Deadly fighting on Gazan border

Israeli troops have killed four Palestinian militants in a gunbattle on the Gaza border, Palestinians say. Witnesses in Hamas-controlled Gaza said the fighting broke out after Israeli armoured vehicles crossed into the territory near Khan Younis. The Israeli army said its soldiers were trying to stop militants attempting to plant a bomb near the security fence. Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas agreed a truce in Gaza five months ago but fierce fighting resumed last week. The four militants, who witnesses said were all from Hamas, were pronounced dead at Nasser hospital in southern Gaza Strip. An Israeli army spokeswoman said: “This morning, the Israeli Defence Forces identified armed gunmen attempting to place an explosive device near the security fence in the central Gaza Strip.” “Throughout the exchange of fire a number of mortar rounds were fired at IDF forces and an explosive device was detonated.” “The IDF force identified hitting four gunmen. Grenades and various weapons were found on their bodies,” the spokeswoman added. Blockade The renewed violence on the Gaza border came as Israel said aid deliveries to the territory would be dependent on a sustained calm. Israel has kept its border crossings closed since clashes last week when it staged an armed incursion into Gaza and Palestinian militants responded with a barrage of rocket fire.

Gaza shut to fuel and journalists Guide: Gaza blockade

Israel allowed fuel shipments to resume on Tuesday, after the only power station in the territory ran out of fuel, but food and other humanitarian supplies have not been transferred to Gaza for eight days. On Tuesday, the UN said it was running out of food aid because of the Israeli blockade and described the situation as “shameful and unacceptable”. A spokesman for the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, called the blockade “a physical as well as a mental punishment”. Unrwa distributes food to about half of Gaza’s 1.5 million inhabitants. The lights came on again late on Tuesday in Gaza City, which depends on the plant for most of its power, but there were frequent cuts. Engineers had been planning to turn on one of the three working turbines at the plant and the others when more fuel arrived. The power station provides nearly a third of the Strip’s electricity. Most of the rest comes from Israel.

 

Why only Indians (Gambhir)

In a shocking development, Match Referee Chris Broad (England) banned in-form batsman Gautam Gambhir for one test match for his on-field spat with Shane Watson during the ongoing test match in Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. To add insult to injury, Broad imposed a fine of just 10% of match fee on Shane Watson, although he started the altercation and provoked Gambhir to fall into the trap. He was not even reprimanded.

Match referee Chris Broad (England) favoured Kangaroos while hearing the on-field spat between Gautam Gambhir and Shane Watson. While Chris Broad imposed a fine of 10% of his match fee on Shane Watson, he went on to ban in-form Gautam Gambhir for one test match, who has been tormenting the Australians in the series by his brilliant batting display. The one test match ban means Gambhir won’t be playing in the fourth test match in Nagpur.

Gambhir has already scored one double century, one century and two half centuries in this series. It is shocking that Watson was let off with a mild punishment, even though he started the fight and provoked Gambhir to get into the brawl. It could be an “error of judgement” on the part of Chris Broad or “intentional”. It’s an irony that Indian and Pakistani players are always punished harder than Australians and English players. The Australian players always start the fight, but get away with mild punishment because of these umpires and referees who are always biased in favour of Australians.

It is not immediately known what course of action BCCI will take on this matter. The public sentiment has turned against the Australians and white match officials. Leading Indian cricketers have condemned the ban on Gambhir and ridiculed the 10% match fee fine on Shane Watson. Ironically, Zaheer Khan was fined 50% of his match fee during the Mohali Test for the same offence.

The issue is likely to be snowballed into a major controversy, thanks to irresponsible and biased hearing of a match referee. While nobody gives Gambhir a clean chit, there is no doubt that punishment meted out to him is harsh as compared to that of Shane Watson. In addition, the match referee should have pulled up the Kangaroos for provoking Indian players without any reason. Dear Aussies, play well to win. Sledging and dirty tactics of provocation won’t help you to win against the formidable Indian side. You are no longer World Champion, admit it or not….