The Israeli Terrorism Continues in Gaza as Body count Reaches 205 and hundreds injured

– A second wave of airstrikes is raining down on the Gaza Strip, after a first strike killed at least 205 Palestinians and injured at least 340 others on Saturday afternoon. Medical sources say most arriving to Gaza City hospitals in “pieces.”

Military factions responded by sending projectiles into Israel, killing one man and injuring five in Netivot.

Palestinian medical sources described at least 80 of the wounded as arriving to hospital in “pieces,” and Head of Emergency and ambulance department in the Ministry of Health Muawiya Hassanain confirmed that medical crews were still pulling dozens from underneath rubble.

Hassanain sent a plea to all Arab governments to send medications and operating supplies to Gaza, saying most of the injured were too badly injured to be moved outside the Strip. Hospital corridors are filled with bodies and gurneys, and local morgues have run out of space.

Anyone with mild or moderate wounds has been sent home and refused follow-up treatment.

Israeli strikes targeted de facto government buildings; one Hamas source told Ma’an that “every de facto security building was targeted.” Confirmed casualties include Commander of the de facto Government Police Tawfiq Jabir, Governor of the Al-Wusta (central) Districts Ahmad Abu Aashur and Commander of Security and Protection Services in the de facto government police Ismail Al-Ja'bari.

Islam Shahwan, a Hamas police spokesman, said that the attacks destroyed most of the police headquarters in the Gaza Strip and that a police graduation ceremony was being held during the assault.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared the 20 square kilometers of Gaza a “special military zone.” The classification is one degree below a declaration of total war against an enemy state. The announcement was made Saturday morning.

Palestinian projectiles

Following the first wave of airstrikes Gazan militants fired projectiles towards the western Negev town of Netivot. One projectile made a direct hit on a civilian home, killing one man and injuring five others, one seriously.
Palestinian homemade projectiles were reported to have landed Ashkelon and Kiryat Gat.

Hamas response

Following the first wave of airstrikes Hamas has ordered its militant wing the Al-Qassam Brigades to respond “by any means necessary.”

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called for a massive response to the airstrikes and a renewal of operations within Israel. He also asked Palestinians to “remain patient in light of these Israeli crimes.”

Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batsh said that the Israeli attack amounts to “open war” against Palestinians, intended “to put down the resistance.”

Al-Batsh condemned international and Arab States for their “silence on such massacres.” He also swore that what had happened “would never make the resistance factions surrender.”

Palestinian protests in West Bank

As the news of the massive Israeli attacks in Gaza spread across the West Bank, demonstrations erupted in Ramallah’s city center and the Ad-Duheisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem.

Mass rallies are planned in Bethlehem for Saturday evening; groups are calling for supporters to rally at Manger Square where just two days ago thousands gathered for Christmas Eve celebrations.

Rallies are also being prepared for Ramallah, Hebron and Tulkarem.