GAZA – In a move sure to reduce civilian casualties, Israeli officials called on Gazans to “stop agreeing to act as human shields for Hamas militants.” Gazan residents like Ali Kamal, who initially signed up himself, his pregnant wife, grandmother and two toddlers to serve as human shields are reconsidering their options. “What the Israeli are saying make much sense. I at first agree for my family to be human shield but now I think I am not agree to that anymore.”Ehud Olmert has gone on record saying "You - the citizens of Gaza - are not our enemies. Hamas is our enemy." In response Gaza City resident Abu Al-Awadhi says he “will immediately move my family to a part of Gaza with no Hamas,” though he wasn’t sure quite where that might be. Ali Radwan went one step further and tried to flee with his family into Egypt but was turned back by Israeli gunfire. “I can see why the Israelis do not want that I leave Gaza and I can also see if I get hit by rocket in Gaza it is just my own fault.”
Gaza residents are also coming out in support of the blockade of all humanitarian aid. Miriam El-Haddad, mother of three who was sheltering under an overpass in Jabaliya after her apartment building was destoyed, told reporters through an interpreter that “going without food, water and medical care for my children is the least I can do for the people of Israel while they get this thing with Hamas worked out.”
As rockets fell and the ground invasion got underway, military spokesperson Maj, Avital Leibovich reassured the citizens of Gaza saying, “We have no intention of harming civilians.” Mohammad Idris, speaking from a makeshift morgue said this was a great comfort to him. “When you lose your entire family in an air strike it really softens the blow to know it was just a mistake.”
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