ISRAEL/GAZA: Israelis call on government to expand fighting against Gaza militants after overnight airstrikes

Record ID: 353533

  • Title: ISRAEL/GAZA: Israelis call on government to expand fighting against Gaza militants after overnight airstrikes
  • Date: 20th May 2007
  • Summary: CLOSED SHOPS MEN WORKING ON SHOP THAT WAS DAMAGED IN EARLIER ROCKET ATTACK (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ITZIK, SHOP OWNER, SAYING: "I hope they (Israeli government) will finally do something, it's impossible to continue with a daily routine like this, impossible." (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) SDEROT RESIDENT SAYING: "To quit, that's what I expect of them (Israeli government), to quit and
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8S3FXSLER0S3QKBH0ERFVSQO6
  • Story Text: Residents of the southern Israeli town of Sderot, who came under attack from rockets fired from Gaza on Sunday (May 20), called on their government to step up military operation in the Gaza Strip.
    During the night, Israel killed three Hamas militants in one of three pre-dawn air strikes in Gaza as it built up pressure on the Islamist militant group to stop the firing of makeshift rockets into the Jewish state.
    An Israeli army spokesman confirmed a strike had taken place on a vehicle belonging to Hamas militants and said the size of the explosion confirmed the vehicle was full of munitions.
    Residents also said the three dead men were most likely members of Hamas.
    Residents said that two more air strikes were aimed at metal workshops, one was in the northern part of the coastal territory and the other in Gaza City. Both were destroyed and there were no casualties.
    In Gaza, residents examined the damage caused to buildings during the overnight attacks. Children played around a burnt car which was hit by an Israeli missile in Gaza City, while men walked through debris and shattered glass in a damaged building in Nusseirat refugee camp.
    Israel began the wave of air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza starting on Wednesday and senior Israeli officials said they were considering taking tougher measures.
    Israel's security cabinet will meet to discuss military options later on Sunday. Media reports say that ministers are split on whether to carry out a major ground offensive or to continue with the current "limited" activity.
    But the residents of Sderot expressed mostly anger at the government, and not much hope for a change.
    "I hope they (Israeli government) will finally do something, it's impossible to continue with a daily routine like this, impossible," said Itzik, a shop owner whose store was damaged by a rocket launched from Gaza.
    "To quit, that's what I expect of them (Israeli government), to quit and let someone else to run this country, just to quit," said another resident of the town.
    Israel has in recent days moved an undisclosed number of tanks, armoured vehicles and ground forces into areas just inside the Gaza border.
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