Gaza aid appeal divides broadcasters

ITV aired the DEC aid appeal on Monday

Two major news organisations have refused to broadcast an appeal intended to raise money for victims of the recent conflict in Gaza. Both the BBC and Sky News have decided not to air the appeal saying that it could compromise impartiality as news broadcasters. Jon Ryley, Sky’s head of news, released a statement in which he said, “"The absolute impartiality of our output is fundamental to Sky News and its journalism. That is why, after very careful consideration, we have concluded that broadcasting an appeal for Gaza at this time is incompatible with our role in providing balanced and objective reporting of this continuing situation to our audiences in the UK and around the world"[Sky News].

The decision has brought widespread criticism, both from members of the public and from British members of parliament. Former parliamentarian Tony Benn has been one of the outspoken critics and insisted that the BBC had a responsibility of informing viewers of the humanitarian appeal. He told CNN’s Jim Clancy that people were suffering in the region and that aid was desperately needed before more people died. “After all we’re all human”, he said, “and this is a humanitarian appeal”. But he evaded the question put to him over reservations that some might have suggesting the money may fall into the hands of Hamas. Jim Clancy said that “Hamas have the guns” and that there was a risk the money could be diverted to rebuild their military infrastructure. Tony Benn refused to be drawn into such a possibility and instead pointed out that Hamas had been elected.

While ITV, Channel Four, Channel 5 and al Jazeera have all said they will air the Gaza appeal, it is not yet clear whether other international broadcasters will air the appeal. The Disasters Emergency Committee [DEC] say they have not approached all broadcasters however. Amongst them was CNN who say they had not been asked to show the 3 minute film [BBC / Sky News / CNN].

Meanwhile, EU Commissioner Louis Michel has described the destruction in Gaza as “abominable” but blamed Hamas for bringing Israel’s onslaught. However there is increased criticism that Israel may have broken rules concerning the use of certain weapons. Sagah abu Halim is one victim highlighted in a CNN report. She received appalling injuries suspected to be the result of being struck by white phosphorus. Ben Wedeman said the use of white phosphorus in densely populated areas would “inevitably” result in civilian casualties. But Israeli spokesman Mark Regev is adamant that Israel was careful not to target the innocent. “We do not target civilians” he told CNN, adding that Israel had deployed weapons surgically against enemy target. But says CNN’s Ben Wedeman, “Not surgical enough for victims like Sagah”.

It is these victims that the DEC wants to help and some fear that not airing their appeal will stop the flow of donations. The irony is that more people will now have heard about the call for donations because of the decision made by the BBC and Sky.

Media run risks to report from Gaza

Reporters Sans Frontières have hailed the release of two Palestinian journalists employed by the Iranian Arabic-language TV station Al-Alam. The two had been held by the Israeli authorities for 10 days on spying charges. But they are not the only journalists who have had difficulties in recent weeks attempting to cover the Gaza conflict.

On Friday CNN’s Ben Wedeman reported that a journalist working for Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera was shot at by Israeli troops as he attempted to make his way north from Khan Yunis to Gaza city. At least 15 rounds were fired into his vehicle and according to Reporters Sans Frontières he sustained a minor injury to his hand as his car clearly displaying ‘TV’ was fired upon at an Israeli checkpoint. It was not the only incident to occur this week. On Thursday a television centre was struck causing outrage amongst journalists working in Gaza [AP]. At a press conference one journalist called the Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni a terrorist and some likened Israel’s bar on foreign correspondents from crossing into Gaza to that of Robert Mugabe who has consistently refused access by western media into Zimbabwe [Haaretz].

But even before last week’s incidents several other journalists have been killed or injured. According to the International Federation of Journalists at least five journalists have been killed during Operation Cast Lead. Alwan Radio broadcaster Alaa Murtaja died after being seriously injured in a bomb attack on his house in Gaza City on 9th January. Israeli warplanes also bombed the home of Palestinian public TV cameraman Ihab al-Wahidi the previous day and there are reports that journalist Omar Silawi was killed by an IDF attack on 3rd January.

Basel Faraj, who worked as an assistant cameraman for the Algerian TV network ENTV and the Palestine Media and Communications Company, was wounded as a result of an Israeli air strike on his crew on the first day of the military offensive, 27th December. He died on 6th January. Two other journalists were also injured in the strike.

Even before the latest operation media workers were being injured. Hamza Shahin, a photographer with the Shehab News Agency, died on 26th December from wounds sustained in an Israeli air attack on 7th December.

Even Friday’s apparent targeting of a television centre was not the first. Israeli aircraft also bombed Al-Johara Tower in Gaza City, on 9th January despite being clearly marked as housing media staff [IFEX]. More than 20 news organisations work in Al-Johara, including Iran's English-language Press TV and the Arabic language network Al-Alam. Satellite transmission equipment on the roof of the building was destroyed and at least one journalist was reported injured.

A day before the ceasefire was announced several journalists managed to gain access to Gaza via the border with Egypt. Many organisations took the decision to cross via Egypt after continued calls on Israel to allow them to cross into Gaza were ignored [RSF / CNN]. But crossing over from Egypt did not come without its hurdles and much negotiation. The first British journalist to arrive in the war torn region was the BBC correspondent Christian Fraser. CNN’s Ben Wedeman had also crossed into southern Gaza and later filed a report by telephone. Although some journalists are arriving as a tenuous ceasefire begins, they may at least be able to report on the humanitarian disaster that is beginning to take hold in the devastated region.

Gaza - Media in the firing line

The media have become the latest victim in the continuing conflict

After 20 days of violence more than 1,000 have died and over 5,000 have been injured in what some have called war crimes by Israel. But Tzipi Livni, Israel’s Foreign Minister, has defended the operation and was evasive when questioned if the bombardment would end soon.

Three Israeli civilians have died in the last three weeks and 10 army personnel have been killed. Rockets fired by Hamas continue to be fired into Israeli territory despite the military onslaught aimed at degrading the militant organisation’s weaponry. But the retaliation wrought by Israel has been called “disproportionate”. The damage to Gaza is widespread and not confined to military targets. Whether intentionally or otherwise, dozens of civilian buildings have been destroyed. A television centre has been hit and at least three hospitals have been severely damaged. Several United Nations buildings have been directly and indirectly struck by Israeli bombs and there are accusations of Israel using white phosphorus and depleted uranium [al-Jazeera / CNN / CNN].

There have been predictable condemnations from countries like Iran. However the apparent deliberate targeting of a UN compound, where Israel says three Hamas militants were hiding, has created widespread concern. Although Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologised to UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, the air strike sparked anger from UN officials on the ground. The strike destroyed food, fuel and medical supplies, much needed humanitarian aid as the crisis continues. Judy Clark UNRWA told the few reporters that are on the ground that the damage was severe and called on Israel to stop the bombing. “We have lost all our food and medicine from this fire” she said.

International media have been barred from entering Gaza and those that are on the ground run the risk of being caught up in the violence themselves. New York Times reporter Taghreed El Khodary said at least three journalists were injured when the TV centre was struck including one employed by Sky News. Four journalists have so far died according to al-Jazeera’s Sherine Tadros who broadcast a report from the stricken media centre belonging to Ramattan TV. An Abu Dhabi TV journalist and a Reuters cameraman were injured in the blast that shook the Al-Shurouq Tower shortly after an Israeli army spokesman had contacted the Reuters news agency’s Jerusalem bureau to verify the location of its Gaza bureau. Reporters Sans Frontières have called on the Israeli military to explain how the 16 storey media centre was struck by the IDF.

Despite the risks CNN’s Ben Wedeman has managed to get into the Gaza strip through the Egyptian border. Reporting via telephone from a region shrouded in darkness he said that there was no running water and that electricity had also been cut. But most western reporters remain stuck on the Israeli-Gaza border, though Sky have managed to secure two trips into Gaza with the IDF. Their reports are however censored by the Israeli Defence Force and certain scenes such as the filming of destroyed houses were prevented by their military guides.

Last week the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate end to hostilities. But both sides have ignored the call and there is no end in sight despite calls from the international community. At the UN several nations directly criticised Israel. But Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev described the statements as “deceitful”. She asked why there was no condemnation of the Katusha rockets being fired into Israel and the funding of Hamas by countries like Iran.

The conflict has not only brought criticism from politicians. Around the world there have been growing numbers of protests and calls for a boycott of Israeli products. Even bin Laden returned with a new tape release calling for a jihad [al-Jazeera]. Israel may have a right to defend itself but it will have a new war to fight in the months to come as it attempts to defend its image abroad.

Army of journalists build on Gaza border

Most reporters have been prevented from entering Gaza

After 12 days of shelling, at least 700 Palestinians have died in the Gaza strip. Israel has suffered its own casualties, but the numbers barely make double figures. Seven Israeli soldiers have been killed and three civilians have died at the hands of Hamas.


There are diplomatic efforts to end the violence but with both Hamas and the Israeli Defence Force blaming each other for the renewed conflict it will be difficult to pull the two sides apart. Last night the United Nations gathered to discuss the deteriorating situation in the region and call for a ceasefire such that humanitarian aid could flow. Israel agreed to a three hour cessation of hostilities and some aid has made its way into Gaza city. However several convoys came perilously close to being hit by Israeli shells as they travelled along a road towards the city just prior to the ceasefire coming into effect [BBC / Sky News_ / CNN / al-Jazeera].

Missiles have also landed close to journalists attempting to cover the story. Yesterday a Sky News crew were just metres away from where a Hamas rocket landed. Most media organisations have only been able to report on the border between Israel and Gaza as Israel have prevented journalists entering the Palestinian territory. A growing army of journalists and television crews have gathered in a small spot allocated by the Israeli military. As such there are few pictures coming from Gaza itself. Iran’s Press TV and al-Jazeera both have crews in the city and the Ramattan News Agency has been providing an almost constant video feed overlooking the city which Western media has occasionally dipped into. Israeli military and Hamas have also made pictures available to the media but the view they represent is far from impartial.

Impartiality is not the only victim of the conflict. Several journalists and cameramen have reportedly been injured in the ongoing violence. According to Ramattan News Agency one cameraman had died and at least three others had sustained injuries during the bombardment. Basel Faraj a cameraman working for the Algerian TV died in an Egyptian hospital after being transferred from Gaza to Egypt last week. He had been injured on the 27th of December. Three other journalists were also injured at the same location that day. They were named as Mohammad At-tannani, a cameraman, Mohammad Madhi, a camera assistant, and Khaled Abu Shammalah, another cameraman who works for the Moroccan TV. The news agency said that several Palestinian journalists were also injured over the last two weeks, one of which was a Ramattan News Agency camera assistant Ihab Al shawwa.

On the other side of the border some journalists were also experiencing various problems. While some where becoming frustrated at trying to report from the border and being constantly moved around by the Israeli military, others were being arrested and detained. Reporters sans frontières has said that two journalists have been taken into detention by Israeli police. According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, soldiers arrested Khodr Shahine, a correspondent of the Iranian TV station Al-Alam, and his assistant, Mohammed Sarhan. Both were arrested on Tuesday in Jerusalem where they are residents. They were taken to Petah Tiqva, near Tel Aviv, for interrogation and were brought before a military judge who ordered them held for another six days. According to RSF their lawyer was not able to visit them. The arrest of Shahine has only been reported by Press TV thus far. The Israeli army accused Shahine, named by Press TV as Khezir Shahin, of breaking a martial order about limited media coverage regarding the beginning of the Israel Ground Operation in Gaza.

But it is the civilian casualties that has been the focus of most western news organisations. Of the 700 Palestinians killed thus far, a third are said to be children. Three schools have been targeted in the last 24 hours, but Israel has dismissed allegations they deliberately targeted civilians saying they had information that Hamas were using the schools as bases. But John Ging, director of operations in Gaza for the UN Refugee and Works Agency, has denied any military activity at the UN run school which was struck on Tuesday leaving at least 40 dead and over 100 injured [BBC].

The targeting of the schools and the killing of so many civilians has prompted accusations that Israel has broken the rules of war. In particular some have said the 4th Geneva convention has been ignored. There have even been claims that the IDF have used weapons containing depleted uranium. The reports came from the Iranian news channel Press TV which said that fragments of the radioactive metal had been found in some of the victims treated at Gaza’s hospitals.

Speaking on al-Jazeera, Clare Short, Labour MP for Birmingham, dismissed Israeli suggestions that civilians should flee from Gaza and accused Israel of ignoring international law and of engaging in war crimes.

But most politicians have aired a far more moderate voice in the wake of all the killing. George Bush has blamed Hamas for the current crisis, but while the British have also criticised Hamas, they have called on both sides to stop the violence. David Miliband, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, who was attending a meeting at the UN last night said today, “Frankly the situation in Gaza is a crisis” and called for both sides to get around the negotiating table. But with Hamas not recognised by the United States and not being represented at the United Nations it was up to others to mediate a peace deal. French President Nicholas Sarkozy has helped draft a possible deal with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. And last night there were attempts at the UN to broker a resolution for peace. But both Hamas and Israel are unlikely to accept the current proposals. In fact the issue became even more complex as al Qaeda’s number two, Ayman al Zawahiri entered the frame calling Mubarak and US president elect Barack Obama traitors to Islam [ABC]. There is little affiliation in Gaza to al Qaeda, but the perceived injustice and disproportionate violence inflicted upon the Palestinians has become an issue which is beginning to group Islamic extremists together. Demonstrations have been seen across the world especially in Arab countries and the same rhetoric can be heard and seen. Shouts of “death to America” and even criticisms of their own Arab leaders are becoming louder and there are fears the anger may spawn terror attacks across the West. Even Britain‘s MI5 Director General Jonathan Evans has warned that the situation in the Middle East will do little to stamp out the terror threat saying “Gaza provides ideological ammunition” to terrorists. The threat may be even more deadly if Hamas obtain rockets with an even greater range than they currently possess.

This week The Times reported that Israel’s secretive nuclear facility at Dimona could be at risk if Hamas obtained long range missiles. Until recently, Hamas only possessed Qassam rockets with a range of around 10 km. But Hamas have now equipped themselves with Grad or Katusha rockets with a range of up to 40 km. Israeli towns such as Ashdod, Beer-Sheva and Yavneh that were once out of reach are now under continued attack. While Dimona remains well out of reach of such rockets if launched from Gaza, some parts of the West Bank are only 38 km from where it‘s believed Israel keeps its nuclear arsenal. Of course, the West Bank remains outside Hamas’s control, but there is the fear that even if Fatah does not ally itself with Hamas, the militants in Gaza may soon have Fajr-3 missiles in their arsenal increasing their strike range to 45 km. Not quite the 80 km needed to hit the Dimona reactor, but many Israelis believe it is only a matter of time before Hamas become equipped with something more deadly. “Maybe Hamas will get a big present from Iran or Hezbollah, a few good long-range missiles and they’ll use it,” says Limor Brina, 40, an Israeli who is in constant fear of rockets landing on her town. It is this fear that fuels the war against what many see as a terrorist organisation that wants to see Israel destroyed.

Hamas claim they are merely defending themselves from Israeli aggression and punishment. They say that Israel had not honoured the ceasefire agreement and blocked aid and supplies flowing into Gaza. Israel has said the blockades were put in place to stop the flow of weapons. But the blockade along with attacks on militants in Gaza throughout November strained tensions eventually leading Hamas to announce it would not renew the ceasefire which had been in place since July [BBC]. Although Hamas have claimed Israel began attacks on its militants, the BBC reported on the 30th October that a little known group calling itself Hezbollah Palestine had fired a rocket into Israel effectively ending the four month truce. The tit for tat that continued finally led to the full scale assault which began after Christmas.

Robert Fisk who was one of several guests speaking on the BBC World Service on Wednesday says that journalists should be able to report from inside Gaza freely. Questioning the reasons why Israel is preventing journalists from entering Gaza, the veteran Middle East correspondent who writes for the Independent asks what Israel is trying to hide. He points out in today’s paper that the war will do nothing to quell the increasing hatred of the West [Independent].

It is this hatred that is part of the reason why many Western media organisations do not have a permanent office in Gaza. The BBC pulled out of the region after one of their own correspondents, Alan Johnston, was kidnapped in 2007. Although it was Hamas who helped secure his safe release, the incident scared away most news organisations and effectively denied Gazans a voice when it mattered most. The story is now starting to drift away from the top headlines on some news bulletins. Sky News was tonight leading with a story about Britain’s cricket captain quitting the team. Europe is now more concerned over domestic issues such as the increasingly cold weather and concern over its gas supply after pipelines were shut off between the Ukraine and the rest of Europe this week [BBC]. Even those news stations which led with the story, most devoted only a few minutes of airtime compared to the saturation coverage of a few days ago. After all, a correspondent standing in a field imparting second hand reports does not make for good television.
[BBC]

Gaza - The propaganda war intensifies

Eight days of violence has left 455 dead in Gaza. Four Israelis have so far died.

As the Israeli assault on Gaza enters a second week a propaganda war has also increased as both sides attempt to air their respective points of view. On Saturday tens of thousands took to the streets in protest of Israel’s action. Singer Annie Lennox joined up to ten thousand demonstrators in London demanding and end to hostilities. Speaking at an earlier press conference she said she was “shocked to the core“ by the violence and questioned the logic of the attacks. “How is this going to be a solution to peace” she added. Some of the protesters gathered in Whitehall and threw shoes towards Downing Street, while politicians gave speeches in Trafalgar Square. Tony Ben an outspoken critic of Israel’s action in the Middle East appeared on both the BBC and Iran’s Press TV calling the bombardment disproportionate [BBC / Sky News / CNN] .

While the story remains at the top of the news agenda for all news broadcasters, Press TV is providing saturation coverage which at times verges on blatant anti-Israeli propaganda. Many of the pictures coming out of the Gaza strip are extremely disturbing. But while many broadcasters are shielding viewers from the worst of the images, Press TV has shown graphic images of mutilated and wounded civilians caught up in the violence. As dozens of injured arrived at a hospital following an Israeli air strike on a mosque, cameras captured the horrific sight of people with missing limbs. Pictures were also aired showing children lying dead on hospital floors. According to reports at least 16 were killed as they attended prayers and dozens more were injured [Sky News / CNN / Press TV].

The images of dead has angered many people around the world, but demonstrations are mostly confined to Arab countries and Europe. While the demonstrations have been covered by Sky, the BBC and CNN, the events have been given greater prominence on al-Jazeera and Press TV.

Israel has also launched its own propaganda machine by way of a dedicated You Tube channel [CNN]. On the site videos attempt to dispel the “lies and rhetoric” of its enemies. But the site has already served to increase criticism of Israel [BBC].

Iran's Press TV arrives in Europe

Press TV joins the ever growing number of news channels on Astra

Iran’s news channel Press TV has joined the free-to-air line-up of channels available in Europe via the Astra satellite [channel 525]. Along with Sky News, the BBC News channel, CNN, al-Jazeera English, France 24, Russia Today and Euro News it brings the number of rolling news stations to eight. Though not entirely geared to news coverage, China’s international station CCTV-9 also complements the ever increasing line up of world media broadcasters providing different slants to news around the globe.

As regards its global footprint CNN still provides the best coverage, even available in hotels across China where foreign media is still highly restricted. BBC World is also becoming more accessible in many countries but lags way behind that of CNN. Europe is privileged in as much as it is served by many news channels both domestic and global though some remain encrypted and are only available by subscription. MSNBC, Fox News and India’s NDTV are available on Astra but require a monthly fee.

Press TV’s coverage is in sharp contrast to that of other broadcasters. Opinion aired on the channel is often particularly critical of Israel. During some of today’s programming, a Beirut correspondent, Matthew Cassel, described coverage on CNN and the BBC as biased in respect to pictures it showed. He claimed that while the suffering experienced by Israelis at the receiving end of rockets launched by Hamas was shown, there were few pictures of the suffering endured by those in Gaza. Indeed the rolling pictures shown on Press TV have been far more graphic than those seen on other television news channels. Al-Jazeera has shown some pictures which are often described by TV anchors as ‘disturbing’, but Sky, the BBC and CNN have tended to shield viewers from the most graphic pictures. The BBC have described scenes of carnage and the condition of some victims, but pictures tend to be of destroyed buildings and long shot of distant explosions and flying F-15s.

Bardia Honardar, Press TV’s anchor, said the latest death toll was 385 and that 1,700 had been injured during Israel’s bombardment while they had suffered losses amounting to 5 dead. The numbers of dead vary between different broadcasters. The BBC and al-Jazeera are saying that there are now 360 dead in Gaza while Sky states “at least 360” have perished. Meanwhile, CNN says that the death toll has risen to 375.

Time given over the story also varies considerably. Though somewhat rambling in its coverage, Press TV is almost constant in its reporting. Al-Jazeera and CNN have given almost equal time to the story while the BBC and Sky ‘s reportage has begun to wane after four days of fighting. While it remains the top story for other channels such as RT and France 24, the coverage has dropped to only a few minutes per hour.

[CNN / Sky News / BBC / al-Jazeera / CCTV / Russia Today / France 24 / Press TV / Euronews]

Israeli strikes leave 375 dead in Gaza

Protests around the world have turned violent

Three days of violence has left more than 375 dead as Israeli attempts to destroy Hamas’s capability of firing rockets into its territory. But while Israel says it is only trying to defend itself from rocket attacks, its disproportionate response has come in for much criticism and resulted in widespread protests around the world. The United States have defended Israel’s right to protect itself and called on Hamas to stop firing rockets. But even this ally has asked Israel to act with restraint and avoid hitting civilians.

However, in a region as densely populated as Gaza even surgical strikes on military targets cannot avoid civilian casualties. There are no exact numbers, but Palestinian sources say many of the some 375 so far killed are civilians. There are also many injured and only now after three days of violence are some of the hundreds of wounded being transported into Egypt to receive emergency treatment. Meanwhile the Red Crescent has mobilized an operation to ship medical supplies into Gaza. At least 100 aid trucks are preparing to make their way into Gaza from Egypt. But providing aid is difficult and one aid ship has already run into trouble after colliding with an Israeli warship. CNN’s Karl Penhaul said two Israeli boats shadowed the aid boat Dignity before ramming it in international waters. But Yigal Palmor of the Israeli Ministry said the fact that journalists were on board the vessel indicated it was part of a “publicity stunt”. He insisted that the boat was not rammed despite damage that was evident on the boat.

While Israel’s action might be understood on one level, their bombardment may only serve to perpetuate a continuing cycle of hatred that exists across the region. Already there have been demonstrations, not only in Gaza and the West Bank but also across Lebanon, Iran and in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. There were also violent clashes with police on Sunday outside the Israeli embassy in London. Protests have also been seen in New York. In Greece which has recently seen anti-government protests, demonstrators took to streets to vent their anger towards Israel.

Ron Prosor, Israeli Ambassador to the UK, speaking on CNN said that Hamas was whipping up propaganda against Israel. He said Israel had been restrained for many years allowing Hamas to arm itself with the help of Iran and Hezbollah. He said the military action would allow Israel the ability to “degrade Hamas’s capability” and put the issue of peace back on the negotiating table. As regards the numbers of civilians killed he blamed Hamas for placing military bases, laboratories and other installations close to civilian neighbourhoods. Israel, like the US, sees Hamas as a terrorist organisation despite its having been elected in a democratic election. “Hitler too was democratically elected”, Prosor said, dismissing their legitimacy to hold power.

Israel’s PM has said the bombardment was only the first stage of an ongoing operation. Already tanks have manoeuvred into position at the border between Gaza and Israel prompting speculation that a ground offensive may follow soon.

Hamas meanwhile continues to launch attacks against its neighbour though it is unable to inflict much damage. Since Saturday despite many such rockets being launched few have caused anything more than panic on the streets of Israel. There has been some property damage but so far only four people have died including one soldier according to Israel [BBC / CNN / Sky News].

Israeli airstrikes leave 150 dead in Gaza

Despite calls from religious leaders over Christmas to end the conflict in the Middle East, the region has once again descended into violence. Israel launched a series of air strikes into Gaza on Saturday morning killing at least 145 and leaving 200 injured.

At a press conference Hamas leaders condemned the strikes and said they “held Israel responsible” for the “massacre”. Israel has said the attacks “aimed at Hamas militants” was in response to rocket attacks launched against Israel following the breakdown of a ceasefire earlier this month. The ceasefire breakdown is partly blamed on Israel's failure to open borders and allowing the flow of food, medicine and other supplies.

Major Avital Leibovitch told CNN the aerial bombardment was "in response to continued rocket attacks from Gaza" and that the operation was “just the beginning”. However, Hamas has vowed revenge for the air strikes, saying they were stronger than ever before.

Several countries have criticised the Israeli action saying it would further inflame the region. Egypt’s presidency condemned the air strikes and called for restraint. The country’s borders were also opened up to allow the wounded to be transported to at least two of Egypt’s hospitals. The Arab League called on the UN to take action, while French president Sarkozy's office called on both Hamas & Israel to halt hostilities. But while Hamas had its supporters, others struck out at the group. President Bush said Hamas should stop its terrorist activity. While stopping short of condemning Israel it did call for restraint saying the action did little to help the peace process. Speaking from Gaza, Eyhab el-Ghosain, the Hamas Interior Ministry, told the BBC that Hamas was not a terrorist organisation and was merely defending itself from Israeli aggression. The BBC cut into the Live into the interview to bring viewers a supposed Live address by an Israeli’s Foreign Minister. Tzipi Livni said Israel “had no choice” other than to respond to the continued rocket attacks launched by Hamas militants in recent days. As it turned out the statement was a “recently recorded clip”.

Hamas say that all their police compounds have been destroyed by the attacks and that civilians were amongst the dead. In Israel there is at least one fatality after a Hamas rocket destroyed a house. Two were also injured following the rocket attack on the small town of Askelon. The tit for tat aggression and the pictures that are subsequently broadcast will only perpetuate the violence.

Pictures which were relayed via television news showed scenes of chaos and destruction. Al Jazeera showed graphic scenes of a police compound were dozens of bodies lay dead and injured. CNN, the BBC and other news broadcasters were less graphic in their coverage, but in the Palestinian territories TV news was far less muted. According to BBC News, local broadcaster have showed pictures of bodies laid out in front of hospitals including many children caught up in the explosions. Sky News were broadcasting Live from the area as an explosion hit the centre of Gaza sending up a huge mushroom cloud of smoke. It was not known who or what was at the receiving end of the missile attack which was only one of at least 20 such blasts reported across the Gaza strip. In response Hamas has launched dozens of rockets into the Israeli territory though the damage inflicted is superficial. As the strikes subsided the protests started. Some called for Fatah to join with Hamas in its battle against a common aggressor. There has not been a major shift in support for Hamas, though the scenes of dead bodies and destruction has angered many in the Palestinian territories as well as Gaza. Meanwhile Hamas is continuing to call on its fighters to strike back at Israel. This conflict is unlikely to end anytime soon [CNN / BBC / Sky News / al-Jazeera].