BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT CALLS ISRAELI ATTACK ON GAZA A MASSACRE
Brasilia, 3 Shawwal 1435/ 30 July 2014 (MINA) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has described the ongoing Israeli offensive against the population of the Gaza Strip as a “massacre”. The bombardment and invasion has so far killed 1,085 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians.
Rousseff was speaking during a forum organised by Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper. “What is happening in Gaza is dangerous,” she said. “I do not think it is genocide, but I think it’s a massacre,” Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Wednesday.
Last week, the Brazilian foreign ministry condemned the “disproportionate” use of force by Israel and recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv for consultations.
A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry responded with now-customary Israeli arrogance. “This is an unfortunate demonstration of why Brazil, an economic and cultural giant, remains a diplomatic dwarf,” said Yigal Palmor.
President Rousseff expressed her “regret” for the offensive term used by Israel to describe her country.
Death toll from Israel’s Gaza onslaught climbs to 1158
According to MEMO report from Gaza, the Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 1158 since July 7, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.
“Some 100 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 1158,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra told Anadolu Agency.
He said that more than 7000 people have also been injured in the Israeli attacks.
In the latest Israeli attacks in the embattled territory on Tuesday, two people were killed when Israeli troops shelled eastern Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.
An Israeli raid also targeted a house in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing 17 family members.
Since July 7, Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip – from air, land and sea – with devastating bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting rocket fire from the strip.
Israel claims that the offensive, now in its fourth week, aims at halting rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory.
At least 56 Israelis – 53 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed since the hostilities began.
Israel’s military operation, dubbed operation “Protective Edge,” is the self-proclaimed Jewish state’s third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.
In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s three-week-long operation “Cast Lead.” (T/E01/IR)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
