Israel Attacks Egypt

An Egyptian Army captain is among those killed. Some are speculating that Israel is designing a reason to relaunch attacks on Gaza civilians.

This is the small child killed in Israel's Wednesday attack on Gaza, it is a frequent site and if the child were an Israeli Jew killed by Palestinians, her death would be a world news item. Today was two-year old Malik Shath's birthday

(GAZA CITY / SALEM) - Israeli planes attacked Egyptian soldiers today, at 2:00 p.m. PT, killing and injuring several members of the Egyptian armed forces.

The border at Rafah is closed and our contacts advise things are tense. According to Reuters, the violence in part stems from an attack on an Israeli bus that was traveling close to the border with Egypt earlier today.

However the words 'militants' and 'terrorists' were used by Reuters and Israel to describe the attackers, and there are no claims at this time that the Egyptian military waged the attack.

The Israeli Defence Forces say six Israelis and one soldier were killed. Ha'aretz reports that eight Israelis were killed and 30 injured.

The attack launched against the Egyptian soldiers of the Central Security force involved multiple Israeli warplanes and occurred between the Egyptian Red Sea resort town Taba in South Sinai, and the Israeli city of Eilat.

One Egyptian officer and three soldiers were killed, and one injured, sources tell Salem-News, during the clashes with Israeli troops on the border.

The officer was reportedly an Egyptian captain.

An army official in Egypt told Reuters an Israeli plane had been "chasing militant infiltrators" in the border area when, "one Egyptian Central Security officer and a Central Security man were caught in the line of fire".

The two soldiers injured by gunfire were taken to a hospital in the city of el-Arish in North Sinai, a security source in South Sinai told Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu has been under increasing pressure as civil unrest in Israel has grown to epic proportions. Many speculate that since Israel regularly targets civilians in Gaza, the new so-called acts of terrorism are being used as a smokescreen and distraction so Netanyahu can remain in office.

An IDF press release sent to Salem-News.com today states:

(Defense Minister Ehud Barak), "...described the attacks as 'serious and painful' and expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attacks.

"The IDF will continue to operate with all its strength to protect Israel's citizens and allow for the continuation of normal life in the region,' Barak said. 'Unfortunately, we can not prevent all terrorist attacks such as these.'"

Barak admits that the IDF had already conducted strikes in the Gaza Strip in response to the reported attacks, and stated that such strikes would be broadened, if necessary.

"We are in an ongoing struggle against terrorism," Barak said. It certainly appears that the same is true in Gaza.

Barak noted that one of the reasons for the terrorist attacks was the Egyptian military's weakening grip over the Sinai Peninsula. How that connects to the slaughter of six civilians in Gaza remains unclear.

Israel's Lt. Gen. Gantz said that Thursday's incident was nearing its end but that patrols in the area would continue in the coming hours.

Photo submitted by IDF

"We have already operated in Gaza, in a location where we think the roots of this attack was," Lt. Gen. Gantz said. "We will continue to be prepared, near and far, and will ensure the safety of Israel's citizens."

Israel launches frequent attacks on Gaza, but to strike Egypt within it's own borders is unusual.

Huge explosions have been reported in the Gaza Strip's northern district and in Soudania, a NW Gaza region.

Gaza City is reportedly safe at this time, however power outages are being experienced throughout the region.

Israeli war planes launched many airstrikes in Rafah City yesterday, one targeted a home in Shouth area and others targeted the tunnels. None of these were a response to reported "terrorism" against Israel, however the ongoing incidents all happened prior to the attack on the Israeli bus.

There were six killed in Wednesday's attacks on Rafah, that left one child killed and five adults dead.

The child, Malik Shath, a two-year old whose photo is shown above, was killed with his father, Khalid Shath. Others killed were Abu Awad Neirab, Imad Hammad, Khalid el-Masri, and a sixth person, a young man whose name was not available.

The Palestinian resistance fired two long range rockets at Israeli cities in response to the recent deadly attacks on civilians in Gaza.

Photo from Hamas al Qassam Brigades

The Hamas Al Qassam website issued a press release today stating that the current violence stems from a massacre committed by Israeli forces at Al Shijaiya that caused the death of four Palestinian civilians.

Hamas confirms that Palestinian resistance factions launched a number of Grad missiles and mortars Wednesday on the Israeli military bases and settlements near the Gaza border.

"Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza headed by Al Qassam Brigades vowed to avenge the death of eight Palestinian martyrs who were killed on Tuesday by Israeli occupation tanks and air jets." their release stated.

Hamas reports that Al Quds Brigades, the Military wing of the Islamic Jihad declared that the Brigades will avenge the assassination of four of their members who were assassinated by Israeli fighter jets east of the al Zeitoon neighborhood east of Gaza city.

Israeli media sources reported that Grad missiles hit the Be’er Sheva city and south of Ashdod, while other mortar shells hit the border settlements adjacent to the Gaza border in kibbutzim Alumim and Sa'ad.

Schools in Be'er Sheva were closed Wednesday following the Grad attack, Israeli sources said.

The Islamic Jihad movement claimed responsibility for the Grad rocket that fell at 5:30 a.m. on Israeli settlements.

A statement issued by the organization said, "This is an initial reaction to the Zionist crimes against our people in Gaza."

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) in Gaza Strip advises all United Nations staff to stop using UN cars after 9:00 p.m. for their own safety on the order of the Israeli army, according to a source in Gaza.

Sources:

Reuters Africa

Hamas al Qassam Brigade

Israeli Defence Forces

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines. Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

Publisher Bonnie King has been with Salem-News.com since August '04. Bonnie has a wide ranging media background and in her career she has served in a number of positions in the broadcast industry; TV Production Manager at KVWB (Las Vegas WB) and Producer/Director for the TV series "Hot Wheels in Las Vegas", TV Promotion Director for KYMA (NBC), and KFBT (Ind.), Asst. Marketing Director (SUPERSHOPPER MAGAZINE), Director/Co-Host (Coast Entertainment Show), Radio Promotion Director (KBCH/KCRF), and NIE/Circulation Sales Manager (STATESMAN JOURNAL NEWSPAPER). Bonnie has a depth of understanding that reaches further than just behind the scenes, and that thoroughness is demonstrated in the perseverance to correctly present each story with the wit and wisdom necessary to compel and captivate viewers.

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