Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez slams ‘savage’ Israeli attacks on Gaza

“Another savage aggression against the Gaza Strip has begun. Once again, Israel is bombing the Gaza Strip,” Chavez told a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Chavez, a strong critic of the Tel Aviv regime and the US, expelled the Israeli ambassador to Venezuela to protest against Tel Aviv’s assault on Gaza in 2009.

Over 20 people have been killed and more than 160 others injured in the new wave of attacks since November 14.

On Thursday, at least 20 airstrikes were conducted against the besieged Palestinian territory. The attacks targeted central Gaza and the southern city of Rafah and the northern city of Beit Hanoun.

In retaliation, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the resistance movement of Hamas, said they had shot down an Israeli drone in the east of Gaza City. They said the drone was pounding the area when it was hit by anti-aircraft artillery.

Meanwhile, the Israeli regime called up 30,000 army reservists for a possible ground invasion of the coastal sliver following an announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the military was preparing for a “significant widening” of its attacks against the Gaza Strip.

At least one Israeli was injured in the city of Be’er Sheva in the latest round of return fire by Palestinian resistance fighters.

The Israeli regime frequently carries out airstrikes and other attacks on the Gaza Strip, saying the acts of aggression are being conducted for defensive purposes. However, in violation of international law, disproportionate force is always used and civilians are often killed or injured.