http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.htmlScenes
from the Gaza
Striphttp://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html
It
has now been 12 days since Israel began its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
On January 3rd, the Israeli Defense Force ground troops began entering Gaza,
soon cutting the territory in half. Israel's stated goals are to end rocket
attacks originating from Gaza - which had increased sharply following the
end of a cease-fire agreement in December. As Israeli troops began entering
Gaza, foreign reporters and photographers were denied entry to the territory
by Israel, halting any reports originating from Gaza except those coming
from Palestinians. As of today, since the beginning of this campaign, there
have reportedly been over 650 deaths in Gaza, and 10 Israelis killed,
including 7 soldiers. Israel suspended operations for a few hours today, to
allow humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza. Officials from France,
Egypt and Turkey are working with Israel and the Palestinians to draw up a
cease-fire plan, but many details still remain unresolved. See previous Big
Picture entry on Israel and
Gazahttp://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/israel_and_gaza.htmlfrom
a week ago. (34
photos
totalhttp://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html
)
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html
An explosion is seen as missiles fired from an Israeli aircraft fall towards
a target in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the
border, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Gil Nechushtan)
2http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo2
The moon is seen as an Israeli military attack helicopter flies over the
northern Gaza Strip near the border with Israel, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.
Israeli ground troops and tanks cut swaths through the Gaza Strip early
Sunday, bisecting the coastal territory and surrounding its biggest city.
(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo2
3http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo3
Israeli infantry soldiers walk into Gaza on January 04, 2009 on the border
between Gaza and Israel. Israeli forces are battling Hamas fighters as they
attempt to take the rocket launch areas used by Hamas since Israeli troops
entered Gaza after nightfall on Saturday. It is expected that this will be
the first wave of assault, with some 10,000 Israeli troops and hundreds of
tanks massed on the Gaza border. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo3
4http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo4
An Israeli flare lights up an area on the edge of Gaza City after a day of
heavy clashes between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces on January 5, 2009.
(MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo4
5http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo5
Smoke from Israeli artillery shelling covers the ground of the northern Gaza
Strip on January 3, 2009. (PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo5
6http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo6
An Israeli boy walks into a bomb shelter in the southern city of Ashkelon,
Israel on January 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo6
7http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo7
An Israeli police officer near a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from
the Gaza Strip which landed near Sderot, southern Israel Thursday, Jan. 1,
2009. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo7
8http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo8
An Israeli gunner covers his ears as a mobile artillery piece fires at a
target in the Gaza Strip, on the Israel-Gaza border, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.
Israel seized control of high-rise buildings and attacked houses, mosques
and smuggling tunnels as it pressed forward with its offensive against the
Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers on Monday. (AP Photo)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo8
9http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo9
The sun sets on the Israel-Gaza border January 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Yannis
Behrakis)
#http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo9
10http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/scenes_from_the_gaza_strip.html#photo10
Palestinians hold white flags as a signal for Israeli troops after leaving
their house near the area where Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants
exchange fire outside
