[IMC-UK-Features] Feature on Gaza massacre

[ben gringo]

Below is some rough text that could be edited for use in the feature  
to provide an intro and link to newswire posts. It's lacking in any  
info about international solidarity and protests but perhaps a useful  
start.


All out war on Gaza

Israel's offensive follows the ending of a tenuous six-month truce on  
December 19. Hundreds of aerial bombing have pounded the strip along  
with rtillery strikes from warships positioned close to the main port  
in Gaza City.


University buildings, prisons, police stations, homes, and government  
departments have all  been targeted.  In all, the Israeli campaign has  
killed at least 360 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,690. The Red  
Cross described the situation in Gaza's hospitals as chaotic, with  
medical teams and resources "stretched to the limit". Hamas spokesman  
Fawzi Barhum said that Israel is "committing a holocaust as the whole  
world watches and doesn't lift a finger to stop it"

Israel says its aim is to end the rocket attacks by Hamas-linked  
militants. Since the onslaught began on Saturday, Gaza militants have  
fired more than 250 rockets and mortar rounds into Israel, killing  
four people and wounding two dozen more.

The area around Gaza has been declared a closed military zone and  
israel is massing tanks and troops at the border using the 6,500 army  
reservists it has called up this week. “The goal of the operation is  
to topple Hamas,” Haim Ramon, the deputy to Ehud Olmert, the Prime  
Minister, said,

Mr Barak, Israel's defence chief, said: "We have nothing against Gaza  
residents, but we are engaged in an all-out war against Hamas and its  
proxies. This operation will expand and deepen as much as needed." He  
added it was a "war to the bitter end against Hamas and its branches."

The UN special envoy to the Middle East protested strongly to Israel  
after air strikes on Gaza hit two UN buildings and killed eight of its  
trainees.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate ceasefire  
and condemned both Israel and Hamas.
Mr Ban condemned its "excessive use of force".
"The suffering caused to civilian populations as a result of the large- 
scale violence and destruction that have taken place over the past few  
days has saddened me profoundly," he said.

Meanwhile a White House spokesman said: "The United States understands  
that Israel needs to take actions to defend itself. They are taking  
the steps that they feel are necessary to deal with the terrorist  
threat. In order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing  
rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable  
ceasefire.''

The Islamists have warned of resuming suicide bombing against Israel  
for the first time since January 2005 in response to the attacks.