Remembering The War Hamas Declared On Israel--3 Days Before Operation Cast Lead

Three days before Israel's Operation Cast Lead on December 27, 2008--Hamas declared war on Israel:
From Ma'an:

Hamas: 87 shells fired at Israeli targets in 24 hours

Published Thursday 25/12/2008 10:19

Gaza - Ma'an - The military wing affiliated to Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades released a statement on Thursday morning briefing the group's military activities over the first twenty four hours of an operation they called "Oil Stain" which started Wednesday morning.

According to the statement, a total of 87 shells have been fired at Israeli targets bordering the Gaza Strip including 54 mortar shells, 31 homemade projectiles which Hamas calls "Qassam", and two Soviet-made Grad missiles.



Al-Qassa Brigades threatened to enlarge the "Oil Stain" to get more thousands of Israelis "under fire". The group asserted that its fighters are "far greater than surrendering to Israeli threats and that they became much more prepared to counter Israeli aggression and to defend themselves than in the past."

In a different regard, Hamas announced death of six of its activists on Tuesday and Wednesday in Israeli airstrikes.[emphasis added]

Of course, this does not match up with the false narrative that the mainstream media has adopted and continues to propagate.

Today, the news media trumpets that Israel started the Gaza war:

Palestinians mark the second anniversary of a devastating war Israel launched on the Gaza Strip in December 2008, which claimed the lives of hundreds of Gazans.

The fact is: while Israel started Operation Cast Lead on December 27, 2008--Hamas commenced its operation "Oil Stain" on December 24, 2008.

Israel started Operation Cast Lead.
But Hamas initiated the Gaza War.

So when you read about how Palestinians commemorate the Gaza war and the Arab lives that were lost, just keep in mind that it was Hamas that started that war--
and then spent most of the war hiding under a hospital while Gazans were left without bunkers to hide in.

This point was originally made by Elder of Ziyon at the time here and here.
Also see his post today.

See also: A Myth In The Making: Israel Broke The Cease-Fire On November 4, 2008

Technorati Tag: Gaza War and Gaza and Hamas and Operation Cast Lead.