Israeli occupation forces carried out an operation that lead to the death of 14 Palestinians, 12 of whom, innocent civilians, were killed by an Israeli missile fired at a crowd of Al-Amal neighborhood residents. Israel used apache helicopters, more than two dozen tanks and armored vehicles in a raid which took place in the early morning hours. Israeli troops fired assault rifles and machine guns into Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, where hundreds of Palestinians had gathered to learn about the fate of relatives, injuring dozens more including a 14-year-old boy hit in the neck and a paramedic wounded in the chest. More than 100 have been reported injured 10 of which are in critical condition.

Israeli security officials called the operation "very important" and "obligatory." The attack comes ten days before Ariel Sharon's expected visit to the United States, this attack also comes at a time when EU representative Javiar Solana is on a Middle East tour and is due to meet with Palestinian and Israeli officials in the region. This escalation by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his extremist government is part of a sinister pattern aiming to topple and undermine all peace efforts, setting the trap through inflaming hatred and provoking revenge in hopes to jump-start the cycle of violence.

The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) urges the Quartet to take active, complete and immediate steps in order to protect the Palestinian people from the horrors of Israel's militaristic measures and policies. The United States must unequivocally act and not only condemn the horrific attack which is being praised by the Israeli officials. Sharon's government is directly responsible for the deaths of many innocent Palestinians and Israelis. This is a tried method in entrapment with the specific aim of inciting and inflaming anger. The current Israeli government is explicitly aiming to pre-empt and undermine any efforts of ending the violence.

MIFTAH urges all institutes of civil society, human rights groups, and governments of the international community to break the silence and take real steps to end Israel's aggression against a captive Palestinian population. We call on the UN Security Council to ensure its resolutions 242, 338, 194, 1403, 1435 and to hold responsible parties accountable before the international community. Israel's state terrorism must be brought to an end by the courage and will of humanity.

Names and Ages of the Victims:

#	Victim's Name	Age
1	Abdel Fatah Ali Asaloot	40
2	Raheema Hasan Salama	50
3	Haytham Mousa Abu Naja	27
4	Osama Ali Abdeen	23
5	Jamal Fathee Mohareb	18
6	Ihab Helmi Khalaf	22
7	Ahmad Abdel Ra'ouf Al-Astal	17
8	Mohammed Hasan Al-Astal	15
9	Ayman Mohammed Saqer	35
10	Adullah Waleed Sabbah	16
11	Fares Abdel naser Al-Zagzoog	17
12	Mohammed Mostafa Sadeq	20
13	Mohammed Farhan Shaloula	23