Gaza truce holding but Israel's Netanyahu under fire at home

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"> <br /></h1> <div class="relatedRai" id="relatedInlineVideo"> </div> <div id="slideshowInlineLarge" style="clear: both; margin: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; width: 580px;"> <div class="photoControls" id="photoControls" style="bottom: 20px; height: 31px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 580px; z-index: 3;"> <div class="photoNav" style="float: right; height: 31px; margin: 0px; position: relative; right: 15px; width: 62px;"> <div class="photoControls_inner" style="height: 31px; margin: 0px 4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3px;"> <a href="" id="prevButton" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-top: 2px; outline: none;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img height="31px" src="http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/btn_articleslide_previous.png" style="border: none; outline: none;" width="25px" /></span></a><a href="" id="nextButton" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin-top: 2px; outline: none;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img height="31px" src="http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/btn_articleslide_next.png" style="border: none; outline: none;" width="25px" /></span></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-displayer" id="displayFrame" style="float: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 580px;"> <div class="yui-sldshw-active yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 580px; z-index: 2;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic0" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSKBN0GM11320140827#a=1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Palestinians leave a United Nations-run school sheltering displaced Palestinians, as they make their way home after a ceasefire was declared, in the east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip August 27, 2014. REUTERS-Ibraheem Abu Mustafa" id="image0" src="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140827&t=2&i=967759666&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=378&r=LYNXMPEA7Q0H1" style="border: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 593px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic1" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 593px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSKBN0GM11320140827#a=2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Palestinian fishermen pull their net at the beach of Gaza City August 27, 2014. An open-ended ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and the Palestinians held on Wednesday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced strong criticism in his country's newspapers over a campaign in which no clear victor emerged. REUTERS-Mohammed Salem" id="image1" src="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140827&t=2&i=967759667&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=378&r=LYNXMPEA7Q0H2" style="border: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic2" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic3" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic4" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic5" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic6" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic7" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic8" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic9" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSKBN0GM11320140827#a=10" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum (C) is carried by Palestinians as they celebrate what they said was a victory over Israel following a ceasefire in Gaza City August 26, 2014. REUTERS-Mohammed Salem" id="image9" src="http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140827&t=2&i=967437735&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=378&r=LYNXMPEA7Q02C" style="border: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="rolloverCaption" id="captionContent" style="bottom: -1px; clear: both; float: left; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: -10px; padding-right: 20px; position: relative; width: 600px !important; z-index: 2;"> <div class="rolloverBg" style="background-image: none; clear: both; float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; width: 610px !important;"> <div class="captionText" style="height: 60px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px; position: relative;"> <div style="padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="label" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;">1 OF 10. </span>Palestinians leave a United Nations-run school sheltering displaced Palestinians, as they make their way home after a ceasefire was declared, in the east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip August 27, 2014.</span></div> <div class="credit" style="margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">CREDIT: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> <div class="module" id="relatedVideo" style="float: left; margin: 0px 0px 20px; width: 140px;"> <div class="moduleHeader" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border: medium none; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; width: 140px;"> <h3 style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">RELATED VIDEO</span></span></h3> </div> <div class="moduleBody" style="float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 140px;"> <div class="feature" style="background-image: none; 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float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Reuters) - An open-ended ceasefire in the Gaza war held on Wednesday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced strong criticism in <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/israel?lc=int_mb_1001" style="cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Israel</a></span> over a costly conflict with Palestinian militants in which no clear victor emerged.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the streets of the battered, Hamas-run Palestinian enclave, people headed to shops and banks, trying to resume the normal pace of life after seven weeks of fighting. Thousands of others, who had fled the battles and sheltered with relatives or in schools, returned home, where some found only rubble.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/israel?lc=int_mb_1001" style="cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Israel</a></span>, sirens warning of incoming rocket fire from the Gaza Strip fell silent. But media commentators, echoing attacks by members of Netanyahu's governing coalition, voiced deep disappointment over his leadership during the most prolonged bout of Israeli-Palestinian violence in a decade.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"After 50 days of warfare in which a terror organization killed dozens of soldiers and civilians, destroyed the daily routine (and) placed the country in a state of economic distress ... we could have expected much more than an announcement of a ceasefire," analyst Shimon Shiffer wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's biggest-selling newspaper.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We could have expected the prime minister to go to the president’s residence and inform him of his decision to resign his post."</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Netanyahu, who has faced constant sniping in his cabinet from right-wing ministers demanding military action to topple Hamas, scheduled a news conference for Wednesday evening, expected to be his first public remarks since the Egyptian-mediated truce deal took effect on Tuesday evening.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Palestinian health officials say 2,139 people, most of them civilians, including more than 490 children, have been killed in the enclave since July 8, when Israel launched an offensive with the declared aim of ending rocket salvoes.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Israel's death toll stood at 64 soldiers and six civilians.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The ceasefire agreement called for an indefinite halt to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/egypt?lc=int_mb_1001" style="cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Egypt</a></span>, and a widening of the territory's fishing zone in the Mediterranean.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A senior Hamas official voiced willingness for the security forces of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the unity government he formed in June to control the passage points.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Both Israel and <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/egypt?lc=int_mb_1001" style="cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Egypt</a></span> view Hamas as a security threat and are seeking guarantees that weapons will not enter Gaza, a narrow, densely populated territory of 1.8 million people.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Under a second stage of the truce that would begin a month later, Israel and the Palestinians would discuss the <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/sectors/industries/overview?industryCode=46&lc=int_mb_1001" style="cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">construction</a></span> of a Gaza sea port and Israel's release of Hamas prisoners in the occupied West Bank, possibly in a trade for the remains of two Israeli soldiers believed held by Hamas, the officials said.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Israel has in recent weeks said it wants the full demilitarization of Gaza. The United States and European Union have supported the goal, but it remains unclear what it would mean in practice and Hamas has rejected it as unfeasible.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">COMPETING VICTORY CLAIMS</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"On the land of proud Gaza, the united people achieved absolute victory against the Zionist enemy," a Hamas statement said.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Israel said it dealt a strong blow to Hamas, killing several of its military leaders and destroying the Islamist group's cross-border infiltration tunnels.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Hamas's military wing was badly hit, we know this clearly through unequivocal intelligence," Yossi Cohen, Netanyahu's national security adviser, said on Army Radio.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But Israel also faced persistent rocket fire for nearly two months that caused an exodus from a number of border communities and disrupted daily life in its commercial heartland.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"They are celebrating in Gaza," cabinet minister Uzi Landau, of the far-right Yisrael Beitenu party in Netanyahu's coalition, told Israel Radio. He said that for Israel, the outcome of the war was "very gloomy" because it had not created sufficient deterrence to dissuade Hamas from attacking in the future.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nahum Barnea, one of Israel's most popular columnists, expressed concern "that instead of paving the way to removing the threat from Gaza, we are paving the road to the next round, in Lebanon or in Gaza".</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The Israelis expected a leader, a statesman who knows what he wants to achieve, someone who makes decisions and engages in a sincere and real dialogue with his public," he wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth. "They received a seasoned spokesperson, and very little beyond that."</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ben Caspit, writing in the Maariv daily, said there was no victory for Israel in a conflict that resulted in "a collapsed tourism industry (and) an economy approaching recession".</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Israel's central bank has estimated the conflict will knock half a point off economic growth this year.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But with future diplomatic moves on Gaza's future still pending, there was no immediate talk publicly among Netanyahu's coalition partners of any steps to break up the alliance.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a further sign of the truce's impact, Egypt eased restrictions at the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, allowing World Food Program supplies containing a shipment of 25,000 food parcels into the coastal territory for the first time since 2007, a statement by the humanitarian group said.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Israel has regularly permitted food and other humanitarian goods to be shipped into Gaza across its border, during the latest fighting as well. A government website says 5,359 truckloads of goods have transited the Kerem Shalom crossing with Gaza since July 8, the day the seven-week conflict erupted.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Israel has said it would facilitate the flow of more civilian goods and humanitarian and reconstruction aid into the impoverished territory if the truce was honored.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But, Cohen said: "(Hamas) will...not get a port unless it declares it will disarm. It will not get even one screw unless we can be sure it is not being used to strengthen Gaza's military might."</span></div> <span id="articleText" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span id="midArticle_start"></span><span id="midArticle_0"></span><span class="focusParagraph"></span><span id="midArticle_1"></span><span id="midArticle_2"></span><span id="midArticle_3"></span><span id="midArticle_4"></span><span id="midArticle_5"></span><span id="midArticle_6"></span><span id="midArticle_7"></span><span id="midArticle_8"></span><span id="midArticle_9"></span><span id="midArticle_10"></span><span id="midArticle_11"></span><span id="midArticle_12"></span><span id="midArticle_13"></span><span id="midArticle_14"></span><span id="midArticle_15"></span><span id="midArticle_0"></span><span id="midArticle_1"></span><span id="midArticle_2"></span><span id="midArticle_3"></span><span id="midArticle_4"></span><span id="midArticle_5"></span><span id="midArticle_6"></span><span id="midArticle_7"></span><span id="midArticle_8"></span><span id="midArticle_9"></span><span id="midArticle_10"></span><span id="midArticle_11"></span><span id="midArticle_12"></span><span id="midArticle_13"></span><span id="midArticle_14"></span></span><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <span id="midArticle_15"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <span id="midArticle_16"></span><br /> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said 540,000 people had been displaced in the Gaza Strip. Israel has said Hamas bears responsibility for civilian casualties because it operates among non-combatants and uses schools and mosques to store weapons and as launch sites for rockets.</div> </div>

Gaza truce holding but Israel's Netanyahu under fire at home

1 OF 10.  Palestinians leave a United Nations-run school sheltering displaced Pale...

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Yesterday's Clash in Zaria: 3 sons of Zakzaky were killed during Friday's clash between Shiites & soldiers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLrbfauTPwJPx-4mjwswPHchPp26fb6v-VPWpmEpMQIGUmS4BWGCwWp-rhUfw2Q51wpvdgUgy70zYa0-LzEiXZ4m9-UtzORX1uWehmyK7GgqKq2Z9DmmOyEDpYQ5M7FgSdEfQuelppxA/s1600/1.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;" width="166" /><span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24e-5Q6ZKHSjEuLxa20RM6P0Ulz1njOR9SHChgLCpqC1W-pKYODt3PWD0kQFoH7D6gwM5r1gF4C53ntLLowc5uR488UiT-aZi9gefW9vjy12cfuTDp8B_BXfkGM753EJfAnvRJBSx7aE/s1600/2.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;" width="146" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxQKxIMJvkQtm0xrLOJMITcxichHOB6rM7VBDeUQ9xPtPtP5LbWUDNjoj5BqfhXFymYWxvGV7jRrP3TF-6DKdtGTJwBgc_O5Vc_43_s7adjSObSpUoFrlfXUYMZ0jLpsgsQ8tYmi04Ng/s1600/3.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;" width="160" /></span></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yesterday I reported that one son of Sheikh Ibraheem El Zakzaky, who led the Shiite protest in Zaria after Friday prayers, was killed after the Islamic group clashed with Nigerian soldiers. (read <a href="http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2014/07/sheikhs-son-5-others-killed-as-police.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a>). It turns out two more sons of the leader of the Shiite group were killed. H<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">ameed, Mamhud and Ahmed Zakzaky (pictured above) were allegedly killed by Nigerian soldiers in Zaria. </span></span><br /><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The </span></span>Shiite Muslims released a statement alleging that 10 of their members were killed yesterday during their march in Zaria, Kaduna in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. They said among those killed were Sheikh Zaksaky's three sons, a nursing mother and child and two other women.<br /><br />They claim that security agents arrested three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky, and later shot two of the three men in detention. Find the press statement after the cut...<br /><br /><a href="" name="more"></a></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIK9Z361Umgsign0_8JkzhKMge51KRo_9H9mEv-f6EvDxKukorXAQwKYjW-lbTMygWQzpsM4uVJg2RGjlx2D-1DdTaZGrFSbXy9F9NXz6rT-cWHc7d2gIZlO5HAm6apEuy0YFJvfB76Q/s1600/10525648_10152165408312703_423101393781397222_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIK9Z361Umgsign0_8JkzhKMge51KRo_9H9mEv-f6EvDxKukorXAQwKYjW-lbTMygWQzpsM4uVJg2RGjlx2D-1DdTaZGrFSbXy9F9NXz6rT-cWHc7d2gIZlO5HAm6apEuy0YFJvfB76Q/s1600/10525648_10152165408312703_423101393781397222_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIApUQ-D3J8L2Czwl5pnso7rQ_LnDuB5DbquZ7s7UvIuzeGwtxoAhntDq0QnE6FTF8kpT9ryt8EMl6Bq1b5EmoSNt_FcO_c1tt2FRZ6tvGabSQWqgVwEeh-BJOmUcldVP2HYSZv1PGlak/s1600/10525780_10152165408307703_3011780298949620727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIApUQ-D3J8L2Czwl5pnso7rQ_LnDuB5DbquZ7s7UvIuzeGwtxoAhntDq0QnE6FTF8kpT9ryt8EMl6Bq1b5EmoSNt_FcO_c1tt2FRZ6tvGabSQWqgVwEeh-BJOmUcldVP2HYSZv1PGlak/s1600/10525780_10152165408307703_3011780298949620727_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />WE CONDEMN THE UNWARRANTED ATTACK ON MUSLIM BROTHERS IN ZARIA<br />Friday 25-07-14 is a sad day, akin to a black Friday, in which some security agents of the federal republic of Nigeria, soldiers by the khaki they wore, gunned down, as at the time of writing this press release, 10 Innocent fasting Muslim brothers, who were peacefully voicing their discontent with the unfortunate massacre of Palestinians by Israel.<br />Zaria residents are a witness to the peaceful nature of the procession which took off from Sabon Gari Jumaat mosque up to its termination point at Kofar Doka, Zaria City. Nobody was molested let alone his property. In fact the leader of the procession was delivering his speech, when some soldiers attacked the participants of the procession who were at PZ Junction in Zaria.<br />In the ensuing melee, 10 people were killed by the soldiers, 40 were shot and now receiving treatment. And among the killed is a Muslim Sister together with her child on her back and the son of Sheikh Zakzaky, Mahmud Ibraheem Zakzaky. Also among those shot by the soldiers are two Muslim sisters.<br />Not only that, the soldiers went away with 3 children of Sheikh Zakzaky, namely Ahmad, Hameed and Ali. As of now their whereabouts is still unknown.<br />We vehemently condemn this vicious atrocity committed by the soldiers on us. Why should we be attacked? Who did we provoke during the peaceful procession? Who authorized this attack? Who participated in the attack among the soldiers? These are some of the questions the security operatives in the state need to answer us and the public.<br />Also we demand the unconditional release of Sheikh Zakzaky's children in soldiers’ custody and other Muslim brothers they might be holding. And should anything happen to them, we will hold the authorities responsible!<br />This is not the first peaceful procession carried out by Muslim brothers in Zaria. In fact due to its peaceful nature residents in Zaria don't consider it as an unusual event that calls for caution.<br />Another proof of the peaceful nature of the procession is the fact that it was staged today in Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Potiskum, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, and many other towns in Northern Nigeria and all ended peacefully. So why should the one in Zaria be an exception? The authorities should explain.<br />The casualty figures might increase, God willing we will keep the public informed of the Transgressor in Nigeria.<br />Signed<br />ABDULHAMID BELLO<br /><br /></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwmLhwGZwrbpWzLWXvxdHcRE8dY0u_qgPKypnHxQdYeMQWimiLanUEStpEFXL6YiMjk-gzPi1aIdd4exQnq7ZErlPDbxA6dtqxhD9JDHhEv-ymhHq2JsM6V93wovEM20_DPuzl7NBEKg/s1600/10559775_10152166175537703_5619459823806680870_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwmLhwGZwrbpWzLWXvxdHcRE8dY0u_qgPKypnHxQdYeMQWimiLanUEStpEFXL6YiMjk-gzPi1aIdd4exQnq7ZErlPDbxA6dtqxhD9JDHhEv-ymhHq2JsM6V93wovEM20_DPuzl7NBEKg/s1600/10559775_10152166175537703_5619459823806680870_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded pull-right clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description">Ali Zakzaky sustained bullet wounds, now receiving treatment in the hospital </span></span></span></span><br /><br />Photo credit: Sahara Reporters </span></div>

Yesterday's Clash in Zaria: 3 sons of Zakzaky were killed during Friday's clash between Shiites & soldiers

Yesterday I reported that one son of Sheikh Ibraheem El Zakzaky, who led the Shiite protest in Zaria after Friday prayers, was killed aft...

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