Fighting resumes in Gaza; 1,046 lives lost so far
Gaza/Jerusalem: Intense shelling resumed in Gaza tonight after a lull with Israel warning of a protracted military campaign against Hamas despite mounting international calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end the 21-day conflict.
Israeli jets pounded several sites in Gaza after a rocket was launched at Israel. However, an Israeli army spokesman said there were no air strikes on Gaza since last night but that one rocket was fired from Gaza last night and another this morning, with the army responding to it.
Shortly after he spoke, there were reports of two explosions in Gaza City – one in a children’s playground and one near Gaza’s main hospital.
Ten people, including eight children, killed when the Israeli missile hit the playground, a Palestinian official said.
At least 46 people were also wounded in the two attacks.
The latest death raised the Palestinian death toll to 1,046 in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza to destroy rockets and cross-border tunnels which began on July 8.
The Gaza health ministry on Sunday revised the number of Palestinian dead down by 30 after some relatives found missing family members.
Israel’s army said that nine of its soldiers were killed on Tuesday in Gaza, bringing the total military death toll to 52.
Two Israeli civilians and a Thai national have also been killed in the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “prolonged” Israeli campaign in Gaza.
“We will continue to act aggressively and responsibly until the mission is completed to protect our citizens, soldiers and children,” Netanyahu said.
Calling Monday a ‘painful day’, Netanyahu said Israel that would not finish its operation until it had ‘neutralized’ Hamas tunnels out of Gaza.
The UN Security Council had earlier called for an ‘immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire’ between Israel and Palestine, asking the parties to implement the truce beyond the Muslim holiday of Eid and allow delivery of urgently needed assistance in Gaza.
