Israel Seals Gaza Borders, Continues Attacks on Trapped Population

This is an Action Alert from the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.

Three days after killing at least 20 Palestinians in helicopter and tank attacks on the Gaza Strip—and just one week after President George W. Bush met in Israel with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other top officials—Israel on Friday, Jan. 18 ordered all border crossings into Gaza temporarily closed as it continued its deadly attacks on more than 1.5 million Palestinians already denied food, clean water, electricity and medical supplies. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced that the transfer of medicines and humanitarian aid into Gaza now will be allowed “only in exceptional circumstances.”

Washington Report Gaza correspondent Mohammed Omer sent the following e-mails in a 35-minute period:

Israeli Warplanes just bombed pal Ministry of Interior in Gaza NOW. I’m there. More killings. M
—Jan. 17, 4:05 p.m.

Blood and flesh. 20 people just killed in the ministry now…. More bombing. M
—Jan. 17, 4:20 p.m.

Bomb from Israeli F16s hits a wedding close to the ministry. Many [victims] are children and women. M
—Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m.

Just now. Blood and flesh. 20 people just killed in the ministry of interior and a wedding now. More bombings are called today. M
—Jan. 17, 4:40 p.m.

[Read more →]