Gaza Attacked: Why is Hamas Firing Rockets at Israel?

More than 200 have been reported dead in Gaza after Israeli attacks which were in response to ongoing rocket fire from Hamas. Israel’s hammering of so-called Hamas targets have left over 300 injured and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said Israeli attacks will go on for "as long as necessary." (See Raw Story for more.)

The U.S., being the biggest of ally of Israel, bears some responsibility for the worsening situation, which supporters of Arab and Palestinian rights are speaking out against.

Reactions to the attacks from the Arab League, Syria, and Iran consist of these following remarks, which are being reported by BBC News:

AMR MOUSSA, ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL

"We are facing a continuing spectacle which has been carefully planned. So we have to expect that there will be many casualties. We face a major humanitarian catastrophe."

SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

"Syria is following with great anxiety the barbaric Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza... a horrific crime and terrorist act.

"Syria calls on the Arab nation and the international community to use all possible means to put pressure on Israel to immediately stop the aggression, allow the wounded to enter hospital and open all crossing points [to Gaza].

"Syria as president of the Arab League calls on Arab leaders to hold an emergency summit to assess the dangerous situation in Gaza."

HASAN QASHQAVI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

"Iran strongly condemns the Zionist regime's wide-ranging attacks against the civilians in Gaza.

"The raids against innocent people are unforgiveable and unacceptable."

Syria and Iran have been on the short list of nations the U.S. is willing to attack--the Axis of Evil---and that may be because Israel considers these countries to pose grave threats to their security.

In an IBA News video posted on the Jerusalem Post website, Dr. Raanan Gissin, ex-spokesman for Ariel Sharon, offered his take on the situation, one that many supportive of Israel, like those in the U.S., will most likely consider accurate:

“This is only the first shot in what will probably be a long, enduring sustained operation on which its main purpose is as I understand it is not so much to break the military force of Hamas as much as to break its will, to continue the fighting, and to establish a different ceasefire, a comprehensive one which will ensure that the citizens of Israel along its southern border can live in peace and security. Israel is exercising in a rightful way it’s right to self-defense. This is something I think we can explain today better than in the previous war in Lebanong. No doubt in my mind this is only the first or one of a serie of confrontations in fighting the frontline forces of Iran whether its in the south, Hamas, or in the north, Hezbollah. We still have several of these confrontations so long as Iran continues with its intent to drive a wedge into the Middle East and extend the influence.” [emphasis added]

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