capturing them...no ground war, just position some carriers off their coast, drop in our delta/omega/black squad, and then be in The Hague in 24 hours

Unless our military special forces aren't capable?

thomez · 08-26-2006, 08:19 PM

I'm just here to defend Elton John

JaJae · 08-26-2006, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

I am saying our "special forces" should be up to the task of capturing them...no ground war, just position some carriers off their coast, drop in our delta/omega/black squad, and then be in The Hague in 24 hours

Unless our military special forces aren't capable?

It's not that easy. We can't just position a carrier off the coast, drop off a squad. Have them work their way in Israel to a military base (any of the bases on their Islan). Then locate a few specific people. Then kidnap them. THEN, get themselves and their captives back to the carrier alive.

It's not possible. First getting to their shore is difficult. Bringing them air airborne would be suicide. There's really no way of doing it.

It's much easier if you share a border and pick off a couple random stray soldiers along the border.

Thorgrim · 08-26-2006, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

It's not that easy. We can't just position a carrier off the coast, drop off a squad. Have them work their way in Israel to a military base (any of the bases on their Islan). Then locate a few specific people. Then kidnap them. THEN, get themselves and their captives back to the carrier alive.

It's not possible.

I have more faith in our special forces, maybe if you sang the national anthem a few times you'd get in right mind-set

motivez · 08-26-2006, 09:23 PM

This kind of indiscriminate use of force in Gaza / West Bank is nothing new.

While it might have been an accident, Israel has never given a shit before about collateral damage.

I don't know that we should arrest them, but we should stop sending them military technology and financing their operations.

We should come to their defense if they are being attacked, but American citizens shouldn't be forced to pay for Israeli offensives.

6SpeedTA95 · 08-26-2006, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

This kind of indiscriminate use of force in Gaza / West Bank is nothing new.

While it might have been an accident, Israel has never given a shit before about collateral damage.

I don't know that we should arrest them, but we should stop sending them military technology and financing their operations.

We should come to their defense if they are being attacked, but American citizens shouldn't be forced to pay for Israeli offensives.

Thats pretty interesting and I'm inclined to agree with it. I guess my problem is what/who makes the decision on what is offense/defense/retaliation?

Donkey® · 08-26-2006, 10:30 PM

Hmm...if it were a suicide bomber, I am SURE more people would be up in arms about it. But no...it was a "precision missile" during an airstrike. That makes it ok.

6SpeedTA95 · 08-26-2006, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Hmm...if it were a suicide bomber, I am SURE more people would be up in arms about it. But no...it was a "precision missile" during an airstrike. That makes it ok.

Ummm I think the point of the thread is to say its not ok.

Donkey® · 08-26-2006, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Ummm I think the point of the thread is to say its not ok.

So is someone going to invade Israel because of it? If Iran did that shit, they'd be getting missiles up the ass right about............

now.

6SpeedTA95 · 08-26-2006, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

So is someone going to invade Israel because of it? If Iran did that shit, they'd be getting missiles up the ass right about............

now.

Ok, I guess I'm missing your point.

Israel doesn't have a habbit of killing innocent civilians on purpose and unprovoked. My guess is they were bombing, hit a civilian target by mistake.

motivez · 08-26-2006, 10:43 PM

Actually, they do have that habbit.

It might not be "unprovoked" if they're carrying out an attack on some target, but they know full well those strikes are likely murder innocent civilians who have nothing to do with anything that would justify being killed.

It's a prime reason that there are suicide bombers and the cycle of violence continues. Imagine if you lived there and so many people that you knew had been killed, maimed, disfigured, or whatever by some Israeli strike when they had nothign to do?

It causes people to become radical and join groups who are fighting back the only way they can.. and we're the ones funding it.

6SpeedTA95 · 08-26-2006, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Actually, they do have that habbit.

It might not be "unprovoked" if they're carrying out an attack on some target, but they know full well those strikes are likely murder innocent civilians who have nothing to do with anything that would justify being killed.

It's a prime reason that there are suicide bombers and the cycle of violence continues. Imagine if you lived there and so many people that you knew had been killed, maimed, disfigured, or whatever by some Israeli strike when they had nothign to do?

It causes people to become radical and join groups who are fighting back the only way they can.. and we're the ones funding it.

And that has nothign to do with where attacks originate? It's provoked and you know it because the terrorist use civilian infrastructure including homes to carry out the attacks. Why? Because when shit like this happens Israel looks bad for "attacking civilians".

JaJae · 08-26-2006, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

This kind of indiscriminate use of force in Gaza / West Bank is nothing new.

While it might have been an accident, Israel has never given a shit before about collateral damage.

I don't know that we should arrest them, but we should stop sending them military technology and financing their operations.

We should come to their defense if they are being attacked, but American citizens shouldn't be forced to pay for Israeli offensives.

I'd have to agree with that there.

JaJae · 08-27-2006, 12:55 AM

Israel is saying they did shoot at the van. They didn't see the markings, it was 3am their time. They said the van seemed suspicious and was in an area where people have been planting bombs lately. The van stopped for people to get out and they opened fire.

The shoot first, ask questions later policy over there needs to end. Both sides are guilty.