Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 5, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a4 a 4 Winnipeg free press monday january 5, 2009 top news Winnipeg repress. Com g Aza City Gaza strip Anas Mansour sleeps in his Street clothes in a South Gaza refugee Camp with his id in his pocket so he can flee quickly if fighting gets worse. In Gaza City the 10 members of the Karam family huddle in their hallway at night kept awake by artillery fire booming outside. And in the Central Gaza refugee Camp of Nus Seurat Munir Najar said he Only had another Days Worth of flour to feed his family of seven but ventured out to find streets deserted and shops closed. Theress not a loaf of bread to be found said Najar 43. As israelis offensive moved from air strikes to artillery shelling and ground fighting a zaps civilians Are increasingly exposed to the violence. At least 64 civilians including three medics have been killed since Israel launched its ground invasion saturday evening Gaza health officials said. More than 500 palestinians have been killed since the operation began dec. 27, at least 100 of them civilians say palestinian and in officials. In the same period three israeli civilians and two soldiers have been killed. Israel says the offensive Aims to Stop Hamas from firing rockets at the jewish state and its air strikes target Only Hamas installations and leaders but bombs have also destroyed or damaged adjacent houses. Lubna Karam of Gaza City said air strikes had shattered her Homes living room windows Days before letting cold air pour in. She said she feels under threat at All times and her family has taken to sleeping in the hallway for safety. We keep hearing the sounds of air planes and we dont know if Well live until tomorrow or not said Karam 28. Mansour 21, of the Rajah refugee Camp on the Gaza Egypt Border described watching his Neighbour pile a mattress and blankets on a Donkey cart to flee but Hadnot decided if head do the same. Where can we go its All the same Mansour said. The latest fighting came at the end of an Ever tightening blockade of the Seaside territory imposed after the violent Hamas takeover of Gaza in june 2007. The Borders were virtually sealed in the last two months leading to shortages of cooking Gas and Basic foodstuffs. Israel says there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza noting that it has continued to allow supplies into the territory. But the israeli human rights group Gisha said israeli air strikes have left a zaps water and sewage system on the verge of collapse. About one third of the 1.4 million residents Are Cut off from the water Supply and 75 per cent of Gaza is currently without electricity including the territory yes largest Hospital Shifa the report said. Shifa has backup generators. Meanwhile the in chief has urged the divided Security Council to try to bring a speedy end to the escalating crisis in Gaza. Ban i Moon says he will meet on monday with Arab ministers flying to new York to press for a Resolution demanding an immediate end to the violence. The associated press by Ibrahim Barzak and Ben Hubbard shells Boom Gaza civilians huddle in fear water scarce rights group we keep hearing the sounds of air planes and we dont know if Well live until tomorrow or not Lubna Karam of Gaza City Gaza City Gaza strip thousands of israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships surrounded a zaps largest City and fought militants at close Range sunday the first full Day of an overwhelming ground offensive in the coastal territory. Israel said it has inflicted a heavy blow against Hamas As it expands a we Klong offensive meant to Stop rocket fire on Southern Israel. But spiralling civilian casualties among palestinians fuelled an International outcry even As the u. S. Blocked approval of a in Security Council statement saturday night calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israelis ground forces moved in after Nightfall saturday following hours of intense fiery artillery shelling to Clear the Way and Hamas warned its fighters would turn Gaza into an israeli graveyard. On sunday israeli soldiers fought primarily in open areas in the launching zones used by a zaps militants to Send rockets raining Down on israeli cities. As the troops in three brigade size formations moved in residents of those israeli cities began cautiously emerging from bomb shelters in Hopes the rocket fire would taper off. Backing up the troops Mobile artillery units fired shells that exploded in veils of White smoke Over a zaps Urban Skyline. Tanks pushed South of Gaza City As deep As the abandoned settlement of Netz Arim which Israel left along with other communities when it pulled out of Gaza in 2005. That effectively Cut off Gaza City the territory yes largest population Centre with some 400,000 residents from the rest of Gaza to the South. Israelis military chief said Hamas fighters were trying to draw soldiers deeper into a zaps sprawling densely packed Urban areas where the military said militants were shielding themselves behind civilians. You entered like rats Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan told israeli soldiers in a statement on a amass al Asa to. Gaza will be a graveyard for you god willing he said. Israeli forces have not yet entered Urban areas said Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu the chief army spokesman. He warned however that the operation was not a school trip and would be Long and demanding. The ground invasion risks turning into intense Urban combat with Housetop House fighting sniper fire and Booby traps. Hamas is believed to have some 20,000 gunmen. To guard against hidden explosives israeli forces moved through Fields and Orchards with bomb sniffing dogs. Canadian foreign affairs minister Lawrence Cannon urged renewed International Diplock efforts to achieve a ceasefire starting with the halting of All rocket attacks on Israel. The associated press strips largest City surrounded spa Wood b. C. Heres to the boys. Two thousand mourners shouted out that phrase in unison sunday in a vocal tribute to eight snowmobiles who were swept to their deaths in a string of avalanches a week earlier. To the strains of bagpipers mourners filed into the local hockey Arena where the photos of the eight men stood on a makeshift stage. Through the tragedy and tears a Celebration of the lives and the passions of the men came shining through. Smiling pictures of Daniel Bjarnson 28, Kurt Kabel 28, Warren Rothel 33, Kane Rusnak 30 Thomas Talarico 32, Blayne Wilson 26, Michael Stier 20 and Michaels 45 year old father Leonard Stier lined the Back of the podium at the spa Wood recreation and Leisure Centre. Brand new Arctic cat snowmobiles were proudly displayed on each end of the podium As the Community embraced the fact snowmobiling was a passion for the men who died after a series of fearsome Snow slides in a mountainous Bac country area named Harvey Valley. My daddy is sled is faster than your daddy is sled proclaimed a Childs t shirt displayed at a table containing memories of Warren Rothel. There were also a snowmobile helmet gloves and a plaque that noted the one who Dies with the most toys wins. A poem called our passion for snowmobiling filled the Back Page of the program. We Are men feeling wild and free. Is this not the Way its supposed to be were like eagles yet flying through Snow the poem reads. We laugh together we Tell Good jokes we talk about memories from the past because we Are friends we Are snowmobiles. Models of snowmobiles trophies countless photos and other cherished treasures completed the displays for the victims. You were my Best Friend and my soulmate. I want to Tell you that you were a Man that left an impression on every ones heart said Amy Morrow who read a letter to her husband Blayne Wilson. I wanted to grow old with you but unfortunately someone has different plans. Blayne i will keep living and walking in your footsteps for the rest of my life she said softly. For Danny Bjarnson there were Calgary flames Memorabilia and a certificate congratulating him for winning a Gold medal in boxing at the 1995 b. C. Games. Brianne Jaegli spoke of her life Long Friendship with Michael Stier and the fact he had been snowmobiling since he Learned How to walk. He would come to me and give me the biggest most comforting hug. There was times when even if he had a really Busy Day he would Lay with me for hours rubbing my Back if i was sick and talking to me she said choking Back tears. He was my Best Friend my Anchor and my Safe spot. I will miss him so much but i will think of him every Day and he will not be forgotten. A group of 11 snowmobiles was hit by repeated slides up to five metres in height that came thundering Down the slope at 150 Kilometres an hour. Jeff Adams James Drake and Jeremy Rusnak made it out to safety after digging themselves and each other out of the hard packed Snow sometimes with just Bare hands. The three survivors were forced to make what Adams called a gut wrenching decision to leave their entombed friends behind in the unstable area where there had already been several avalanches. Do not accept the blame of the ignorant who have not walked a mile in your boots pastor David Purdy told them. The Canadian press Ashraf Amra / the associated press palestinians help a woman wounded during the israeli army operation into Shifa Hospital in Gaza City sunday. Jonathan Hayward / the Canadian press spa Wood b. C. Mayor David Wilks Centre addresses memorial service for Avalanche victims sunday. Town celebrates memory of eight killed in slides Jonathan Hayward / the Canadian press spa Wood mourners remember the eight town residents who perished in series of avalanches a week ago. By Bill Graveland israeli troops tanks Advance a 04_ Jan 05 09. Ind a4 1 / 4/ 09 10 05 34 pm ;