11 july 2014
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Fire fighters extinguish burning vehicles after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a gas station in the city of Ashdod in southern Israel on July 11, 2014
A rocket fired from Gaza hit a petrol station in southern Israel on Friday, causing a huge explosion and injuring three people, the army and medics said. "A barrage of rockets was fired at Ashdod, one of which hit a gas station causing massive damage," a statement from the army said. Northern Israel was also hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon Friday, causing troops to hit back with artillery fire over the border, the Israeli army said. |
The rocket crashed into a field near Kfar Yuval, between Metula and Kiryat Shmona at Israel's northernmost tip, a spokeswoman told AFP.
Israel's Iron Dome proves vulnerable
The Israeli regime’s US-funded Iron Dome missile system has once again proved vulnerable after failing to intercept retaliatory rockets fired by Palestinians deep into the occupied territories, Press TV reports.
At least two Israeli troopers were injured overnight on Friday after a retaliatory rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in and rocked southern Israel.
The failure of the highly-publicized missile system sparked panic among Israelis after a majority of Palestinian rockets successfully hit their targets.
According to initial reports, one person was critically injured when a retaliatory rocket hit a car in Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv. However, Israeli emergency services later denied any casualties as is typical of the regime.
A mortar fired from Gaza overnight landed in the southern part of the occupied territories, leaving two Israeli troopers injured.
Several rockets targeted different areas in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) on Thursday, two of them hitting the city.
Elsewhere, a house was damaged in Sha'ar Hanegev and a huge explosion was heard in Tel Aviv’s Gush Dan district.
On Wednesday, Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, for the first time, targeted Zionist regime’s Dimona nuclear weapons facilities with powerful rockets it unveiled for the first time since 2012. Hamas’ Qassam Brigades announced that they had launched the long-range M-75 rockets from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli city of Dimona about 47 miles away.
The 13-inch (333-millimeter) M-75 rockets have a range of about 50 miles and can reach most of the central areas of the occupied territories.
Hamas also fired a rocket into Hadera - about 78 miles from Gaza - marking the deepest penetration into the occupied lands as of yet.
On its 4th day, the Israeli regime’s deadly military offensive continues to claim more lives in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Zionist army’s relentless bombings have killed at least a hundred and seven Palestinians, most of them women and children. At least 500 people have also been injured in the besieged coastal strip.
Israel's Iron Dome proves vulnerable
The Israeli regime’s US-funded Iron Dome missile system has once again proved vulnerable after failing to intercept retaliatory rockets fired by Palestinians deep into the occupied territories, Press TV reports.
At least two Israeli troopers were injured overnight on Friday after a retaliatory rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in and rocked southern Israel.
The failure of the highly-publicized missile system sparked panic among Israelis after a majority of Palestinian rockets successfully hit their targets.
According to initial reports, one person was critically injured when a retaliatory rocket hit a car in Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv. However, Israeli emergency services later denied any casualties as is typical of the regime.
A mortar fired from Gaza overnight landed in the southern part of the occupied territories, leaving two Israeli troopers injured.
Several rockets targeted different areas in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) on Thursday, two of them hitting the city.
Elsewhere, a house was damaged in Sha'ar Hanegev and a huge explosion was heard in Tel Aviv’s Gush Dan district.
On Wednesday, Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, for the first time, targeted Zionist regime’s Dimona nuclear weapons facilities with powerful rockets it unveiled for the first time since 2012. Hamas’ Qassam Brigades announced that they had launched the long-range M-75 rockets from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli city of Dimona about 47 miles away.
The 13-inch (333-millimeter) M-75 rockets have a range of about 50 miles and can reach most of the central areas of the occupied territories.
Hamas also fired a rocket into Hadera - about 78 miles from Gaza - marking the deepest penetration into the occupied lands as of yet.
On its 4th day, the Israeli regime’s deadly military offensive continues to claim more lives in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Zionist army’s relentless bombings have killed at least a hundred and seven Palestinians, most of them women and children. At least 500 people have also been injured in the besieged coastal strip.
The following is a list of the 99 Palestinians killed by Israeli air bombardment since Tuesday, July 8th. These are the names that have been confirmed by medical sources in Gaza. 670 Palestinians have also been wounded, with some losing limbs and others disabled for life.
All of the casualties listed below are victims of Israeli bombs dropped on Gaza since Tuesday.
All of the casualties listed below are victims of Israeli bombs dropped on Gaza since Tuesday.
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Killed Tuesday 8 july
1. Mohammad Sha’ban, 24, Gaza. 2. Amjad Sha’ban, 30, Gaza. 3. Khader al-Basheeleqety, 45, Gaza. 4. Rashad Yassin, 27, Nusseirat. 5. Mohammad Ayman ‘Ashour, 15, Khan Younis. 6. Riyadh Mohammad Kaware’, 50, Khan Younis. 7. Bakr Mohammad Joudeh, 50, Khan Younis. 8. Ammar Mohammad Joudeh, 26, Khan Younis. 9. Hussein Yousef Kaware’, 13, Khan Younis. 10. Bassem Salem Kaware’, 10, Khan Younis. 11. Mohammad Ibrahim Kaware’, 50, Khan Younis. 12. Mohammad Habib, 22, Gaza. 13. Mousa Habib, 16, Gaza. 14. Saqr ‘Aayesh al-‘Ajjoury, 22, Jabalia. 15. Ahmad Nael Mahdi, 16, Gaza. 16. Hafeth Mohammad Hamad, 26, Beit Hanoun. 17. Ibrahim Mohammad Hamad, 26, Beit Hanoun. 18. Mahdi Mohammad Hamad, 46, Beit Hanoun. 19. Fawziyya Khalil Hamad, 62, Beit Hanoun. 20. Donia Mahdi Hamad, 16, Beit Hanoun. 21. Soha Hamad, 25, Beit Hanoun. 22. Suleiman Salam Abu Sawaween, 22, Khan Younis. 23. Siraj Eyad Abdul-‘Aal, 8, Khan Younis. 24. Abdul-Hadi Soufi, 24, Rafah. |
Killed Wednesday 9 july:
1. Hamed Shihab, Journalist – Gaza. 2. Salmiyya al-‘Arja, 53, Rafah. 3. Miriam ‘Atiya al-‘Arja, 9, Rafah. 4. Rafiq al-Kafarna, 30. 5. Abdul-Nasser Abu Kweik, 60. 6. Khaled Abu Kweik, 31. 7. Eyad Salem ‘Oraif, 12, Gaza City. 8. Mohammad 'Oraif, 10, Gaza City (Eyad's brother). 9. Mohammad Mustafa Malika, 18 months. 10. Hana’ Mohammed Fu’ad Malaka, 28 (Mohammad’s Mother), 27. 11. Hatem Abu Salem. 12. Mohammad Khaled an-Nimra, 22. 13. Sahar Hamdan (al-Masry), 40, Beit Hanoun. 14. Ibrahim al-Masry, 14, Beit Hanoun. 15. Amjad Hamdan, 23, Beit Hanoun. 16. Hani Saleh Hamad, 57, Beit Hanoun. 17. Ibrahim Hani Saleh Hamad, 20, Beit Hanoun. 18. Mohammad Khalaf Nawasra, 2, al-Maghazi. 19. Nidal Khalaf Nawasra, 4, al-Maghazi. 20. Salah Awad Nawasra, 24, al-Maghazi. 21. ‘Aesha Shubib al-Nawasra, 23, who was pregnant in the fourth month, al-Maghazi. 22. Naifa Mohammed Zaher Farajallah, 82, al-Mughraqa. 23. Aisha Najm. 24. Amal Yousef Abdul-Ghafour. 25. Ranim Jouda Abdul-Ghafour. 26. Ibrahim Daoud al-Bal’aawy. 27. Abdul-Rahman Jamal az-Zamely. 28. Ibrahim Ahmad ‘Abdin. 29. Mustafa Abu Murr. 30. Khaled Abu Murr. 31. Mazin Al-Jarba. 32. Marwan Eslayyem. 33. Hatem Abu Salem, Gaza City. 34. Nariman Abdul-Ghafour, Khan Younis. 35. Ra’ed Mohammed Abu Shalat, 35, al-Nussairat. 36. Yasmin al-Mautawaq, 3, Gaza City. 37. Ahmad Swali, 28, al-Nussairat. |
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Killed Thursday 10 july:
1. Mahmoud Lutfi al-Hajj, 57, Khan Younis. (father of six killed) 2. Bassema ‘Abdul Qader Mohammed al-Hajj, 48, Khan Younis. (mother of six killed) 3. Asma’ Mahmoud al-Hajj, 22, Khan Younis. 5. Sa’ad Mahmoud al-Hajj, 17, Khan Younis. 6. Najla’ Mahmoud al-Hajj, 29, Khan Younis. 7. Tareq Sa’ad al-Hajj, 18, Khan Younis. 8. Omar al-Hajj, 20, Khan Younis. 9. Baha’ Abu al-Leil, 35, Gaza City. 10. Suleiman Saleem Mousa al-Astal, 17, Khan Younis. 11. Ahmed Saleem Mousa al-Astal, 18, Khan Younis (Suleiman’s brother) 12. Mousa Mohammed Taher al-Astal, 15, Khan Younis. 13. Ibrahim Khalil Qanan, 24, Khan Younis. 14. Mohammad Khalil Qanan, 26, Khan Younis (Ibrahim’s brother). 15. Ibrahim Sawali, 28, Khan Younis. 16. Saleem Sawali, 23, Khan Younis. 17. Hamdi Sawali, 18, Khan Younis. 18. Mohammad al-‘Aqqad, 24, Khan Younis. 19. Ismael Abu Jame’, 19, Khan Younis. 20. Hussein Abu Jame’, 57, Khan Younis (Ismael’s father). 21. Ramadan Abu Ghazal, 5, Beit Lahia. 22. Ehsan Ferwana, 19, Khan Younis. 23. Salem Qandil, 27, Gaza City. 24. Amer al-Fayyoumi, 30, Gaza City. |
Killed Friday 11 july:
1. Wisam Abdul-Razeq Ghannam, 23, Rafah. 2. Mohammad Abdul-Razeq Ghannam, 26, Rafah. 3. Kifah Shihada Ghannam, 20, Rafah. 4. Ghalia Thieb Ghannam, 7, Rafah. 5. Mohammad Munir ‘Ashour, 25, Rafah. 6. Nour an-Ajdi, 10, Rafah. 7. Anas Rezeq abu al-Kas, 30, Gaza City (doctor). 8. Abdullah abu Mahrouq, Dir al-Balah. 9. Mohammad Waloud, Beit Lahia 10. Hazem Ba’lousha, Beit Lahia. 11. Abdul Nabi, Beit Lahia 12. Ahmed Zaher Hamdan, 22, Beit Hanoun. 13. Mohammad al-Kahlout, 38, Jabalia. 14. Sami Adnan Shaldan, 25, Gaza City |
A ball of fire is seen following an early morning Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern of Gaza strip
Obama phones Netanyahu offering to broker a ceasefire with Hamas, while sources say 98 Palestinians killed so far in conflict
The death toll in Gaza has risen as international pressure builds on Israel to end its four-day conflict with Hamas and Palestinian militant groups in the enclave.
The White House said Barack Obama had phoned the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to offer to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Palestinian sources put the number of dead from the Israeli military assault in Gaza at 98, dozens of them women and children.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement," the White House said.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said that ceasefire was "more urgent than ever" after an emergency security council meeting on Thursday. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has also urged Netanyahu to consider a ceasefire.
Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the UN, said: "We call on the security council to act immediately to protect civilian lives, which are being lost a destroyed with each passing minute."
But in a televised statement on Thursday, Netanyahu seemed to indicate that Israeli's military action in Gaza – named Operation Protective Shield – was far from over.
"So far the battle is progressing as planned, but we can expect further stages in future. Up to now, we have hit Hamas and the terror organisations hard and as the battle continues we will increase strikes at them," he said.
Israel has called up about 20,000 reserve troops, and while there is still no indication of whether it will launch a ground offensive, shelling and air strikes continued on Friday.
An air strike on a house in Gaza City early on Friday killed a man described by officials as a doctor and pharmacist. Medics and residents said an Israeli aircraft bombed a three-storey house in Rafah, killing three people.
Palestinians said Israeli tanks fired shells east of Rafah, while naval forces shelled a security compound in Gaza City and aircraft bombed positions near the borders with Egypt and Israel.
The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that 548 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, including one from Lebanon on Friday morning that landed near Gallilee.
Also on Friday, one rocket hit a petrol station in the Israeli port city of Ashdod, causing a huge blaze and seriously injuring at least three people, an ambulance spokesman said.
But despite a barrage of rockets targeting Israeli cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – causing thousands to rush to bomb shelters for the first time in years – there have still been no Israeli deaths since the beginning of this latest conflict.
On Friday morning, air raid sirens rang out again in Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial capital, and three loud explosions were heard as Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system shot down rockets over the city for a third day running.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police deployed extra units in the Old City to deal with potential unrest after Friday prayers, according to a police spokesman. Access to al-Aqsa mosque will again be restricted to women and men over 50.
Last week, there were riots in Shuafat, East Jerusalem, following the murder of 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was abducted from outside his home and then killed. A Shuafat resident told the Guardian on Thursday that as many as 60 members of Israel Defence Forces had been stationed in the neighbourhood for more than a week.
Obama phones Netanyahu offering to broker a ceasefire with Hamas, while sources say 98 Palestinians killed so far in conflict
The death toll in Gaza has risen as international pressure builds on Israel to end its four-day conflict with Hamas and Palestinian militant groups in the enclave.
The White House said Barack Obama had phoned the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to offer to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Palestinian sources put the number of dead from the Israeli military assault in Gaza at 98, dozens of them women and children.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement," the White House said.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said that ceasefire was "more urgent than ever" after an emergency security council meeting on Thursday. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has also urged Netanyahu to consider a ceasefire.
Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the UN, said: "We call on the security council to act immediately to protect civilian lives, which are being lost a destroyed with each passing minute."
But in a televised statement on Thursday, Netanyahu seemed to indicate that Israeli's military action in Gaza – named Operation Protective Shield – was far from over.
"So far the battle is progressing as planned, but we can expect further stages in future. Up to now, we have hit Hamas and the terror organisations hard and as the battle continues we will increase strikes at them," he said.
Israel has called up about 20,000 reserve troops, and while there is still no indication of whether it will launch a ground offensive, shelling and air strikes continued on Friday.
An air strike on a house in Gaza City early on Friday killed a man described by officials as a doctor and pharmacist. Medics and residents said an Israeli aircraft bombed a three-storey house in Rafah, killing three people.
Palestinians said Israeli tanks fired shells east of Rafah, while naval forces shelled a security compound in Gaza City and aircraft bombed positions near the borders with Egypt and Israel.
The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that 548 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, including one from Lebanon on Friday morning that landed near Gallilee.
Also on Friday, one rocket hit a petrol station in the Israeli port city of Ashdod, causing a huge blaze and seriously injuring at least three people, an ambulance spokesman said.
But despite a barrage of rockets targeting Israeli cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – causing thousands to rush to bomb shelters for the first time in years – there have still been no Israeli deaths since the beginning of this latest conflict.
On Friday morning, air raid sirens rang out again in Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial capital, and three loud explosions were heard as Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system shot down rockets over the city for a third day running.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police deployed extra units in the Old City to deal with potential unrest after Friday prayers, according to a police spokesman. Access to al-Aqsa mosque will again be restricted to women and men over 50.
Last week, there were riots in Shuafat, East Jerusalem, following the murder of 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was abducted from outside his home and then killed. A Shuafat resident told the Guardian on Thursday that as many as 60 members of Israel Defence Forces had been stationed in the neighbourhood for more than a week.
Relatives and friends of the al-Hajj family gather in a mosque to pray over the bodies of eight family members during their funeral in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on July 10, 2014
Eight Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight Thursday, Gaza's Ministry of Health said.
Five Palestinians were killed and 15 injured in Rafah after the Israeli air-force targeted the Ghannam family home.
Ghaliya Dib Jaber Ghannam, 7, Wissam Abdulraziq Hassan Ghannam, 23, Mahmoud Abduloraziq Hassan Ghannam, 26, Kifah Shihada Dib Ghannam, 20, and Muhammad Munir Ashur, 25, were identified as those killed.
The home was hit without warning and the impact of the airstrike completely destroyed the building and several surrounding properties.
Toddler Nour Abu al-Najdah was also killed in Rafah after being injured by shrapnel from an airstrike while Raid Abu Hani, 50, was killed in eastern Rafah.
In Gaza City, Israeli warplanes targeted a fifth-floor apartment building, killing Anas Abu al-Kas.
According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, 98 Palestinians have been killed and over 600 injured in Israel's assault on the besieged coastal enclave.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian published an emergency report on Thursday documenting that 58 Palestinian civilians, including 11 women and 21 children, have been killed since the beginning of Israel's assault.
Over 300 homes have been totally destroyed or severely damaged and around 2,000 Gazans have been made homeless.
US President Barack Obama said he was concerned the fighting could escalate and "called for all sides to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians", the White House said.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement."
Appeals for an immediate truce also came from UN chief Ban Ki-moon at an emergency meeting Thursday of the Security Council, saying a ceasefire was "more urgent than ever".
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a similar plea in a phone call to Netanyahu, urging an immediate end to the bloodshed and expressing concern over civilian casualties.
Hamas has been striking deep inside Israel over the past 48 hours, with rockets crashing down near Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and even as far away as Hadera, 116 kilometers to the north.
Senior Hamas member and the movement's former Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh ruled out any backing down by the group.
"The enemy (Israel) is the one that started this aggression and it must stop, because we are (simply) defending ourselves," Haniyeh said in a statement early Friday.
1090 sites bombed
Since the start of the operation, the Israeli military's biggest offensive on Gaza since November 2012, its forces have hit over 1090 sites in Gaza.
In the same period, Gaza militants fired 407 mortars and rockets that struck Israel, while another 118 rockets were intercepted, an army spokeswoman said Friday.
Israel has approved the call-up of 40,000 reservists.
Analysts said Hamas had a clear aim: to drag Israel into a ground war hoping to inflict heavy casualties on its troops who would likely come under fire from anti-tank missiles and explosive devices.
Militants would also be seeking to capture Israeli soldiers to use as leverage.
In a news conference, Hamas's armed wing the al-Qassam Brigades issued a veiled threat to kidnap soldiers, saying a "ground war will be a chance to free Palestinian prisoners."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a separate statement that Israel would "pay the price for its crimes," saying an Israeli ground assault would be a mistake, calling Israeli troops "cowards."
Eight Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight Thursday, Gaza's Ministry of Health said.
Five Palestinians were killed and 15 injured in Rafah after the Israeli air-force targeted the Ghannam family home.
Ghaliya Dib Jaber Ghannam, 7, Wissam Abdulraziq Hassan Ghannam, 23, Mahmoud Abduloraziq Hassan Ghannam, 26, Kifah Shihada Dib Ghannam, 20, and Muhammad Munir Ashur, 25, were identified as those killed.
The home was hit without warning and the impact of the airstrike completely destroyed the building and several surrounding properties.
Toddler Nour Abu al-Najdah was also killed in Rafah after being injured by shrapnel from an airstrike while Raid Abu Hani, 50, was killed in eastern Rafah.
In Gaza City, Israeli warplanes targeted a fifth-floor apartment building, killing Anas Abu al-Kas.
According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, 98 Palestinians have been killed and over 600 injured in Israel's assault on the besieged coastal enclave.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian published an emergency report on Thursday documenting that 58 Palestinian civilians, including 11 women and 21 children, have been killed since the beginning of Israel's assault.
Over 300 homes have been totally destroyed or severely damaged and around 2,000 Gazans have been made homeless.
US President Barack Obama said he was concerned the fighting could escalate and "called for all sides to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians", the White House said.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement."
Appeals for an immediate truce also came from UN chief Ban Ki-moon at an emergency meeting Thursday of the Security Council, saying a ceasefire was "more urgent than ever".
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a similar plea in a phone call to Netanyahu, urging an immediate end to the bloodshed and expressing concern over civilian casualties.
Hamas has been striking deep inside Israel over the past 48 hours, with rockets crashing down near Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and even as far away as Hadera, 116 kilometers to the north.
Senior Hamas member and the movement's former Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh ruled out any backing down by the group.
"The enemy (Israel) is the one that started this aggression and it must stop, because we are (simply) defending ourselves," Haniyeh said in a statement early Friday.
1090 sites bombed
Since the start of the operation, the Israeli military's biggest offensive on Gaza since November 2012, its forces have hit over 1090 sites in Gaza.
In the same period, Gaza militants fired 407 mortars and rockets that struck Israel, while another 118 rockets were intercepted, an army spokeswoman said Friday.
Israel has approved the call-up of 40,000 reservists.
Analysts said Hamas had a clear aim: to drag Israel into a ground war hoping to inflict heavy casualties on its troops who would likely come under fire from anti-tank missiles and explosive devices.
Militants would also be seeking to capture Israeli soldiers to use as leverage.
In a news conference, Hamas's armed wing the al-Qassam Brigades issued a veiled threat to kidnap soldiers, saying a "ground war will be a chance to free Palestinian prisoners."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a separate statement that Israel would "pay the price for its crimes," saying an Israeli ground assault would be a mistake, calling Israeli troops "cowards."
You find the photo's/video's disturbing? Remember, this is what Palestinian children see almost every day
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Mariam Masri, 9, Injured In Israeli Strike
Palestinian medical sources have reported that five family members have been killed, and fifteen more Palestinians injured, when Israeli missiles struck homes in Yebna refugee camp and the Nahda neighborhood, east of the Rafah district, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The sources said the army fired several missiles and artillery shells into their homes, killing five and wounding 15, while eleven of the wounded are in very serious condition.
Eyewitnesses said Israel 16 war jets also fired missiles into the three-story residential building belonging to the Ghannam family.
The slain Palestinians have been identified as Wisam Abdul-Razeq Ghannam, 23, his brother Mahmoud, 26, Kifah Shihada Ghannam, 20, Ghalia Thieb Ghannam, 7, and Mohammad Monir ‘Ashour, 25.
Medics and rescue teams believe more Palestinians could be buried under the rubble of the shells building as it was leveled by the Israeli missiles, while several other nearby buildings have also been hit.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that five family members have been killed, and fifteen more Palestinians injured, when Israeli missiles struck homes in Yebna refugee camp and the Nahda neighborhood, east of the Rafah district, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The sources said the army fired several missiles and artillery shells into their homes, killing five and wounding 15, while eleven of the wounded are in very serious condition.
Eyewitnesses said Israel 16 war jets also fired missiles into the three-story residential building belonging to the Ghannam family.
The slain Palestinians have been identified as Wisam Abdul-Razeq Ghannam, 23, his brother Mahmoud, 26, Kifah Shihada Ghannam, 20, Ghalia Thieb Ghannam, 7, and Mohammad Monir ‘Ashour, 25.
Medics and rescue teams believe more Palestinians could be buried under the rubble of the shells building as it was leveled by the Israeli missiles, while several other nearby buildings have also been hit.
US President Barack Obama on Thursday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he was worried fierce fighting with Hamas in Gaza could escalate, and offered US help to broker a ceasefire.
Obama spoke to the Israeli leader after warplanes pounded the Palestinian enclave but did not stop militants firing rockets at cities inside Israel, and as global concern over rising Palestinian casualties mounted.
"The president expressed concern about the risk of further escalation and emphasized the need for all sides to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians and restore calm," the White House said in a statement.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement."
The 2012 deal, brokered by former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Egypt, ended eight days of Israeli airstrikes on Hamas targets in a previous showdown.
The White House statement said that Obama told Netanyahu he understood Israel had a right to defend itself and that he condemned rocket attacks by Hamas and other militant groups launched from Gaza.
Obama expressed sympathy for the deaths of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank that triggered new tensions and praised Israel for swiftly making arrests in the case of a Palestinian youth apparently killed in reprisal for the incident.
Obama also expressed concern over the case of a Palestinian-American teenager allegedly beaten in police custody.
The two leaders also discussed the effort to conclude a deal on curtailing Iran's nuclear program by an approaching July 20 deadline. Netanyahu has previously expressed deep skepticism of the US approach toward Iran.
Obama spoke to the Israeli leader after warplanes pounded the Palestinian enclave but did not stop militants firing rockets at cities inside Israel, and as global concern over rising Palestinian casualties mounted.
"The president expressed concern about the risk of further escalation and emphasized the need for all sides to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians and restore calm," the White House said in a statement.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement."
The 2012 deal, brokered by former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Egypt, ended eight days of Israeli airstrikes on Hamas targets in a previous showdown.
The White House statement said that Obama told Netanyahu he understood Israel had a right to defend itself and that he condemned rocket attacks by Hamas and other militant groups launched from Gaza.
Obama expressed sympathy for the deaths of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank that triggered new tensions and praised Israel for swiftly making arrests in the case of a Palestinian youth apparently killed in reprisal for the incident.
Obama also expressed concern over the case of a Palestinian-American teenager allegedly beaten in police custody.
The two leaders also discussed the effort to conclude a deal on curtailing Iran's nuclear program by an approaching July 20 deadline. Netanyahu has previously expressed deep skepticism of the US approach toward Iran.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday ties with Israel would not return to normal unless it ceased its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.
"You will first stop this oppression. If not, it is not possible to realize normalization between Turkey and Israel," Erdogan said in the central Anatolian city of Yozgat after a dinner breaking the daily Ramadan fast.
Relations between once-regional allies Israel and Turkey hit an all-time low when 10 Turkish activists died in a 2010 maritime assault by Israeli commandos on Gaza-bound ship Mavi Marmara in international waters.
The Israeli assault provoked a sharp response from Ankara, which expelled the Israeli ambassador, demanded a formal apology, compensation for the victims, and an end to the blockade on Gaza -- which is ruled by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.
Israel and Turkey have been locked in talks for more than a year over compensation, after Israel extended a formal apology to Ankara in a breakthrough brokered by US President Barack Obama.
Erdogan, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, said Thursday that Turkey's first two conditions -- apology and compensation -- appeared to have been fulfilled.
But he said deadly raids on Gaza showed that Israel had no intention of complying with Ankara's third condition: to end the blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
"Then how can we normalize (ties) with you?" said the premier, who is the clear favorite for an August presidential election.
Erdogan also lashed out at Israel's "disproportionate use of force against innocent" Palestinians, calling on the world and the United Nations to stop the assault.
He spoke on the phone with President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal about the Israeli action in Gaza, as well as on intra-Palestinian unity, an official from his office told AFP.
"You will first stop this oppression. If not, it is not possible to realize normalization between Turkey and Israel," Erdogan said in the central Anatolian city of Yozgat after a dinner breaking the daily Ramadan fast.
Relations between once-regional allies Israel and Turkey hit an all-time low when 10 Turkish activists died in a 2010 maritime assault by Israeli commandos on Gaza-bound ship Mavi Marmara in international waters.
The Israeli assault provoked a sharp response from Ankara, which expelled the Israeli ambassador, demanded a formal apology, compensation for the victims, and an end to the blockade on Gaza -- which is ruled by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.
Israel and Turkey have been locked in talks for more than a year over compensation, after Israel extended a formal apology to Ankara in a breakthrough brokered by US President Barack Obama.
Erdogan, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, said Thursday that Turkey's first two conditions -- apology and compensation -- appeared to have been fulfilled.
But he said deadly raids on Gaza showed that Israel had no intention of complying with Ankara's third condition: to end the blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
"Then how can we normalize (ties) with you?" said the premier, who is the clear favorite for an August presidential election.
Erdogan also lashed out at Israel's "disproportionate use of force against innocent" Palestinians, calling on the world and the United Nations to stop the assault.
He spoke on the phone with President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal about the Israeli action in Gaza, as well as on intra-Palestinian unity, an official from his office told AFP.
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Suha Hamad, 25, sacrificed herself to save the lives of her four children.
All the children survived but one, a toddler, and are in the ICU. Suha took her last breath saving their lives. When the power went out at 11 p.m. Tuesday night, Suha took three of her children to sleep the night in their grandmother's room. She thought it was the safest in the house and went back to get her four-month-old baby. It was at this moment that she was hit by a missile's shrapnel. |
Mahdi Hamad, Suha's father, said that "nobody called us to evacuate the house and there aren't any resistance members around it."
"Glass was shattered behind the children and men fell into a big pool of blood."
Her eyes full of pain and sorrow, Suha's mother said: "Who do they have to live for when they lost both their mother and father?"
She added: "What crime have these children committed to be punished like that?"
Israel targeted the Hamad family house killing six family members, Ibrahim Muhammad Hamad, 26, Mahdi Muhammad Hamad, 46, Fawziyeh Khalil Hamad, 62, Dunia Mahdi Hamad, 16, and Suha Hamad, 25.
Israeli warplanes bombed the home midnight Tuesday, killing a senior Islamic Jihad militant and five members of his family in the attack on the family's home.
A Gaza health ministry spokesman said the attack killed Hafiz Hamad and five members of his family.
He identified them as Hafiz Mohammed Hamad, 30, Ibrahim Mohammed, 26, Mahdi Mohammed Hamad, 46, Fawzia Khalil Hamad, 62, Mehdi Hamad, 16, and Suha Hamad 25.
Israel's military did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.
"Glass was shattered behind the children and men fell into a big pool of blood."
Her eyes full of pain and sorrow, Suha's mother said: "Who do they have to live for when they lost both their mother and father?"
She added: "What crime have these children committed to be punished like that?"
Israel targeted the Hamad family house killing six family members, Ibrahim Muhammad Hamad, 26, Mahdi Muhammad Hamad, 46, Fawziyeh Khalil Hamad, 62, Dunia Mahdi Hamad, 16, and Suha Hamad, 25.
Israeli warplanes bombed the home midnight Tuesday, killing a senior Islamic Jihad militant and five members of his family in the attack on the family's home.
A Gaza health ministry spokesman said the attack killed Hafiz Hamad and five members of his family.
He identified them as Hafiz Mohammed Hamad, 30, Ibrahim Mohammed, 26, Mahdi Mohammed Hamad, 46, Fawzia Khalil Hamad, 62, Mehdi Hamad, 16, and Suha Hamad 25.
Israel's military did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.
Palestinian medical sources reported, Friday, that a Palestinian child and a young man have been killed in Rafah and in Gaza city. Dozens of Palestinians have been injured on ongoing Israeli bombardment of civilian areas, some seriously.
Medical sources said Nour an-Najdi, 10, died of serious injuries she suffered after the army bombarded her family home in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian identified as Dr. Anas Rezeq Abu al-Kas, 30, was also killed when the army fired a missile into his home, on the fifth floor or Barcelona Residential Tower in Tal al-Hawa, south of Gaza city; two Palestinians were injured.
A young Palestinian man, identified as Abdullah Abu Mahrouq, was killed in Israeli bombardment targeting Deir al-Balah, in Central Gaza. He was seriously injured when the army fired a missile into a motorcycle, in the center of the city.
On Thursday afternoon, three Palestinians identified Mohammad Waloud, Hazem Ba’lousha and Ala’ Abdul-Nabi were killed when the army fired a missile into a Palestinian car in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Resident Ahmad Zaher Hamdan, 22, was killed when the army bombarded Beit Hanoun, also in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Also on Thursday, resident Hussein Eid Abu Jame’, 57, and his son Ismael, 19, were killed when an Israeli missile struck his home in Khan Younis.
Resident Mohammad Abu Kahlout, 38, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Ezbit Abed-Rabbo, Jabalia, in northern Gaza.
Another resident, identified as Sami Adnan Shaldan, 25, was killed, and many Palestinians were seriously injured, two seriously, when Israeli missiles struck the Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City.
Two Palestinians were injured in Israeli bombardment targeting the Shujaeyya and Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City.
Dozens of Palestinians have been injured in different parts of the Gaza Strip on Friday, at dawn, as the Israeli army continued to pound every part of the densely populated coastal region, while tanks and heavy artillery have been seen rolling towards the border fence with Gaza.
Medical sources said a child was seriously injured when a shell hit her home in Rafah. The army bombarded different homes and structures in Rafah, causing a complete power blackout in the western side, and excessive property damage.
The Israeli air force also fired missiles into homes in the Shejaeyya neighborhood, and Tal al-Sultan in Rafah, causing damage and several injuries. Civil Defense teams managed to rescue three Palestinians buried under rubble of shelled homes.
Also in Rafah, the army fired several artillery shells into home and structures east of the city, and into a Palestinian security center close to the border with Egypt.
Six Palestinians were injured in the Saftawi area, north of Gaza, after several Israeli missiles struck their homes. Homes were also shelled in Gaza’s Zeitoun neighborhood, causing three injuries.
Four more Palestinians have been injured in Sheikh Radwan, in central Gaza, also after Israeli missiles struck their homes.
Five Palestinians were injured in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, and were moved to local hospitals suffering moderate-to-severe injuries. The army fired missiles into several homes in the city.
Three family members were also injured, and were moved to the Algerian Hospital after Israeli shells struck their home in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health denounced the Israeli shelling of the al-Wafa’ Hospital, which caused injuries to two Palestinians.
A school in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, was hit by an Israeli missile fired by the army at a nearby home; the missile caused damage but did not detonate, and the soldiers instantly fired another missile, hitting a nearby home.
The Israeli air force fired several missiles into the Gaza Port, and Palestinian lands west of the al-Karama towers, north of Gaza.
Also, Israeli navy boats fired missiles into the Gaza Port, while the air force fired missile into various nearby areas, including farmlands.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry Of Health in the Gaza Strip, stated that resident Abdullah Abu Mahrooq died of serious injuries suffered when the army fired a missile at him, while he was riding his motorcycle in Deir al-Balah.
Medical sources said Nour an-Najdi, 10, died of serious injuries she suffered after the army bombarded her family home in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian identified as Dr. Anas Rezeq Abu al-Kas, 30, was also killed when the army fired a missile into his home, on the fifth floor or Barcelona Residential Tower in Tal al-Hawa, south of Gaza city; two Palestinians were injured.
A young Palestinian man, identified as Abdullah Abu Mahrouq, was killed in Israeli bombardment targeting Deir al-Balah, in Central Gaza. He was seriously injured when the army fired a missile into a motorcycle, in the center of the city.
On Thursday afternoon, three Palestinians identified Mohammad Waloud, Hazem Ba’lousha and Ala’ Abdul-Nabi were killed when the army fired a missile into a Palestinian car in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Resident Ahmad Zaher Hamdan, 22, was killed when the army bombarded Beit Hanoun, also in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Also on Thursday, resident Hussein Eid Abu Jame’, 57, and his son Ismael, 19, were killed when an Israeli missile struck his home in Khan Younis.
Resident Mohammad Abu Kahlout, 38, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Ezbit Abed-Rabbo, Jabalia, in northern Gaza.
Another resident, identified as Sami Adnan Shaldan, 25, was killed, and many Palestinians were seriously injured, two seriously, when Israeli missiles struck the Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City.
Two Palestinians were injured in Israeli bombardment targeting the Shujaeyya and Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City.
Dozens of Palestinians have been injured in different parts of the Gaza Strip on Friday, at dawn, as the Israeli army continued to pound every part of the densely populated coastal region, while tanks and heavy artillery have been seen rolling towards the border fence with Gaza.
Medical sources said a child was seriously injured when a shell hit her home in Rafah. The army bombarded different homes and structures in Rafah, causing a complete power blackout in the western side, and excessive property damage.
The Israeli air force also fired missiles into homes in the Shejaeyya neighborhood, and Tal al-Sultan in Rafah, causing damage and several injuries. Civil Defense teams managed to rescue three Palestinians buried under rubble of shelled homes.
Also in Rafah, the army fired several artillery shells into home and structures east of the city, and into a Palestinian security center close to the border with Egypt.
Six Palestinians were injured in the Saftawi area, north of Gaza, after several Israeli missiles struck their homes. Homes were also shelled in Gaza’s Zeitoun neighborhood, causing three injuries.
Four more Palestinians have been injured in Sheikh Radwan, in central Gaza, also after Israeli missiles struck their homes.
Five Palestinians were injured in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, and were moved to local hospitals suffering moderate-to-severe injuries. The army fired missiles into several homes in the city.
Three family members were also injured, and were moved to the Algerian Hospital after Israeli shells struck their home in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health denounced the Israeli shelling of the al-Wafa’ Hospital, which caused injuries to two Palestinians.
A school in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, was hit by an Israeli missile fired by the army at a nearby home; the missile caused damage but did not detonate, and the soldiers instantly fired another missile, hitting a nearby home.
The Israeli air force fired several missiles into the Gaza Port, and Palestinian lands west of the al-Karama towers, north of Gaza.
Also, Israeli navy boats fired missiles into the Gaza Port, while the air force fired missile into various nearby areas, including farmlands.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry Of Health in the Gaza Strip, stated that resident Abdullah Abu Mahrooq died of serious injuries suffered when the army fired a missile at him, while he was riding his motorcycle in Deir al-Balah.
