GAZA DEATH TOLL REACHES 309 AS ISRAEL CONTINUES ATTACKS
Gaza City, 21 Ramadhan 1435 / 19 July 2014 (MINA) – Israel is pressing ahead with its relentless aerial and ground assaults on the besieged Gaza Strip, pushing the death toll to 309 in just 12 days. The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 70 of the victims have been children.
Israeli warplanes pounded a number of positions in Gaza during the early hours of Saturday. The fresh airstrikes killed more than ten people.
More than 2,200 others have been injured since the offensive began on July 8, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Saturday.
Palestinian officials say as many as 65 people lost their lives since Israeli tanks began shelling the impoverished enclave on Thursday, when the Tel Aviv regime launched its ground operation in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Israel has threatened to step up its military operations in the coming days.
The United Nations says the number of displaced people of Gaza has almost doubled over the past 24 hours. More than 40,000 Palestinians are now homeless.
Meanwhile, Palestinian fighters have fired several Grad missiles into the Israeli cities in retaliation for the deadly attacks.
Earlier, warning sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, and shortly afterwards an explosion was heard.
Palestinian resistance fighters say they intercepted radio communications between Israeli troops, which confirmed that a number of Israeli soldiers were killed when their tank was destroyed in Gaza.
On Friday, one Israeli soldier was killed and at least three were wounded in clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters.
UN says Israel Gaza raids alarming
Meanwhile, the United Nations has expressed alarm over Israel’s deadly strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip as the attacks have so far claimed nearly 310 lives.
Jeffrey Feltman, the UN under secretary-general for political affairs, told a Friday emergency UN Security Council meeting that the death toll from the Israeli attacks is appalling.
“The secretary-general was shocked by the terrible killing by an Israeli strike of four children on a beach on Gaza City on 16th of July. Three more children from one family were killed yesterday. No further illustration is needed. The violence must end,” the UN official said.
Feltman also stated that the Israeli strikes are targeting Palestinian homes, schools, and infrastructure in Gaza.
This comes as the Israeli prime minister claims mostly Hamas fighters and their positions are being targeted in the attacks.
Feltman also called for the opening of all crossings to the blockaded Palestinian territory. The UN official also criticized rocket fire by Palestinian fighters from Gaza.
Feltman called for a ceasefire and the delivery of more humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will leave for the region on Saturday, he said.
The Friday UN Security Council session ended without a serious resolution to save the lives of civilians in Gaza.
Israeli warplanes have been carrying out incessant airstrikes on Gaza since July 8. On Thursday, thousands of Israeli soldiers launched a ground invasion into the densely-populated Palestinian territory. (T/E01/IR)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
