Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has apparently launched a new audio message calling for jihad, or holy war, against Israel for its campaign in Gaza.The message is "an invitation" from bin Laden to participate in "jihad to stop the aggression against Gaza."
The audio message was posted on a radical Islamist Web site known for publishing statements by bin Laden. The voice was similar to the recordings that bin Laden has in the past.
The last time bin Laden released an audio message was in mid-May, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Israel. Message urging his followers to liberate Palestine.
Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza on December 27 to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel. The death toll in Gaza was on the verge of 1000, including over 300 children, according to Palestinian medical sources.
The Israeli toll stood at 13, including three civilians.
Bin Laden, whose approximate age is 51, is head of the Al Qaeda terrorist network which was responsible for the September 11 2001 attacks on the United States that killed 2751 people.
Bin Laden has been in hiding since the U.S. assault on Afghanistan that followed the 9 / 11 attacks. The U.S. government is offering $ 25 million reward for information leading to the capture of bin Laden.
President Bush, whose term ends next week, told that it remains optimistic that bin Laden is.
King asked Bush ", are never going to find bin Laden?"
"Yes, of course, absolutely we will find bin laden." Bush said. "We have a lot of people out there looking for him, a lot of assets. You can not run forever."