[Transcript]  War on Gaza: Day 20 - 1/15/09

Presenter, Woman # 1
On the 19Th day of the war on Gaza, violent battles between Palestinian activists and Israeli forces continue. Israeli war planes continue to strike the Gaza strip especially in the southern area, martyring more than 1010 people. The number of the injured has reached 4700.
This comes as Al Qsam Brigades and Al Quds Brigades announced that their fighters have managed to snip two Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza. The United Nation Relive and Works Agency (UNRWA) urged the international community to protect civilians in Gaza.

Reporter, Man # 1
Last night was the harshest since the aggression on Gaza has started 18 days ago. Violent clashes erupted between resistance fighters and occupation forces which have been trying hard to advance towards residential areas. They intensified their shelling with phosphorous bombs in Gaza, which caused a large number of Palestinians to suffocate and caused many homes to burn.
The number of the martyrs has reached 1000 and it continues to rise due to the continued escalation.

Guest, Man # 2
The number of the martyrs is 980, almost one thousand. The number of people that were injured has reached 4700. Of course these large numbers have exhausted the medical teams and the health ministry which was already depleted of supplies before the aggression had started.

Reporter, Man # 1
Israeli war planes hit many targets in the Gaza strip including the cemetery of Shiekh Radwan, in the north. F 16 plane launched hit the cemetery with a missile destroying graves and dispersing the bodies of the martyrs who died recently during the aggression. It seems as if the Israeli aggression in Gaza does not even spare the dead.

Guest, Man # 4
They hit mosques homes, neighborhoods, the resistance fighters and now they are hitting the dead, the martyrs. Are they afraid of the martyrs; are they terrorists. Who is the terrorist, are we terrorist? Let the world watch and see. We do not want anything. May God be our witness and he is the greatest.

Reporter, Man # 1
Israeli war planes have not stopped; they have targeted the border areas in southern Rafah city with dozens of Bunker-busting missiles in order to destroy the tunnels. A number of homes of Palestinians civilians were destroyed, leaving them homeless without shelters. Their homes are now pile of rubble.

Guest, Man # 5
What did we do to deserve this? We are civilians; we have children. What did they do to deserve this? What crime have we committed against Israel? We do not have missiles and we have never launched missiles. We do not have missiles to begin with.

Reporter, Man # 1
Palestinians predict that Israel will intensify the bombing against all kinds of targets before the ceasefire agreement which may take effect on Friday night or Saturday morning. For Al Madar program, Awled Abdel Rahman, Abu Dhabi Channel Gaza.

Reporter, Man # 1
It seems that things are going slowly, but this is not the reality on the ground. What does Hamas look like to you?

Soldier, Man # 2
They look like rags to me. They do not look like real soldiers.

Reporter, Man # 1
What did you see?

Soldier, Man # 2
Even if they have a hierarchy and a real commander, they are not a real army. Every time we engage, we kill them.

Reporter, Man # 1
Here we go from house to house, and it is a slow search. Then we walk 200 meters and suddenly there is a Palestinian sniper that is shooting.

Soldier, Man # 2
Quick…quick…quick…run from the back side. Stay under cover. Is anyone wounded?

Reporter, Man # 1
This is a classic fight. In an open field…suddenly a sharpshooter shoots. The evacuation process is an attempt to get them out. The shooting continues, but more forces arrive to give us backup. They start shooting at the building they identified.

Commander, Man # 3
We are next to the house. We do not want to leave before we understand what is happening. We are continuing with the chase.

[Summary]

Defense Minister Ehud Barack, who is seen here on a visit today to a naval base in Ashtol this morning, held talks with Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon this afternoon. Barack told him that Hamas uses Gaza’s citizens as human shields and that Hamas gunmen fired at IDF soldiers inside and around UN compounds. The defense Minister added that IDF troops respond to Hamas’ fire and will continue to respond to any attempt to harm Israeli soldiers. The Labor leader added that the army is doing everything in its power to prevent civilian casualties. Barack told Ki-Moon that the IDF will offer UN humanitarian organizations all the necessary assistance.

Presenter, Male #1
On the 20th day of the war on Gaza, Israeli artillery, air and sea attacks continue. Al Jazeera correspondent added that today was the most violent day since the begging of the attacks.

Presenter, Female #1
The attacks have become very dangerous, for they have attacked the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, the Red Crescent center and a building that belongs to international media. The attacks also penetrated deeply into Gaza. The battle is now going on between the Palestinian resistance and the occupying forces that are trying to enter from several different ways.

Presenter, Male #1
There is news that tens of victims were killed in Tel Al Hawa. And hundreds are surrounded and under siege.

Presenter, Female #1
The number of Martyrs so far today is 37 and tens were injured. Now the total number of martyrs since the beginning of the war has reached 1070. From that number 335 were children, and 80 women.

Presenter, Male #1
The number of wounded is approximately 5000, half of which are children and women. The Israeli military has admitted that 20 rockets have hit southern Israel in the past few hours.

Presenter, Female #1
The Palestinian resistance has said that they have fired more than 25 rockets. They also added that they fired tens of mortar shells at Israeli force basis in Gaza. They also fired RPJ rockets at tanks and weapon machinery.

Presenter, Male #1
They fired explosives, and shot several Israeli soldiers. This resulted in the killing a wounding several Israeli soldiers.

Reporter, Male # 2
This is how Gaza appeared on the 20th day of the Israeli war on the Gaza strip. Bombs from tanks have reached the middle of the city, after the Israeli military entered Tel Al Hawa.
The tanks faced Palestinian resistance, even though the nature of the area that has many buildings makes it harder to resist. The tanks moved forward, firing bombs that are said to be phosphorous. These bombs have filled the sky of Gaza with dense clouds of smoke, and burning gases. Random shelling reached some buildings where Arab and international media headquarters are present. The UN head quarters and the Jerusalem hospital that belongs to the Palestinian Red Crescent were also hit with shelling shrapnel. As for this apartment, in this building, was bombed by a random shell from an Israeli tank. It really affected the residence.

Guest, Female # 2
We live on the 10th floor and it was hit. We were just sitting at home, and we had no idea what happened. We don’t know what to do or what to say. The only thing I can say is that there is no one to rely on but God.

Guest, Female # 3
What are we going to do? We have no one but God. We are so scared. We can only rely on God.

Reporter, Male # 2
This situation has obliged many civilian to leave their home and apartments. They are looking for places that are safe in unsafe Gaza strip.


Guest, Male # 3
As you can see all these people ran away from their homes. We have no where to go, there is no longer any safe place in Gaza. The street is not safe, even if we left our home and came to the street we will be in danger.

Reporter, Male # 2
Tel Al Hawa neighborhood was not the only stage for battles. The battles continued in the North, south and East of Gaza. During these battles the Israeli Air force did not stop firing at all. Using the language of war, Israel tries to impose their conditions in order to have a ceasefire. This means that Gaza will witness continuous bloody scenes before reaching any political solutions. Tamer Al Mishal, Al Jazeera, Gaza, Palestine.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
The picture in Israel is unclear, but in Gaza, it reveals all the details. The European Medical delegation described the hospitals in Gaza as tragic, which summarizes the difficult situation of the Medical body in Gaza since the beginning of the Israeli offensive. But in spite of their limited capabilities, the hospitals have kept their doors wide open to receive the thousands of wounded people flooding in. With their humane message, they continue to challenge the Israeli bullets of cast lead. Zuheir Saqallah reports from Gaza.

Reporter, MALE, #1
They crossed over borders, surpassing obstacles and throwing themselves in the middle of a war that knows no mercy. They headed to Gaza, taking responsibility for their own lives; their road will certainly be filled with fire, and their days will mix with the moments of death lived in Gaza.
They came as supporters before they were volunteers in attending to the wounds of the Gazans.
Doctors and nurses from Arab and foreign countries heeded their conscience, after seeing the images that speak of the massacres in Gaza.

Guest, MALE, #2
With the military might and the unjust attacks against these people, it is impossible for their Arab brothers not to support them from every corner of the world. Coming here to help is the least thing we can do.

Reporter, MALE, #1
Every minute, Gaza screams for help, calling on the world to stop the crimes. The occupation planes care for nothing, striking without mercy, while the tanks bomb homes to demolish them, killing and injuring everyone around.

Guest, MALE, #3
In light of Arab disagreement, Israel’s operation is escalating the situation on the ground to convey the message of: You have to accept the Israeli demands and sign on it.


Reporter, MALE, #1
With every Israeli rocket, the circle of disaster surrounding the Palestinians expands. Meanwhile, attempts at incursions by land are met by the resistance. Violent clashes obstruct the tanks from getting closer; which in turn explode with rage, pouring their lava onto everyone. The offensive is expanding by the day, and the political maneuvers in Egypt are intensifying to stop the firing.
The Palestinians hope that these maneuvers will be swift, without causing them additional suffering. Zuheir Saqallah, Dubai TV, Gaza.

Presenter, Female #1
In a meeting for Israel’s security cabinet, the Israeli government decided to continue its military operation in the Gaza Strip. Over 900 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands of others have been wounded since Israel launched its offensive more than two weeks ago. According to Israel’s state-run radio, the Israeli security cabinet said it will continue the aggression in the Gaza Strip until it’s able to bring change to the security situation along its southern borders.

Reporter, Male #1
Accuracy in the aiming at “LEGITMATE” targets, with the word legitimate is put in between quotation mark, deserves the commendations of Israeli military leaders. This news comes after Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, commended his air force pilots for their ability to accurately aim and hit targets he described as “Legitimate.” Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff for the Israeli Army, Gaby Ashkenazi, is making sure these days to appear before media cameras, covering the aggression on Gaza. According to Israeli political analysts, Ashkenazi’s war on Gaza is politically motivated because it gives him a ticket to enter the political life in Israel.
Israel’s Minister of War, Ehud Barack, is also capitalizing on the bloody aggression in the Gaza Strip, as confirmed by media sources in Israel. Through the war on Gaza, Barack is trying to bring the Labor Party back to the political frontline in Israel.

Guest, Male #2, Barack
I talked with leaders of our army reserve units: They are willing to carry out their duties in the Gaza Strip.

Reporter, Male #1
These cities in the Negev Desert have been turned into a training ground for Israeli army reserves. Reserve units of the Israeli army are being trained on combat operations before joining the third phase of the Israeli bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Guest, Male #3
It was a very hard fight. We have used massive hostile fire. We have used every thing in our power during this battle.

Reporter, Male #2
This Lieutenant Colonel in the Israeli army talked about the details of what he described as “a battle.” However, what has been described as “battle” is being described by international law as “armed invasion” on the homes of civilians. Despite this, the international law has not so far helped meet the hunger of a crying child or treat an injured civilian.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, Parliament Member in the Palestinian Legislative Council, Mustafa al-Barghuthi, has called on human right institutions in Palestine to document all accounts of war crimes and violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip. During a press conference in Ramallah, al-Barghuthi, said that an international investigation committee must be quickly formed to probe Israel’s violations in Gaza.

Guest, Male #4, al-Barghuthi
We would like to make two calls: First, all Palestinian based institutions, especially those affiliated with Civic Society Organizations, must record accurately Israel’s violations. We must also help these institutions form a national committee to gather data and record it thoroughly. This will help pave the way for an actual international investigation. Second, we are demanding for an immediate international investigation committee, which may be formed jointly or appointed by the UN Secretary General. Once again, an international investigation committee must be formed to investigate and document in details all accounts of war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza.

Presenter, Female #1
Palestinian politicians have condemned the statement of Avigdor Lieberman, chair of the far-right Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) who proposed to deal with Gaza in the same way the US has dealt with Japan during World War II. They said Lieberman’s remarks are a living proof on the deliberate targeting of civilians in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces.

Reporter, Male #1
“From Hiroshima to Gaza:” this is not the opening stanza of a poem in tribute of the river of blood overflowing in the Gaza Strip. However, it was a call made by one of the most extreme far-right leaders inside the Israeli Entity. The chair of Yisrael Beitenu party, Avigdor Lieberman, said that Israel must deal with Gaza in the same way the US has dealt with Japan during World War II. With this, Lieberman whose party is expected to achieve major progress during the upcoming general elections, helped unveil Israel’s political mask of its war on Gaza. The burning bombs, which are being dropped on Gaza, are not targeting fighters of the resistance, as claimed by Israel. However, they are targeting anything believed to be moving on the ground.

Guest, Male #2
When Lieberman cites what the US did in its war against Japan, it’s an indication that he approves of US action and he is on the same page. With remarks like these, Lieberman has shown a political parallel between the Zionist entity and the US imperialism, and their roles in international terrorism. The US has tried in the past, through General MacArthur, to hit North Korea with nuclear weapons.

Reporter, Male #1
The racist calls by ministers of the Israeli entity to annihilate the people of the Gaza Strip was followed by yet another Israeli resolution, calling for the ban of Arab political parties in the 1948 occupied territories. The Central Election Committee in the Israeli Entity issued a resolution calling for the disqualification of the United Arab List and the Arab Coalition List from running in the upcoming general elections. This latest Israeli move undermines the notion of a democratic state claimed by Tel Aviv.

Guest, Male #3
The attacks on Arab citizens and the attempts to keep them out of political work and limit their practice, in terms of what is allowed and what is not, is a sign of weakness rather than a sign of strength. A country that is confident about itself and its political conduct will not resort to these types of limitations, especially when claiming to be a democratic state.

Reporter, Male #1
These blatant fanatic calls launched inside the Israeli entity prove that the occupation is still trapped in its cycle of defeat. This news comes despite Israel’s heavy bombardments of the Gaza Strip and despite the killings of hundreds of Palestinian martyrs.

Guest, Male #4
Israel is telling us that it can’t live separately from its principles of terror and racism. It feels that it needs to be a terrorist state in order to survive. This contradicts the efforts exerted by some in the Israeli society to change this notion, whether it was a fact or a myth.

Reporter, Male #1
The slogan of peace adopted by the Israeli Left, which some Arab politicians have frequently praised, has gone forever. Will they sing one day to the political tunes of the Israeli Right?
Nearly a decade ago, when Avigdor Lieberman started to launch his extreme ideology in the Israeli entity, the Arabs were betting on the so called the “Peace Now Movement.” However, what can the Arabs do today, especially considering that a whole orchestra is playing the same radical tune played by Lieberman? Faris Sarfandi, Alalam, the occupied Palestinian territories.

Presenter, Woman # 1
The Ruling National Democratic Party in Egypt strongly condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza and supported the position of the Egyptian government which has been trying to end the aggression against the Palestinians.

Presenter, Man # 1
A parliamentary meeting for the ruling party’s representatives was held today under the title, “Gaza Meeting: the meeting of Anger”.



Reporter, Man # 2
The meeting reflect sense of responsibility and the realization that the struggle of the Palestinian propel can’t be done by words and yelling, rather through serious work and true support to the Palestinian plight which has taken a dangerous turn of events due to the internal Palestinian division. The Gaza meeting at the Egyptian parliament was in support of the Palestinian people.

Guest, Man # 3
Allow me to ask where is the Palestinian plight now? It was reduced to bunch of tunnels and the Rafah crossing. I’m sorry to say that the Palestinian plight which the Arabs have fought for in the past decades, has suffered a set back. Some may say what about the huge demonstration in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and even in the US. This is true, but this is only a humanitarian and emotional support. The political support to the Palestinian plight has notably weakened.

Reporter, Man # 1
The vision of the ruling National Democratic Party is consistent with the position of the Egyptian government which has called for ending the Israeli aggression immediately. The Egyptian government also called on Hamas and other Palestinian factions to accept the Egyptian initiative for peace. Egypt also called on the international community to support the intuitive which deals with all aspects of the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

Guest, man # 4
The unequivocal positions of the ruling party reflect the traditional principles of Egyptian people.
During this meeting which we called the “Gaza Meeting, the Meeting of Anger and Hope”
The party of course is led by the two leaders Dr Abdel Ahad Gamal Al Dean, and Dr Muhamd Raja who represent the ruling party at the two parliament branches. The meeting was held almost exclusively based on the desire of the parliament members. Of course we expressed our principles in a statement which was released at the end of this meeting. The statement of course expresses our anger towards the Israeli aggression and condemns it.

Reporter, Man # 1
The attendees reiterated that the Palestinian plight can’t be reduced to the issue of the crossing points and that the mass demonstrations are humanitarian in nature an that they will not be transformed into political support.

Guest, man # 4
Of course the situation is tragic, and the ones who are primarily suffering are the people in Gaza especially ordinary people such as women, children and the elderly. They do not have direct relation to what is happening.

Guest, man # 5
Regardless of how much time has passed; today, tomorrow, one year later or 100 years later, the rights of the Palestinians must be returned. All of us as people and Parliament members must stand behind the political leadership in Egypt and support the initiative of the Egyptian president Mubarak because he is the only one who is feeling the fire. I do not know why the people around us have taken this position. We support President Mubarak.

Reporter, Man # 1
Egypt does not do things in the dark and it does not make side deals. This situation is unfair.
The ones that do things are accused of not doing enough. Egypt is the only country that provides political support to the Palestinian plight. Feelings are same towards the unjust Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. The Egyptian parliament reiterated their support to Gaza and stressed their support to Arab, international and Egyptian efforts that have been exerted by President Mubarak to stop the aggression. Egypt has proven many times that its positions towards the Palestinian plight are unequivocal and they are above everyone. From the Egyptian parliament, Fauzy Gadalh, Nile News Channel.