Palestinians recall Gaza invasion

Palestine: Thousands of Palestinians living in Gaza Strip recalled on Sunday the first anniversary of the devastating Israeli military offensive against the territory, committing themselves to keep fighting the occupation and Zionist blockade.

The mass rally was held in the area surrounding the Palestinian Legislative Council, destroyed by the bombings, and led by Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) leaders. The sirens went at 11:20 am on Sunday, at the same time that the Israeli air force started bombing a police facility, killing at least 30 police agents and wounding a larger number of them.

UN figures show that during the 22 days of land, air and sea attacks around 1,400 Palestinians died and about 5,300 were wounded, but Hamas assured the victims were 1,600, mostly civilians, and 450 of them were children.

Women and children were crying during the commemoration ceremony, remembering the death of their loved ones, due to the aggression, while leaders of the Islamic militia reiterated their willingness to defend this Strip.

Independent politician Mustafa Barghouti, from the Palestinian National Initiative, criticized Israel for not allowing entry of material to rebuild the infrastructure ruined, including about 1,000 houses, besides public and civilians buildings.

The aggresion, which is recalled as one of the darkest episodes in the Palestinian history, was interpreted in Gaza as an example of Hamas and its people’s capacity to resist, because the Islamic group continues to have control of this territory and is supported by other organizations.

Gaza, Prensa Latina