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Why is this important? According to Fox News, Hammas and other heathens are promissing attacks on both Israel and the US in retaliation for the defensive attacks on the Gaza. Are you ready? What if they are telling the truth and are really planning on attacking us? Lord knows they are liars, but what if they actually follow through? Do you have enough water? Enough food? Do you know who to trust in your neighborhood?
Israeli Ground Forces Cross Border Into Gaza Strip
Israeli ground forces moved across the border into the northern Gaza Strip late Saturday night in an escalation of the weeklong offensive against Hamas.
Israeli defense officials told FOX News that an estimated 30 Hamas militants had been killed in the incursion so far, though precise numbers are hard to pin down.
The United Nations, meanwhile, scheduled emergency consultations Saturday night on the escalation.
"We are not war hungry, but we shall not ... allow a situation where our towns, villages and civilians are constantly targeted by Hamas," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said. "It will not be easy or short, but we are determined."
Barak described Israel as "peace seekers."
"We have restrained ourselves for a long time but now is the time to do what needs to be done," he said.
Israel launched its aerial campaign a week ago in a bid to halt weeks of intensifying Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza. That offensive dealt a heavy blow to Hamas but failed to halt the rocket fire.
Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip had intensified Saturday evening, setting the stage for the incursion that comes despite international efforts to secure a cease-fire and avert a ground war between Israel and Hamas.
"We are working toward a cease-fire that would not allow a re-establishment of the status quo ante, where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza and to condemn the people of Gaza to a life of misery," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a written statement issued Saturday evening.
McCormack added that a cease-fire should come "as soon as possible," but it should be "durable, sustainable and not time-limited."
Israeli Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog, in an interview with FOX News, said the aim of the ground offensive "is to make a dramatic change in the circumstances on the ground, whereby Israeli citizens on our side of the border will be able to resume living normally."
"Right now we've started a ground operation, which is aimed at preventing missile launchings against Israel from various sites in Gaza Strip," Herzog said. "It may take time Hamas will try to show in their arrogant way that they are still around, and our aim is to protect our citizens like any normal society would do."
Israeli security officials have said the ground offensive could last several days, but that the objective is not to reoccupy Gaza.
Into the night Saturday, heavy Israeli artillery fire hit east of Gaza City, in locations were Hamas fighters were deployed. The artillery shells were apparently intended to detonate Hamas explosive devices and mines planted along the border area before troops marched in.
Gun battles could be heard, as troops crossed the border into Gaza. Local TV networks broadcast images of troops marching single file. The troops were also backed by helicopter gunships.
An SMS message sent by Hamas' military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam, said that "the Zionists started approaching the trap which our fighters prepared for them."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the region next week, and U.S. President Bush and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon both spoke in favor of an internationally monitored truce.
The U.N. chief has urged key world leaders to intensify efforts to achieve an immediate Israeli-Hamas cease-fire that includes international monitors to enforce a truce and possibly to protect Palestinian civilians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and several Arab foreign ministers are flying to New York over the weekend to urge the Security Council to adopt an Arab draft resolution that would condemn Israel and demand a halt to its bombing campaign in Gaza.
From 2001 through May 2008, Hamas launched more than 3,000 Qassam rockets and 2,500 mortar attacks against Israeli targets, and on Friday, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said from Damascus that his group was prepared for an invasion and may attempt to abduct soldiers, as it has in the past.
Israel launched the new round of airstrikes on Gaza in response to renewed missile attacks by Hamas after the two sides' six-month cease-fire ended last month.
Israeli Ground Forces Cross Border Into Gaza Strip
Israeli ground forces moved across the border into the northern Gaza Strip late Saturday night in an escalation of the weeklong offensive against Hamas.
Israeli defense officials told FOX News that an estimated 30 Hamas militants had been killed in the incursion so far, though precise numbers are hard to pin down.
The United Nations, meanwhile, scheduled emergency consultations Saturday night on the escalation.
"We are not war hungry, but we shall not ... allow a situation where our towns, villages and civilians are constantly targeted by Hamas," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said. "It will not be easy or short, but we are determined."
Barak described Israel as "peace seekers."
"We have restrained ourselves for a long time but now is the time to do what needs to be done," he said.
Israel launched its aerial campaign a week ago in a bid to halt weeks of intensifying Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza. That offensive dealt a heavy blow to Hamas but failed to halt the rocket fire.
Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip had intensified Saturday evening, setting the stage for the incursion that comes despite international efforts to secure a cease-fire and avert a ground war between Israel and Hamas.
"We are working toward a cease-fire that would not allow a re-establishment of the status quo ante, where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza and to condemn the people of Gaza to a life of misery," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a written statement issued Saturday evening.
McCormack added that a cease-fire should come "as soon as possible," but it should be "durable, sustainable and not time-limited."
Israeli Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog, in an interview with FOX News, said the aim of the ground offensive "is to make a dramatic change in the circumstances on the ground, whereby Israeli citizens on our side of the border will be able to resume living normally."
"Right now we've started a ground operation, which is aimed at preventing missile launchings against Israel from various sites in Gaza Strip," Herzog said. "It may take time Hamas will try to show in their arrogant way that they are still around, and our aim is to protect our citizens like any normal society would do."
Israeli security officials have said the ground offensive could last several days, but that the objective is not to reoccupy Gaza.
Into the night Saturday, heavy Israeli artillery fire hit east of Gaza City, in locations were Hamas fighters were deployed. The artillery shells were apparently intended to detonate Hamas explosive devices and mines planted along the border area before troops marched in.
Gun battles could be heard, as troops crossed the border into Gaza. Local TV networks broadcast images of troops marching single file. The troops were also backed by helicopter gunships.
An SMS message sent by Hamas' military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam, said that "the Zionists started approaching the trap which our fighters prepared for them."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the region next week, and U.S. President Bush and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon both spoke in favor of an internationally monitored truce.
The U.N. chief has urged key world leaders to intensify efforts to achieve an immediate Israeli-Hamas cease-fire that includes international monitors to enforce a truce and possibly to protect Palestinian civilians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and several Arab foreign ministers are flying to New York over the weekend to urge the Security Council to adopt an Arab draft resolution that would condemn Israel and demand a halt to its bombing campaign in Gaza.
From 2001 through May 2008, Hamas launched more than 3,000 Qassam rockets and 2,500 mortar attacks against Israeli targets, and on Friday, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said from Damascus that his group was prepared for an invasion and may attempt to abduct soldiers, as it has in the past.
Israel launched the new round of airstrikes on Gaza in response to renewed missile attacks by Hamas after the two sides' six-month cease-fire ended last month.
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