This is reprehensible! Something like this was bound to happen when a powerful military pounds a densely packed urban area like Gaza.
Israeli bomb hits Gaza center for disabled, as civilian casualties mount
At least twelve people were killed Saturday in airstrikes that hit a rehabilitation center for the disabled in Gaza, a mosque and other targets in the area, according to Palestinian medics. It comes as the death toll from Israel's bombardment of the Palestinian enclave rose to 135.
Three patients and a nurse were killed overnight in the explosion on the rehabilitation center in Jebaliya, as Israel's campaign entered its fifth day. Video footage of the aftermath of the attack showed victims being taken to hospital for injuries, including severe burns.
Washington affirmed Israel's right to defend itself in a statement from the Pentagon on Friday. But Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon he was concerned "about the risk of further escalation and emphasized the need for all sides to do everything they can to protect civilian lives and restore calm," a Pentagon statement said.
Americans need to keep in mind just how Hamas came to power in Gaza. Israel's Prime Minister at the time Ariel Sharon was determined to cut the Palestinian Authority out of the handover process. Denying the PA any credit for the handover, doing enormous damage to the PA's standing in Gaza, and boosting Hamas' stature among Gazans. This weakened the PA's popularity in Gaza to the point that when the PA eventually was overthrown by Hamas as the rulers of Gaza.
The Bush Administration had urged Sharon to cooperate with the PA during the handover process, but he adamantly refused. Sharon had a great deal of personal animosity toward his old foe Yasser Arafat the President of the Palestinian Authority. Sharon made Arafat's humiliation his top priority, not insuring that Gaza would have a more moderate and stable government following the transition to Palestinian rule.
That's what created the violent conflict we see claiming innocent victims today.
The UN Security Council called for a cease fire in the conflict.
Its time for President Obama to step up and publicly call for a cease fire.