CAIRO: Protests in Egypt have been called to support Palestinians facing an assault in Gaza by Israel. A ground invasion is expected, Bikyamasr.com's reporter on the ground said after three Israeli civilians were killed in rocket attacks on Thursday morning. Egyptian activists have called for solidarity protests in front of the Omar Makram mosque in Cairo's Tahrir Square early this afternoon and another demonstration to be held at 4 PM in front of the Arab League building. Early Wednesday evening, Israeli forces launched “Operation Pillar of Defense", striking over 20 sites across the Gaza Strip and assassinating Ahmad Jabari, Hamas military chief known mostly for his role as the brain behind the 2005 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel's Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told army radio that “there is no escaping...a military decision on Hamas in Gaza." The Popular Resistance Committee (PRC) has vowed to avenge Jabari's death, stating that Israel “opened the gates of hell" with the assassination. The PRC spokesperson urged “cowardly settlers" to flee to shelters or be buried in their homes. PM Netanyahu stated that 20 percent of the total Israeli population lives under the threat of rocket fire from Gaza. Israeli officials claim the latest round of fighting began when Hamas launched an anti-tank missile on an Israeli military jeep. Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, both of whom took credit for the jeep attack, claimed Israel started the conflict when it killed a Palestinian child during an incursion in Gaza last Thursday. “Operation Pillar of Defense" is the largest offensive on Gaza since the 2008 Gaza War. Three Israeli civilians died on Thursday morning in a rocket strike on a home in southern Israel. At least 11 Palestinians died in Israeli airstrikes since Wednesday afternoon. As of present there are no reports that a ground invasion is underway, though several outlets are reporting heavy Israeli airstrikes on densely populated areas in Gaza. In a press statement released on Thursday, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called the Israeli attacks on Gaza “crimes” and said the aggression threatens regional stability. It also criticized the United States for supporting Israel and blamed Arab countries for “doing nothing while watching the bloodshed in Palestine.” The Egyptian government, it argued, should cut ties with Israel as an example for other Arab and Muslim nations. Anti-Israeli sentiment is growing exponentially as more and more bombs fall on Gaza, killing and wounding dozens.
