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Panic grips Gaza residents as Israel vows to press bloody offensive
Heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters broke out in a densely populated area of Gaza City on Monday evening, as at least 12 children became some of the latest victims of the Israeli onslaught. Israeli troops battled Hamas fighters in Gaza's main city for the first time Monday - after dozens died in a day of clashes - while the government fended off worldwide calls for a cease-fire.Amid raging combat in Gaza City, and as the Palestinian death toll rose to at least 555, French and Russian presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Dmitry Medvedev both demanded a halt to the conflict. But Israeli ministers said the offensive would go on. Large explosions and heavy gunfire rocked the Shejaiya neighborhood of eastern Gaza City as night fell. Israeli military sources confirmed there were heavy clashes. Flares lit up the skies over the blacked-out neighborhood as attack helicopters could be seen hovering above. Hamas said its fighters had shot missiles against seven tanks in the district. Its Islamic Jihad allies said several of its members were killed in the fighting. Israeli fighter-bombers carried out more than 30 air strikes during the day. The military said they hit a mosque where it claimed "arms were being stored, as well as houses containing arms caches and vehicles that were transporting rocket launchers and armed men." Warships off the coast also bombarded targets to help the ground offensive launched on Saturday night. The Israeli strikes killed at least 50 Palestinians on Monday, including 12 children, medics said. A couple and their five children were killed by one naval shell, medics said. Three children were killed by a tank shell in Zeitun in the Gaza City suburbs, and two were killed in Shati by a naval strike, they said. The UN estimates that civilians make up one quarter of the dead - including almost 100 children - that have been killed since Israel launched "Operation Cast Lead" on December 27. More than 2,700 have been wounded. Three Israeli civilians and one soldier have been killed by rockets fired from Gaza since Israel's operation started. More than 30 rocket and missile attacks were reported on Monday. One hit a kindergarten which was closed because of the crisis. Posted by: Fred 2009-01-06 |
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