Israel attack on Gaza raises death toll to 12
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 7/6/2006

Israeli forces have now moved deep into northern Gaza on the ninth day of the offensive, which has seen food, fuel and electricity supplies cut off from the occupied territories.

The Israeli army began a major air and ground offensive last week on the Gaza Strip following the kidnapping of an Israeli army corporal by Palestinian resistance fighters.

The current offensive is said to be the biggest military operation since Israel's pull-out from Gaza in September 2005. Israel said the purpose of the operation is to return the kidnapped soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, home safely, and to stop terror acts and rocket firings against the state of Israel.

Israel's Political-Security Cabinet today said "Against the background of the abduction and the continued firing of rockets and mortars, including the firing of a Kassam rocket at Ashkelon, preparations must be made to bring about a change in the rules of the game and the modus operandi vis-à-vis the PA and Hamas."

International organizations, including Switzerland, said Israel has violated international humanitarian laws in its action. Accusations against Israel of violating the Geneva Convention have not led to any concrete action against Israel to hold it accountable for these violations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today condemned the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip that resulted in the killing of 18 citizens, including two children. he considered the aggression on civilians and innocents as a new humanitarian crime.

He called on the international community for a speedy intervention to stop this aggression on the Palestinian people.

At least 12 Palestinian citizens were killed, and others wounded, Thursday by Israeli Occupation Forces in different attacks on the Gaza Strip, medical sources and witnesses said.

Earlier, Ministry of Health sources reported that Sabri Abu Tair 30, and Mohammed Najjar 24, were instantly killed and four others wounded during an Israeli new raid on Khanyounis city, south of Gaza.

Witnesses said that the Israeli fighter shot 1 missile at Alfarahin neighborhood in Khanyounis resulted in killing and wounding several citizens.

Earlier, four citizens were killed in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, the sources sand witnesses said.

Mohammed Attar 20, Abdullah Zommar 24, Hussam Hijazi 24, and Rami Abu Hashem were killed Thursday morning by IOF north of Gaza.

Witnesses said that Israeli helicopters and tanks shot dozens of shells and opened fire at houses and residential areas in Beit Lahya, leading to killing and wounding several people.

Security sources said that Abu Hashem is a member of Palestinian Costal Police, killed as Israeli navy boats hit the police station with missiles and heavy fire.

Previous Stories:
  UN Human Rights Council special session on occupied Palestinian territory   (7/5/2006)
  Israeli warplanes bombarded a house in Gaza, injure child   (7/5/2006)
  Human Rights group says Israel violate Geneva convention   (7/5/2006)
  Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian in Jenin   (7/4/2006)
  10 murdered in Gaza, 4 of them paramedics   (6/13/2006)
  Israeli air raid kills 4 in Rafah   (6/9/2006)

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