Israel retaliates for continues rocketing of Israeli citizens from Gaza 

News summary from combined sources.

Livni: Israel is doing what is necessary to protect its citizens (Haaretz)
	Barak: We must do everything it takes in order to return the quiet (Haaretz)

Israeli Air Force strike Hamas Gaza compounds. Israel will expand operation if needed

Barak: We have hit 150 Hamas militants in Gaza

 Israeli Air Force planes  destroyed Hamas security headquarters in Gaza City, and compounds, police stations and ports across the Gaza Strip. Several Hamas commanders were killed in the bombardment of a Hamas military passing-out ceremony. Among them was a police chief Tawfiq Jabber.

 The United States on Saturday urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties in its strikes, but did not call for an end to the offensive, essentially signaling its support for the operation.

The White House said for the violence to end, Hamas must stop rocket attacks into Israel.

Map:  Gaza and Israel http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Hamas and other Palestinian factions have ordered its "fighters to avenge Israeli attacks."

The Israeli military spokesman said the Gaza operation is "just beginning." An Israeli official said all Air Force planes had returned safely to base but the operation carried out in response to Palestinian terrorist attacks would be expanded and intensified if needed. They went into action a second time Saturday against missile teams which hit killed a woman in Netivot and bombarded Ashkelon from northern Gaza.

Egypt has condemned Israel for its military attack and mobilized its rescue and medical services in Sinai, including hospitals for aid to casualties for the Israeli air bombardment of Gaza. Egyptian ambulances are standing by at the Rafah crossing to transport wounded Hamas operatives.

Defense minister Ehud Barak has placed Sderot and locations surrounding the Gaza Strip on an emergency footing.

The Israeli air attack launching some 40 missiles began 11.00 a.m. local time Saturday, Dec. 27, eight days after Hamas terminated the informal Gaza ceasefire by showering missiles and mortar rounds on Israel day by day and targeting 200,000 civilians.

Last week, the Israeli cabinet gave the Israeli military the green light for reprisals as Palestinian missile attacks escalated, 13 mortar rounds fired Friday, when Israel allowed 90 trucks of food and medicines to cross into the Gaza Strip.

Since Israel evacuated the Gaza Strip in 2005, the Palestinians have fired 5,000 missiles.