Israel Matzav

Raw video: IDF attacks multi-story buildings in Gaza City

This is a raw video from Israel's Channel 10 of the IDF attacking a couple buildings in Gaza City. Israel Radio is reporting that the IDF is in Gaza City and is close to the home of Mahmoud a-Zahar. Let's go to the videotape and I'll have more below the video.



Here's more from the JPost:

IDF tanks fired shells at three high-rise buildings at least in the Tel Hawwa neighborhood of Gaza City Thursday morning, according to Palestinian witnesses.

The UN refugee agency said its Gaza headquarters has also been struck by Israeli artillery fire and the building was now ablaze.

Spokesman Chris Gunness said the building was hit by what was believed to be three white phosphorous shells.

However, witnesses said a nearby building was struck, and the UN building remained intact. It was hard to verify the accounts because the entire area was covered in black smoke. [Gunness is lying? Who'd a thunk it? CiJ].

There was no immediate comment by the IDF on the report.

Defense officials said Thursday morning that Hamas operatives had barricaded themselves inside a press office in Gaza, and were using people there as human shields. There were 23 people inside, according to reports. [Israel Radio reported that a press building was hit and that a couple of photographers have been killed. This may be the same building. Israel Radio is watching al-Jazeera live and is passing on what they see. They have people who speak Arabic - I don't. The tanks are 250-300 meters from the center of town. That's less than half a mile. CiJ].

The IAF strikes occurred as ground troops advanced into a crowded residential area on the outskirts of the city. Thousands of residents were reportedly fleeing their homes. The targeted buildings are about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the ground forces.

The move marked the deepest thrust into the city so far in the twenty days of Operation Cast Lead.

And for those of you who think there's a 'humanitarian crisis in Gaza that goes beyond the ordinary risks of war....

Meanwhile, the IDF was observing a daily "humanitarian corridor" between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., to allow for transfer of humanitarian aid into the Strip, and for Gazans to stock up on necessary supplies.

In a statement released Thursday morning, IDF spokesman Peter Lerner said that a total of 1,136 trucks of humanitarian supplies have been transferred to Gazans since the beginning of the IDF operation in the Strip, as well as fuel trucks and medical personnel, the statement added.

The statement added that the electrical grid in the Gaza Strip was functioning at 74% capacity, up from 40% at the beginning of the operation.

Lerner said the state of the electrical supply was "a direct result of the coordination between the IDF, the Palestinian Energy Authority and the International Committee of the Red Cross."

In previous days, Hamas attacks on the South have continued during these pauses in operations.

We've had 17 rockets shot at Israel today which is more than the last couple of days. Maybe it's the last gasp of a dying terror group. Let's hope so.

UPDATE 3:28 PM

Speaking of Zahar's house....

Also Wednesday overnight, the IAF attacked five armed Palestinians who turned out to be the personal bodyguards of senior Hamas official Mahmoud Al-Zahar. The five men were allegedly guarding Zahar's house in southern Gaza City and were all killed, according to reports.

Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:08 PM