Tuesday, 30 December 2008


First rockets hit Beersheba, Israel calls up 2,500 more reservists

December 30, 2008, 9:51 PM (GMT+02:00)

This call-up order raises the number of reservists Israel has mobilized for the Gaza operation to 9,200. Beersheba, capital of the Negev and 40 km from Gaza, was attacked for the first time by two improved Grad rockets Tuesday night, Day 4 of the Israeli operation. One hit an empty nursery school. There were no casualties.

Beersheba is the largest town (250,000 population) and the most distant from Gaza ever to come under rocket attack. 
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Day 4 of Israeli operation: Israel military, Shin Bet deny recommending 48-hour truce

DEBKAfile Special Analysis

December 30, 2008, 7:33 PM (GMT+02:00)

Hamas missiles fly towards Sderot

Hamas missiles fly towards Sderot

According to earlier reports, Israeli leaders were considering a two-day truce proposal for which France is pressing. Tuesday night, Dec. 30, the IDF spokesman issued a strong denial of any such recommendation by the military or the Shin Bet.

As the rate of Hamas launchings climbed to 30 Tuesday night, Israel conducted a second round of air strikes against Hamas' smuggling tunnels on the Philadelphi border with Egypt.

In Hamas' first public statement, a masked spokesman read out a "Jihad Letter, which said: "The sea of Gaza will run dry before Hamas surrenders." 
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