Abbas: Israeli raid 'a massacre' [View All]

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has described as "a masscre" Israel's latest deadly incursion into the Gaza Strip which left 17 Palestinians dead.

At least 50 Palestinians were also injured in the military operation on Tuesday which had started the previous night while US president George Bush was in Saudi Arabia.

David Chater, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Jerusalem, said: "Apache helicopter gunships, armoured bulldozers, tanks and ground troops were all involved in this incursion.

"There are also reports of another incursion in the industrial zone near the Erez crossing."

Incursion 'a massacre'

Israel's incursion came a week after Bush said he wanted a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians by the end of his presidential term at the end of 2008.

Hamas officials blamed Bush's presence in the region for the violence.


Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, has reportedly ordered a series of such "sharp and short" incursions, into Gaza and the West Bank.

Abbas said on Tuesday: "What happened today is a massacre, a slaughter against the Palestinian people.

"Our people cannot keep silent over these massacres. These massacres cannot bring peace."


EDITED TO INCLUDE SOURCE:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0787158A-D180-44F4-9327-7BE8DBBB197D.htm