TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A group of influential conservative Iranian clerics launched an online registration drive on Monday seeking volunteers to fight against Israel in response to its air assault on the Gaza Strip. About 3,550 people registered Monday with the Combatant Clergy Society's Web site. The weeklong online campaign gives volunteers three options on ways they can fight Israel: military, financial and propaganda.
The group, which has considerable political and economic power in Iran, did not provide further details on the program including how it would contact the volunteers or implement the program.
The conservative clerics decided to sign up volunteers after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree on Sunday that said anyone killed while defending Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip against Israeli attacks would be considered a martyr.
Khamenei's religious decree was not considered a government decision and did not oblige the government to launch attacks against Israel.
Israel's airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have sparked outrage in Iran and throughout the rest of the Muslim world. About 300 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded since the air assault began Saturday. Israel says it launched its campaign in retaliation for rocket fire aimed at civilians in southern Israeli towns.
Also Monday, the Iranian Red Crescent sent a ship carrying 2,000 tons of food to Palestinians living in Gaza to be delivered via Egypt. An Iranian military plane also landed at Cairo International Airport carrying 24 tons of food and medicine destined for Gaza.
The head of Iran's Red Crescent, Masoud Khatami, said three more ships were waiting to be loaded with humanitarian aid, and Iranian hospitals were ready to receive injured Gazans, according to the official Iran news agency, IRNA.
An Israeli naval ship shot on Tuesday a small boat carrying international activists with aid destined for Gaza under Israel siege, agencies said.
There were no reported casualties from the shooting involving the small cabin cruiser "Dignity" that sailed from Cyprus late on Monday. One passenger said nobody was hurt.
Free Gaza Movement told Reuters their boat, carrying 3 1/2 tons of medical aid with 16 people aboard, was rammed and shot at while in international waters about 70-80 miles off Gaza by Israeli naval vessel.
Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, denied there had been any shooting, he said the two ships made "physical contact".
Palmor said that an Israeli vessel "clashed with the ship."
Israel said the Free Gaza Movement boat would be prevented to dock in the Gaza Strip.
A passenger on the Free Gaza Movement boat said it was now trying to reach Lebanon after the shooting.
"The boat was hit on its left side. There is a problem with the fuel and we are trying to head to Sidon," said Katia Christodoulou, a photographer for the Cyprus News Agency.
Free Gaza Movement said their boat was safe, but had sustained damage.
Israel declared the coastal territory a "closed military zone" after it launched air attacks on Gaza on Saturday, killing nearly 400 Palestinians.
Hospitals were already facing shortages of medicines and other medical products due to the Israeli siege imposed after the Hamas government seized full control of the territory in 2007.
As well as more than three tons of aid, the Dignity was carrying three doctors to help treat the more than 1,600 wounded in recent days.
Comments:
Where is the Egyptian Navy? Why can't Egypt at least provide escort to relief vessels?
We must not forget that Israel seized the Gaza strip from Egypt in the 1967 war. Therefore, Egypt bears a special responsibility and the greatest duty to protect and assist Palestinians in Gaza.
But what can we say when a 79 year old hypocrite (rather kaafir) can rule over and control 75 million Muslims!
Last edited by islamirama; 12-30-2008 at 05:26 PM.
Two International Human Rights Activists witnessed the killing of two young girls in Beit Hanoun this morning. A young boy was also seriously injured in the attack.
The two girls, one four years old, the other twelve years old were killed as they took out garbage from their home. The deaths came as Israeli missiles destroyed an agricultural co-operative, a PFLP community centre and a police station in the Beit Hanoun area.
"It is impossible to avoid civilian casualties in a densely populated area. No one is safe from the Israeli air strikes. I saw two girls, ages 4 and 12 hit by a bomb from an F16. They were outside clearing some rubbish around their homes. The 4 year old girl died and the 12 year old girl was being taken to the hospital on a donkey cart. The people of Gaza have nothing left from the ongoing siege: there is not even an ambulance to take a child to the hospital. There is no excuse in dropping bombs on Gaza, as civilian deaths are unavoidable. The reality for the children of Gaza will not change until there is international pressure on Israel to end the bombings and the ongoing siege." - Ewa Jasiewicz (Polish/British) - Free Gaza Movement
.....
i think the numbers r upto almost 400 now. its really sad none of the sunni nations say anything and iran is the one supporting them. shame on the muslim leaders
It's sad indeed but i feel hamas are to blame aswell for what has happened to their own people. They are using the public as their shield then showing anger when they are killed or hurt.
The israelis are yet to recieve $30 billion worth of military aid over the next 10 years. This is overt, declared, unwavering american military and political support for the massacres of the palestinians.
The silence of the international community is revolting.
Palestine Red Crescent Society announced a tentative list of urgent Medical needs.
To maintain its humanitarian services in Gaza Strip PRCS is working out an appeal to touch on the direct needs in Gaza, a taskforce from both the headquarter and Gaza branches have been formed to quickly gather information and form a project document that covers the medicines, disposables and humanitarian needs, beside ambulances to evacuate and transfer patient, as well facility repair. A tentative list of urgent Medicines and disposables is attached.
More than 315 dead and 1,000 seriously injured, these figures are sure to rise with more air strikes imminent and a possible ground assault in the coming days.
18 months of an existing blockade and a lack of vital medicines has resulted in hospitals being unable to cope with the overflow of dead and injured people.
Human Appeal International (HAI) has been working in Palestine for over 15 years and is currently distributing vital emergency relief through its offices in the Gaza Strip to help those that are worst affected.
HAI has launched an urgent Gaza Appeal. We need to respond to this human catastrophe immediately.
I really want to send money, but I live in the Netherlands. I have zero experience as to sending money abroad. I'm afraid it would be lost. I would hope that I can send money to some RELIABLE organization in this country?
I really want to send money, but I live in the Netherlands. I have zero experience as to sending money abroad. I'm afraid it would be lost. I would hope that I can send money to some RELIABLE organization in this country?
Thank you very much bro! Now I can donate money as often as I want inshallah. Giving money/helping Muslims in need is mentioned in the Quran even more often than performing salat. Why do we Muslims forget this? It's called infaq in the Quran. I actually want to start a thread on this issue. Why don't we place much more importance on infaq, which Allah (swt) repeatedly asks us to do? I know Muslims who never give charity, but perform the salat and think they are the best Muslims
Last edited by Argamemnon; 12-31-2008 at 03:08 AM.
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