28 july 2014
Eid in Gaza is a little prayer for the loved ones who died in the war, hoping they're in a better place
Palestinian Medical Sources have reported that a Palestinian man and child were killed, and several Palestinians were injured, after the army bombarded homes Jabalia. Soldiers also fired missiles into lands and property in different parts of the Gaza Strip, in direct violation of the “ceasefire”.
The sources said a child, identified as Samih Jebriel Jneid, and a man identified as Mohammad Abu Louz, have been killed in separate Israeli military bombardment of Palestinian homes, east of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
The killing of the two Palestinians is not the first Israeli violation of the “truce”, as the army killed ten Palestinians in different parts of the besieged Gaza Strip, while four more Palestinians died of earlier injuries.
Also on Monday, at least two Palestinians were injured in a number of Israeli air strikes targeting different areas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli missiles have also been fired into houses in the Salam neighborhood, east of Jabalia.
Israeli F-16 war jets also fired missiles into an area in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City, causing property damage.
In addition, the army fired missiles into farmlands, and open areas, in the Nusseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza.
Media sources in Gaza said the army fired dozens of missiles, on Monday afternoon, into various areas of the Gaza Strip, mainly in the Shuja’eyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, in addition to Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said its fighters exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers invading an area, east of Jabalia. Israel said one soldier was wounded.
The fighters also retaliated by firing shells into the Hof Ashkelon regional council of settlements.
The Ministry of Health said medics and rescue teams are still awaiting to be allowed into Khuza’a town, east of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, surrounded by Israeli soldiers and tanks for more than eight days.
Medics and rescue teams have been unable to conduct a thorough search for wounded Palestinians, and the remains of Palestinians killed by Israeli missiles, and buried under the rubble of bombarded homes.
Late on Sunday at night, an elderly man was killed, and another Palestinian was injured, after the army bombarded an area east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Ten more Palestinians were killed by Israeli missiles and shells, Sunday, despite the alleged “humanitarian ceasefire”, and many others have been injured.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said 1036 Palestinians, including 236 children, 93 women and 47 elderly, have been killed, and more than 6230 have been injured, by Israeli fire and shells since Israel initiated its aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza on July 8.
The Palestinians in Gaza started the first day of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, by visiting graves of loved ones killed by Israel during the ongoing attacks on Gaza.
despite being targeted by Israel, they also continued to search under the rubble of bombarded homes and buildings, trying to locate the remains of slain Palestinians, with the hope to find some who are still among the living.
Israeli shelling kills 2 Palestinians, 7 bodies pulled from rubble
The death toll in Gaza increased by nine on Monday as two Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling in the north and seven bodies were pulled from rubble in the south, a Ma'an reporter said.
Israeli forces early afternoon shelled the al-Salam neighborhood in eastern Jabaliya, killing two Palestinians, one of them a child.
The shelling targeted houses the neighborhood, killing Muhammad Abu Luz, 22, and four-year-old Samih Jibril Junaid.
Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades clashed with Israeli forces in the area, firing six mortars at soldiers.
They militants also fired at soldiers with small arms weaponry.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not immediately comment on the incident.
Later, statement from the army said Israeli forces in various areas of Gaza had come under mortar fire.
Separately, Palestinian search teams were able to enter the village of Khuzaa, and collected seven dead bodies from rubble.
Six of the seven dead Palestinians were identified as being a part of a single family.
The village has been hit hard by Israeli shelling and airstrikes, leaving dozens dead on July 22 alone. Israeli forces have since besieged the area and severely limited access to ambulances and medical teams searching for dead and survivors.
Some 15 ambulances were waiting near the village earlier Monday, waiting for permission from the army to enter.
The latest deaths and discovery of bodies brought the total death toll up to 1,044 on the 21st day of the offensive.
'No demilitarization while occupation continues'
Gaza factions said in a statement that they had engaged in "fierce clashes" with Israeli forces in various areas of the Strip throughout the day.
They said militant groups would continue fighting until the demands of the Palestinian people were met.
"The resistance will continue defending Palestinians against the Israeli war despite the pressures and conspiracies that intend to diminish Palestinian self-determination," Popular Resistance Committes leader Ayman al-Shashniya said in a statement.
Additionally, factions rejected the idea of demilitarization of Gaza, which has been demanded by Israel and the US in recent days amid talk of a potential ceasefire.
"The calls for disarming the resistance are very dangerous while still under Israeli occupation," the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a statement.
"The resistance's weapons will never be a subject to negotiation as long as there is one meter of Palestinian land under occupation and settlements, based on the 1967 borders," DFLP leader Saleh Zeidan said.
Palestinian Medical Sources have reported that a Palestinian man and child were killed, and several Palestinians were injured, after the army bombarded homes Jabalia. Soldiers also fired missiles into lands and property in different parts of the Gaza Strip, in direct violation of the “ceasefire”.
The sources said a child, identified as Samih Jebriel Jneid, and a man identified as Mohammad Abu Louz, have been killed in separate Israeli military bombardment of Palestinian homes, east of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
The killing of the two Palestinians is not the first Israeli violation of the “truce”, as the army killed ten Palestinians in different parts of the besieged Gaza Strip, while four more Palestinians died of earlier injuries.
Also on Monday, at least two Palestinians were injured in a number of Israeli air strikes targeting different areas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli missiles have also been fired into houses in the Salam neighborhood, east of Jabalia.
Israeli F-16 war jets also fired missiles into an area in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City, causing property damage.
In addition, the army fired missiles into farmlands, and open areas, in the Nusseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza.
Media sources in Gaza said the army fired dozens of missiles, on Monday afternoon, into various areas of the Gaza Strip, mainly in the Shuja’eyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, in addition to Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said its fighters exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers invading an area, east of Jabalia. Israel said one soldier was wounded.
The fighters also retaliated by firing shells into the Hof Ashkelon regional council of settlements.
The Ministry of Health said medics and rescue teams are still awaiting to be allowed into Khuza’a town, east of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, surrounded by Israeli soldiers and tanks for more than eight days.
Medics and rescue teams have been unable to conduct a thorough search for wounded Palestinians, and the remains of Palestinians killed by Israeli missiles, and buried under the rubble of bombarded homes.
Late on Sunday at night, an elderly man was killed, and another Palestinian was injured, after the army bombarded an area east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Ten more Palestinians were killed by Israeli missiles and shells, Sunday, despite the alleged “humanitarian ceasefire”, and many others have been injured.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said 1036 Palestinians, including 236 children, 93 women and 47 elderly, have been killed, and more than 6230 have been injured, by Israeli fire and shells since Israel initiated its aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza on July 8.
The Palestinians in Gaza started the first day of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, by visiting graves of loved ones killed by Israel during the ongoing attacks on Gaza.
despite being targeted by Israel, they also continued to search under the rubble of bombarded homes and buildings, trying to locate the remains of slain Palestinians, with the hope to find some who are still among the living.
Israeli shelling kills 2 Palestinians, 7 bodies pulled from rubble
The death toll in Gaza increased by nine on Monday as two Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling in the north and seven bodies were pulled from rubble in the south, a Ma'an reporter said.
Israeli forces early afternoon shelled the al-Salam neighborhood in eastern Jabaliya, killing two Palestinians, one of them a child.
The shelling targeted houses the neighborhood, killing Muhammad Abu Luz, 22, and four-year-old Samih Jibril Junaid.
Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades clashed with Israeli forces in the area, firing six mortars at soldiers.
They militants also fired at soldiers with small arms weaponry.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not immediately comment on the incident.
Later, statement from the army said Israeli forces in various areas of Gaza had come under mortar fire.
Separately, Palestinian search teams were able to enter the village of Khuzaa, and collected seven dead bodies from rubble.
Six of the seven dead Palestinians were identified as being a part of a single family.
The village has been hit hard by Israeli shelling and airstrikes, leaving dozens dead on July 22 alone. Israeli forces have since besieged the area and severely limited access to ambulances and medical teams searching for dead and survivors.
Some 15 ambulances were waiting near the village earlier Monday, waiting for permission from the army to enter.
The latest deaths and discovery of bodies brought the total death toll up to 1,044 on the 21st day of the offensive.
'No demilitarization while occupation continues'
Gaza factions said in a statement that they had engaged in "fierce clashes" with Israeli forces in various areas of the Strip throughout the day.
They said militant groups would continue fighting until the demands of the Palestinian people were met.
"The resistance will continue defending Palestinians against the Israeli war despite the pressures and conspiracies that intend to diminish Palestinian self-determination," Popular Resistance Committes leader Ayman al-Shashniya said in a statement.
Additionally, factions rejected the idea of demilitarization of Gaza, which has been demanded by Israel and the US in recent days amid talk of a potential ceasefire.
"The calls for disarming the resistance are very dangerous while still under Israeli occupation," the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a statement.
"The resistance's weapons will never be a subject to negotiation as long as there is one meter of Palestinian land under occupation and settlements, based on the 1967 borders," DFLP leader Saleh Zeidan said.
Al-Kilani family in Gaza City, all 7 killed
Israeli forces have repeatedly struck family homes throughout its assault on Gaza, and the Ministry of Health calculates that over 50 families have been targeted.
Airstrikes and shellings have targeted 52 families and killed 285 members of those families since the beginning of the offensive, according to the ministry.
Human Rights Watch said in a July 20 report that various Israeli attacks on civilian targets throughout the conflict were "apparent violations of the laws of war."
HRW found during an investigation that Israel had targeted one family who had relatives active in the Islamic Jihad movement, even though no one living in the house was a part of the movement. The rights group found no evidence the home was being used for military purposes.
The Israeli strike killed five members of the family, the HRW report said.
"Israeli forces' failure to direct attacks at a military target violates the laws of war. Israeli forces may also have knowingly or recklessly attacked people who were clearly civilians, such as young boys, and civilian structures, including a hospital -- laws-of-war violations that are indicative of war crimes."
Below is a list of family's the Ministry of Health says were targeted by Israeli shellings or airstrikes:
1. Hamad family in Beit Hanoun, 6 killed.
2. Kaware family in Khan Younis, 8 killed.
3. Al-Manasrah family in central Gaza Strip, 4 killed.
4. Al-Hajj family in Khan Younis, 8 killed.
5. Abu Jame family in Khan Younis, 2 killed.
6. Abdulghafour family in Khan Younis, 2 killed.
7. Ghannam family in Rafah, 4 killed.
8. Al-Arja family in Rafah, 2 killed.
9. Al-Astal family in Khan Younis, 15 killed.
10. Al-Sawali family in Khan Younis, 2 killed.
11. Al-Batsh family in Gaza City, 17 killed.
12. Al-Sheikh Eid family in Rafah, 3 killed.
13. Abu Daqqa family in Khan Younis, 3 killed.
14. Baker family in Gaza City, 4 children killed.
15. Zurub family in Khan Younis, 3 killed, 1 of them child.
16. Shuheiber family in al-Sabra, 3 children killed.
17. Abu Snineh family, 3 killed.
18. Abu Jarad family in northern Gaza, 8 killed.
19. Shat family in Khan Younis, 4 children killed.
20. Nuteiz family in Gaza City, 3 killed, 2 of them children.
21. Radwan family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
22. Abu Musallam family in northern Gaza, 3 children killed.
23. Al- Zuweidi family in Beit Hanoun, 5 killed.
24. Zubut family in al-Zaytoun, 2 killed.
25. Salihiyeh family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
26. Al-Rahal family in Beit Lahiya, 2 killed.
27. Abu Muammar family in Khanh Younis and Rafah, 6 killed.
28. Hammudeh family in Beit Lahiya, 2 killed
29. Isleim family in al-Shujaiyeh, 4 killed.
30. Al-Shair family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
31. Al-Hayya family in al-Shujaiyeh, 4 killed.
32. Ziyada family in al-Breij, 3 killed.
33. Ayyad family in al-Shujaiyeh, 10 killed.
34. Siyam family in Rafah, 11 killed.
35. Abu Jame family, 26 killed.
36. Breim family in Deir al-Balah, 3 killed.
37. Al-Bazji family in northern Gaza, 5 killed.
38. Al-Hallaq family in Gaza City, 7 killed.
39. Hmdiyeh family in Gaza City, 4 killed.
40. Al-Kilani family in Gaza City, 7 killed.
41. Al-Hajjaj family in Gaza City, 4 killed.
42. Al-Radee family in northern Gaza, 4 killed.
43. Al-Muqataa family in central Gaza, 2 killed.
44. Al-Skafi family in al-Shujaiyeh, 4 killed.
45. Al-Shanbari family in Beit Hanoun, 7 killed.
46. Abdulnabi family in northern Gaza, 3 killed.
47. Abu Aita family in northern Gaza, 4 killed.
48. Abu Jazar family in Khan Younis, 3 killed.
49. Abu Hasanein family in Rafah, 4 killed.
50. Al-Hilw family in al-Shujaiyeh, 11 killed.
51. Abu Shahla family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
52. Al-Najjar family in Khan Younis, 13 killed.
Israeli forces have repeatedly struck family homes throughout its assault on Gaza, and the Ministry of Health calculates that over 50 families have been targeted.
Airstrikes and shellings have targeted 52 families and killed 285 members of those families since the beginning of the offensive, according to the ministry.
Human Rights Watch said in a July 20 report that various Israeli attacks on civilian targets throughout the conflict were "apparent violations of the laws of war."
HRW found during an investigation that Israel had targeted one family who had relatives active in the Islamic Jihad movement, even though no one living in the house was a part of the movement. The rights group found no evidence the home was being used for military purposes.
The Israeli strike killed five members of the family, the HRW report said.
"Israeli forces' failure to direct attacks at a military target violates the laws of war. Israeli forces may also have knowingly or recklessly attacked people who were clearly civilians, such as young boys, and civilian structures, including a hospital -- laws-of-war violations that are indicative of war crimes."
Below is a list of family's the Ministry of Health says were targeted by Israeli shellings or airstrikes:
1. Hamad family in Beit Hanoun, 6 killed.
2. Kaware family in Khan Younis, 8 killed.
3. Al-Manasrah family in central Gaza Strip, 4 killed.
4. Al-Hajj family in Khan Younis, 8 killed.
5. Abu Jame family in Khan Younis, 2 killed.
6. Abdulghafour family in Khan Younis, 2 killed.
7. Ghannam family in Rafah, 4 killed.
8. Al-Arja family in Rafah, 2 killed.
9. Al-Astal family in Khan Younis, 15 killed.
10. Al-Sawali family in Khan Younis, 2 killed.
11. Al-Batsh family in Gaza City, 17 killed.
12. Al-Sheikh Eid family in Rafah, 3 killed.
13. Abu Daqqa family in Khan Younis, 3 killed.
14. Baker family in Gaza City, 4 children killed.
15. Zurub family in Khan Younis, 3 killed, 1 of them child.
16. Shuheiber family in al-Sabra, 3 children killed.
17. Abu Snineh family, 3 killed.
18. Abu Jarad family in northern Gaza, 8 killed.
19. Shat family in Khan Younis, 4 children killed.
20. Nuteiz family in Gaza City, 3 killed, 2 of them children.
21. Radwan family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
22. Abu Musallam family in northern Gaza, 3 children killed.
23. Al- Zuweidi family in Beit Hanoun, 5 killed.
24. Zubut family in al-Zaytoun, 2 killed.
25. Salihiyeh family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
26. Al-Rahal family in Beit Lahiya, 2 killed.
27. Abu Muammar family in Khanh Younis and Rafah, 6 killed.
28. Hammudeh family in Beit Lahiya, 2 killed
29. Isleim family in al-Shujaiyeh, 4 killed.
30. Al-Shair family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
31. Al-Hayya family in al-Shujaiyeh, 4 killed.
32. Ziyada family in al-Breij, 3 killed.
33. Ayyad family in al-Shujaiyeh, 10 killed.
34. Siyam family in Rafah, 11 killed.
35. Abu Jame family, 26 killed.
36. Breim family in Deir al-Balah, 3 killed.
37. Al-Bazji family in northern Gaza, 5 killed.
38. Al-Hallaq family in Gaza City, 7 killed.
39. Hmdiyeh family in Gaza City, 4 killed.
40. Al-Kilani family in Gaza City, 7 killed.
41. Al-Hajjaj family in Gaza City, 4 killed.
42. Al-Radee family in northern Gaza, 4 killed.
43. Al-Muqataa family in central Gaza, 2 killed.
44. Al-Skafi family in al-Shujaiyeh, 4 killed.
45. Al-Shanbari family in Beit Hanoun, 7 killed.
46. Abdulnabi family in northern Gaza, 3 killed.
47. Abu Aita family in northern Gaza, 4 killed.
48. Abu Jazar family in Khan Younis, 3 killed.
49. Abu Hasanein family in Rafah, 4 killed.
50. Al-Hilw family in al-Shujaiyeh, 11 killed.
51. Abu Shahla family in Khan Younis, 4 killed.
52. Al-Najjar family in Khan Younis, 13 killed.
Palestinians in Gaza remained cautious on the first day of Eid al-Fitr Monday after Israeli shelling on southern Gaza the night before killed a Palestinian and injured another.
Hussein Hassan Abu al-Naja, 65, was killed and another Palestinian was critically injured late Sunday as Israeli forces shelled eastern Khan Younis, said Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Additionally, Imad Jamil al-Abed al-Bardawil, 44, succumbed to wounds he sustained days ago during Israeli airstrikes, al-Qidra said.
A total of 16 Palestinians were killed on Sunday.
Although violence in Gaza has considerably lightened since Saturday, when both sides honored a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire, an extension of the truce failed to materialize Sunday. Gaza factions initially refused to extend the ceasefire, then belatedly accepted, but neither side stopped firing and Israel later rejected the proposal.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that Israel's refusal to officially accept a ceasefire on Eid demonstrated "disregard for Muslims' feelings and prayers."
"The current relative calm is not a result of any deal," Gaza interior ministry spokesman Iyad al-Buzm said in a statement, urging Palestinians to be cautious while celebrating Eid.
Many Palestinians are expected to take advantage of the quiet period to bury their dead at noon on Monday.
A Ma'an reporter noted that instead of opening their houses to accept guests to celebrate Eid, Palestinians would be accepting visitors paying condolences.
"What Eid is there when children are being killed every day?" asked 15-year-old Majd Yassin.
Some 1,035 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel's offensive on Gaza, according to al-Qidra's numbers.
He says 236 of them are children, 93 off them women, and 47 of them elderly. Rights groups estimate 80 percent of the dead are civilians.
An additional 6,233 Palestinians have been injured, al-Qidra says.
Hussein Hassan Abu al-Naja, 65, was killed and another Palestinian was critically injured late Sunday as Israeli forces shelled eastern Khan Younis, said Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Additionally, Imad Jamil al-Abed al-Bardawil, 44, succumbed to wounds he sustained days ago during Israeli airstrikes, al-Qidra said.
A total of 16 Palestinians were killed on Sunday.
Although violence in Gaza has considerably lightened since Saturday, when both sides honored a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire, an extension of the truce failed to materialize Sunday. Gaza factions initially refused to extend the ceasefire, then belatedly accepted, but neither side stopped firing and Israel later rejected the proposal.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that Israel's refusal to officially accept a ceasefire on Eid demonstrated "disregard for Muslims' feelings and prayers."
"The current relative calm is not a result of any deal," Gaza interior ministry spokesman Iyad al-Buzm said in a statement, urging Palestinians to be cautious while celebrating Eid.
Many Palestinians are expected to take advantage of the quiet period to bury their dead at noon on Monday.
A Ma'an reporter noted that instead of opening their houses to accept guests to celebrate Eid, Palestinians would be accepting visitors paying condolences.
"What Eid is there when children are being killed every day?" asked 15-year-old Majd Yassin.
Some 1,035 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel's offensive on Gaza, according to al-Qidra's numbers.
He says 236 of them are children, 93 off them women, and 47 of them elderly. Rights groups estimate 80 percent of the dead are civilians.
An additional 6,233 Palestinians have been injured, al-Qidra says.
The UN Security Council Monday joined US President Barack Obama in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, after Israel and Hamas ignored calls for a truce despite mounting civilian casualties.
The Security Council resolution came during a lull in fighting in Gaza early Monday, the beginning of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival, after a day of strikes and counter-strikes.
A military spokeswoman told AFP that since midnight no Gaza rockets had hit Israel, and Israeli army had carried out no strikes in the Palestinian enclave.
Later in the morning, a rocket from Gaza fell in an open area in Ashkelon, according to an Israeli army statement.
The army said it "retaliated towards Beit Lahiya area."
The 15-member Council released a statement urging a truce during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
It expressed "strong support" for an "immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire."
It also voiced "grave concern regarding the deterioration in the situation as a result of the crisis related to Gaza and the loss of civilian lives and casualties."
At least 1,032 Palestinians have died in the fighting as well as 43 Israeli soldiers and three civilians.
Obama, too, voiced concern at the civilian toll, in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in which he urged an immediate ceasefire.
Obama: Immediately end hostilities
According to a White House statement, the US president "made clear the strategic imperative of instituting an immediate, unconditional humanitarian ceasefire that ends hostilities now and leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the November 2012 ceasefire agreement" brokered by Egypt.
He also stressed the need to "ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza," while reiterating "serious and growing concern about the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths and the loss of Israeli lives."
The two sides had observed a 12-hour humanitarian pause on Saturday, giving Gaza medics a chance to pull bodies from rubble they had not been able to reach under fire.
But Hamas rocket fire prompted Israel to abandon an extension of that truce Sunday, and subsequent Hamas calls for another ceasefire were ignored by both sides.
During Sunday, fighting renewed apace, as Israel pounded Gaza with aerial, naval and artillery bombardments and Hamas rained more rockets down on Israeli territory.
A controversial incident on Thursday when a UN school acting as a shelter was shelled, killing 15 people, drew fierce condemnation from Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.
The Israeli army confirmed on Sunday it had hit the school, but said it was a "single errant mortar" round, denying that people were killed "as a result of (army) operational activity."
There was no immediate response from UNRWA, which sent a team to conduct its own investigation on Friday, but was impeded from doing so due to "gunfire around the school."
"The Israeli army had been notified in advance about the composition of the team, the time and purpose of the visit," UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said on Twitter.
"We again underline our call for an immediate and comprehensive investigation," Gunness said.
Meanwhile Obama's Secretary of State John Kerry was still working for Israel and Hamas to agree to further halts in the bloodshed ahead of hoped for Egypt-led peace talks, a US official said.
Israel rejected a Kerry-proposed ceasefire last week and Hamas has resisted truce efforts by Cairo after the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and banned the Muslim Brotherhood, a Hamas ally.
Crippling blockade
Israeli officials insist that they will continue the mission to destroy Hamas tunnels they say are used to launch attacks on Israel, and Hamas wants a lifting of the crippling Gaza blockade that has been in place for eight years.
A military spokeswoman told AFP that since the July 8 start of its military operation, over 2,000 rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza hit Israel, with another 492 intercepted.
Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said his group could not coexist with Israel as long as it occupied Palestinian land.
"We are not actually fighting the Jews because they are Jews," he said in remarks broadcast Sunday. "We fight the occupiers."
"I'm ready to coexist with the Jews, with the Christians and the Arabs and non-Arabs," he said. "However, I do not coexist with the occupiers."
Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, expressed disappointment with Monday's Security Council statement, saying it fell short of a formal resolution demanding that Israel withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip.
"They should have adopted a resolution a long time ago to condemn this aggression and to call for this aggression to be stopped immediately," said Mansour following the emergency meeting.
"We are disappointed in that sense," he said,
Rights groups say the vast majority, some 80 percent of Palestinians killed, have been civilians.
UN Security Council calls for 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire
The UN Security Council on Monday called for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza to allow for urgent aid to reach civilians.
The 15-member Council released a statement shortly after midnight Sunday calling for the truce between Israel and Hamas.
The Security Council resolution came during a lull in fighting in Gaza early Monday, the beginning of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival, after a day of strikes and counter-strikes.
A military spokeswoman told AFP that since midnight no Gaza rockets had hit Israel, and Israeli army had carried out no strikes in the Palestinian enclave.
Later in the morning, a rocket from Gaza fell in an open area in Ashkelon, according to an Israeli army statement.
The army said it "retaliated towards Beit Lahiya area."
The 15-member Council released a statement urging a truce during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
It expressed "strong support" for an "immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire."
It also voiced "grave concern regarding the deterioration in the situation as a result of the crisis related to Gaza and the loss of civilian lives and casualties."
At least 1,032 Palestinians have died in the fighting as well as 43 Israeli soldiers and three civilians.
Obama, too, voiced concern at the civilian toll, in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in which he urged an immediate ceasefire.
Obama: Immediately end hostilities
According to a White House statement, the US president "made clear the strategic imperative of instituting an immediate, unconditional humanitarian ceasefire that ends hostilities now and leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the November 2012 ceasefire agreement" brokered by Egypt.
He also stressed the need to "ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza," while reiterating "serious and growing concern about the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths and the loss of Israeli lives."
The two sides had observed a 12-hour humanitarian pause on Saturday, giving Gaza medics a chance to pull bodies from rubble they had not been able to reach under fire.
But Hamas rocket fire prompted Israel to abandon an extension of that truce Sunday, and subsequent Hamas calls for another ceasefire were ignored by both sides.
During Sunday, fighting renewed apace, as Israel pounded Gaza with aerial, naval and artillery bombardments and Hamas rained more rockets down on Israeli territory.
A controversial incident on Thursday when a UN school acting as a shelter was shelled, killing 15 people, drew fierce condemnation from Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.
The Israeli army confirmed on Sunday it had hit the school, but said it was a "single errant mortar" round, denying that people were killed "as a result of (army) operational activity."
There was no immediate response from UNRWA, which sent a team to conduct its own investigation on Friday, but was impeded from doing so due to "gunfire around the school."
"The Israeli army had been notified in advance about the composition of the team, the time and purpose of the visit," UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said on Twitter.
"We again underline our call for an immediate and comprehensive investigation," Gunness said.
Meanwhile Obama's Secretary of State John Kerry was still working for Israel and Hamas to agree to further halts in the bloodshed ahead of hoped for Egypt-led peace talks, a US official said.
Israel rejected a Kerry-proposed ceasefire last week and Hamas has resisted truce efforts by Cairo after the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and banned the Muslim Brotherhood, a Hamas ally.
Crippling blockade
Israeli officials insist that they will continue the mission to destroy Hamas tunnels they say are used to launch attacks on Israel, and Hamas wants a lifting of the crippling Gaza blockade that has been in place for eight years.
A military spokeswoman told AFP that since the July 8 start of its military operation, over 2,000 rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza hit Israel, with another 492 intercepted.
Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said his group could not coexist with Israel as long as it occupied Palestinian land.
"We are not actually fighting the Jews because they are Jews," he said in remarks broadcast Sunday. "We fight the occupiers."
"I'm ready to coexist with the Jews, with the Christians and the Arabs and non-Arabs," he said. "However, I do not coexist with the occupiers."
Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, expressed disappointment with Monday's Security Council statement, saying it fell short of a formal resolution demanding that Israel withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip.
"They should have adopted a resolution a long time ago to condemn this aggression and to call for this aggression to be stopped immediately," said Mansour following the emergency meeting.
"We are disappointed in that sense," he said,
Rights groups say the vast majority, some 80 percent of Palestinians killed, have been civilians.
UN Security Council calls for 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire
The UN Security Council on Monday called for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza to allow for urgent aid to reach civilians.
The 15-member Council released a statement shortly after midnight Sunday calling for the truce between Israel and Hamas.
