Israel Civilians Pay Toll for Attacks on Gaza

Israel's unprovoked attack on Gaza leads to numerous Israeli casualties.

Site of mortar blast that injured troops (Photo: Yoav Zitun)

(TEL AVIV) - We frequently discuss how the actual number of Israeli deaths from rockets fired out of the Gaza Strip is 28, though some place the number at 29. For all the average viewer would know watching American TV, one would think Israelis were dying left and right, rather than less than 30 in all time. Sadly, today Israel's number of dead from Quassam rockets climbed by three.

According to YNet in Israel, three people – two men and a woman – were killed in the morning when a rocket hit an apartment building in the city of Kiryat Malachi.

Also, on thursday afternoon, three soldiers were injured when a mortar shell hit in the Eshkol region. Two sustained moderate wounds while the third was lightly hurt. The troops were airlifted to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

The interesting thing is that Israel generally has more friendly fire casualties during attacks of this nature than battlefield killed and wounded. To know that resistance fighters in Gaza actually managed to hit something is unusual.

Israel surely knew that another unprovoked attack against civilians in Gaza would carry repercussions, it is a sad twist of faith that Israel would have its civilians pay the price for its direct military action.

The victims of the Kiryat Malachi attacks reportedly failed to access a fortified stairwell in their building, a luxiry almost unknown to Palestinian families whom Israel denies access to building supplies.

Regarding the Israeli victims, two people were seriously injured in the blast, one boy was moderately hurt and two infants sustained light wounds.

Ynet reports that, "Several others suffered panic attacks".

Another building in the city was directly hit, but no injuries were reported. Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for the attacks on their Website.

Edited by Tim King for Salem-News.com

Special thanks to Ynet

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4305658,00.html