A day of chaos in the Gaza strip as Israeli warplanes unleashed a furious attack against security
installation in the Hamas-ruled territory killing more than 200 people and wounding more than 400.
Hamas security forces made up most of the dead but Palestinian official said at least 15 civilians
were also killed.
Israel says the assault aims to stop a barrage of rocket and mortar attacks by militant Palestinians
that have traumatized Israel's southern region during the past week. And the offensive comes eight
days after a six month truce between Israel and Hamas expired. As hundreds of ground troops headed for
the Gaza border in preparation for possible ground invasion, Israel warned it might go after Hamas'
leaders. However, Palestinian militants struck back firing rockets that killed one Israeli and wounded
a number of others.
The unprecedented assault sparked protests and condemnations throughout the Arab world and the Arab
League will discuss the situation at an emergency meeting Sunday. Elsewhere many of Israel's western
allies are calling for calm. The Bush administration is urging for restraint as well but a spokesman
for the president blamed Hamas for the fighting saying quote you can't have one foot in politics and
one foot in terror.
Carlotta Bradley, The Associated Press
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* strip : 조각
* warplane : 군용기, 전투기
* unleash : (감정 등을)폭발시키다[against, on]
* security force : 보안군
* assault : 맹공, 강습, (말에 의한)심한 공격, 비난
* barrage : <군사> 탄막, 집중 포격[사격], (질문 따위의)집중 공세
* mortar : 박격포
* militant : 호전적인, 병사
* traumatize : ~에 외상을 입히다, ~에 정신적 충격을 주다
* offensive : 공격
* truce : 휴전, 정전, 휴전하다
* expire : 만기가 되다, 만료되다, ~을 배출하다
* strike back (at): (~에) 반격하다
* unprecedented : 전례가 없는
* condemnation : 비난
* elsewhere: 어딘가 다른 곳에서
* ally : ~와 동명을 맺다, 동맹
* restraint : 억제, 제지
