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Gaza violence: dejection and defiance as Palestinians bury their dead Gaza violence: dejection and defiance as Palestinians bury their dead
(about 1 hour later)
Two funerals, two faces of Gaza. The first was a display of strength and defiance, a jostling mass of thousands of conflict-hardened men, many brandishing weapons, pledging readiness to die for their cause over the bloodied corpse of Hamas military commander Ahmed al-Jabari. Two funerals, two faces of Gaza. The first a display of strength and defiance, a jostling mass of thousands of conflict-hardened men, many brandishing weapons, pledging readiness to die for their cause over the bloodied corpse of Hamas military commander Ahmed al-Jaabari.
The second consisted of a shattered family, incomprehension etched on their faces. A young father clutched the shrouded body of his 11-month-old son, a victim of the violence that is likely to cause more deaths in the days to come.The second consisted of a shattered family, incomprehension etched on their faces. A young father clutched the shrouded body of his 11-month-old son, a victim of the violence that is likely to cause more deaths in the days to come.
The thread connecting these two scenes could be found in the vapour trails hanging in the clear skies above Gaza City, the black clouds of smoke rising from the ground and the thuds and booms punctuating the unsettling quiet of its usually bustling streets.The thread connecting these two scenes could be found in the vapour trails hanging in the clear skies above Gaza City, the black clouds of smoke rising from the ground and the thuds and booms punctuating the unsettling quiet of its usually bustling streets.
According the Israeli military, more than 100 missiles were fired from Gaza on Thursday. It said its forces had struck more than 200 militant targets since Operation Pillar of Defence began on Wednesday, and its troops were moving south to get into position in case a ground invasion was ordered.According the Israeli military, more than 100 missiles were fired from Gaza on Thursday. It said its forces had struck more than 200 militant targets since Operation Pillar of Defence began on Wednesday, and its troops were moving south to get into position in case a ground invasion was ordered.
By sunset, the deathtoll from this mini-war was at least 18, including three Israeli civilians and, according to Hamas health officials, four Palestinian children and a woman pregnant with twins. By sunset, the death toll from this mini-war was at least 18, including three Israeli civilians and, according to Hamas health officials, four Palestinian children and a woman pregnant with twins. The operation drew condemnation from Egypt and Jordan and other nearby countries. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, warned of a catastrophe if there was another escalation in the region. Britain said it was "gravely concerned" and called on both sides to avoid any action which risked civilian casualties. The United States condemned Hamas for employing violence against the people of Israel.
The operation drew condemnation from Egypt and Jordan and other nearby countries. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, warned of a catastrophe if there was another escalation in the region. Britain said it was "gravely concerned" and called on both sides to avoid any action which risked civilian casualties. The United States condemned Hamas for employing violence against the people of Israel.
But in a backstreet of Gaza City, Jihad Misharawi's concerns were more immediate. As neighbours arrived to pay respects at his home, the 27-year-old BBC picture editor, still pale with shock, described how his family had been ripped apart in an instant.But in a backstreet of Gaza City, Jihad Misharawi's concerns were more immediate. As neighbours arrived to pay respects at his home, the 27-year-old BBC picture editor, still pale with shock, described how his family had been ripped apart in an instant.
His wife Ahlam, sons Ali and Omar, brother Ahmed and sister-in-law Hiba were visiting a nearby house when they became worried about the possibility of an Israeli airstrike. "Ahlam wanted to leave, she felt it was not safe," he said. "She took Ali and went outside the door. The others were following. But the bomb came, and everything was on fire." His wife Ahlam, sons Ali and Omar, brother Ahmed and sister-in-law Hiba were visiting a nearby house when they became worried about the possibility of an Israeli air strike. "Ahlam wanted to leave, she felt it was not safe," he said. "She took Ali and went outside the door. The others were following. But the bomb came, and everything was on fire."
He showed visitors the blackened shell of the house: a hole blasted through its corrugated iron roof, scorched debris, burned and twisted furniture, an acrid smell of smoke. Then he pulled his mobile phone from his pocket to show horrific and haunting pictures of the blackened, rigid corpse of his baby boy, his mouth a charred rictus. He showed visitors the blackened shell of the house: a hole blasted through its corrugated iron roof, scorched debris, burned and twisted furniture, an acrid smell of smoke. He pulled his mobile phone from his pocket to show horrific and haunting pictures of the blackened, rigid corpse of his baby boy, his mouth a charred rictus. "What did my son do to die like this?" the bereaved father asked against the sound of another boom nearby. "We are not the resistance, there are no fighters in my house."
"What did my son do to die like this?" the bereaved father asked against the sound of another boom nearby. "We are not the resistance, there are no fighters in my house." A few miles away, Jaabari's resistance credentials were in no doubt as militants fired automatic weapons above the heads of the funeral throng and young men jostled and stretched to touch the face or grasp the hand of the man they described as a martyr.
A few miles away, Jabari's resistance credentials were in no doubt as militants fired automatic weapons above the heads of the funeral throng and young men jostled and stretched to touch the face or grasp the hand of the man they described as a martyr. Shrouded in a blood-stained sheet and green Hamas flag, his body was carried on a simple wooden pallet through the streets from the al-Omari mosque to the huge Sheikh Radwan cemetery, final resting place of many militants during Gaza's long conflict with Israel.
Shrouded in a blood-stained sheet and a green Hamas flag, his body was carried on a simple wooden pallet through the streets from the al-Omari mosque to the huge Sheikh Radan cemetery, the final resting place of many militants during Gaza's long war with Israel.
Outside the mosque, as men prayed on carpets laid on the pavement, 14-year-old Adnan Jaber said he was not frightened by the intense bombardment of the previous hours. "It's normal in Gaza. The Israelis want to kill us, so we want to attack back."Outside the mosque, as men prayed on carpets laid on the pavement, 14-year-old Adnan Jaber said he was not frightened by the intense bombardment of the previous hours. "It's normal in Gaza. The Israelis want to kill us, so we want to attack back."
Jabil Abu Fanunah, 64, rejected such teenage bravado. "My 26-year-old daughter came to sleep between me and her mother last night because she was so afraid. My children can't go to the bathroom or fetch water. The windows were shaking from the bombing all around the house. This is worse than the last war. We are under siege," said the gynaecologist. Jabil Abu Fanunah, 64-year-old gynaecologist, rejected such teenage bravado. "My 26-year-old daughter came to sleep between me and her mother last night because she was so afraid. My children can't go to the bathroom or fetch water. The windows were shaking from the bombing all around the house. This is worse than the last war. We are under siege." He added: "I am not Hamas. But we support what they do because they protect us."
"I am not Hamas," he added. "But we support what they do because they protect us." There was no support from Hassan Tamer Abu Daqen, speaking on his family's rooftop overlooking the cemetery. He had had enough of "seeing dead people come here". "It's not good for us, and it's not good for Israel," said the jobless 27-year-old. "We can't keep killing each other. Peace is a better solution, and we need to learn to live with each other. Maybe peace will come if both Hamas and Israel want it." Did he think that was likely soon? "I don't know."
There was no support from Hassan Tamer Abu Daqen, speaking on his family's rooftop overlooking the cemetery. He had had enough of "seeing dead people come here", he said. There was no sign of imminent peace as darkness heralded another night of fear for the people of Gaza and southern Israel. The Israeli military said a rocket fired from Gaza reached the city of Rishon LeZion, less than 10 miles from Tel Aviv.
"It's not good for us, and it's not good for Israel," said the jobless 27-year-old. "We can't keep killing each other. Peace is a better solution, and we need to learn to live with each other. Maybe peace will come if both Hamas and Israel want it." Did he think that was likely soon? "I don't know." In Kiryat Malachi, a town close to the port city of Ashdod, the funerals were due to be held for three people killed when a Gaza rocket struck an apartment block on Thursday morning. Aharon Smajda, 49, Itzik Amsalem, 24, and Mirah Sharf, 27 – who was reportedly pregnant – were rushing to reach a fortified stairwell in the four-storey building, which did not have a secure bomb shelter. A four-year-old boy and two babies were also wounded.
There was no sign of imminent peace as darkness heralded another night of fear for the people of Gaza and southern Israel. The Israeli military said a rocket fired from Gaza had reached the city of Rishon LeZion, less than 10 miles from Tel Aviv. Israel's defence minister, Ehud Barak, pledged continued military action in Gaza and said citizens in the south were braced for tough moments to come. Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said he hoped Gaza's militants had "got the message".
In Kiryat Malachi, a town close to the port city of Ashdod, the funerals were due to be held for three people killed when a Gaza rocket struck an apartment block on Thursday morning. Aharon Smajda, 49, Itzik Amsalem, 24, and Mirah Sharf, 27 - who was reportedly pregnant - were rushing to reach a fortified stairwell in the four-storey building, which did not have a secure bomb shelter. A four-year-old boy and two babies were also wounded.
Israel's defence minister, Ehud Barak, pledged continued military action in Gaza and said citizens in the south were braced for tough moments to come. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said he hoped Gaza's militants had "got the message".