Thousands of Palestinians flee Gaza City as Israel intensified its latest offensive, considered its most intense bombardment since an attack against Hamas militants earlier this month.
The latest air and ground attacks reportedly killed 50 people in the eastern district of Shejaiya according to BBC, quoting Palestinian health workers’ data. Tanks and warplanes showered the city with bombs and bullets, prompting more than 35,000 civilians to evacuate their homes and take refuge in shelters.
Meanwhile, Hamas militants also launched its counter-offensive by penetrating Israeli cities through its underground tunnels and fighting with Israeli troops.
As a response, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will add more troops and called on its reserved forces to join the ground operations, CNN reported.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Lt. Col. Peter Lerner,” author_title=”IDF spokesman”]
In preparation for the mission, the forces have undergone an intensified training and thorough planning period and are prepared and stand ready for the task at hand.
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The two-week series of attacks and counter-attacks claimed over 400 deaths, mostly civilians, many of which are children. An estimated 3,000 people have been injured, the Associated Press reported. Since then, the Israel military said it has hit more than 2,500 targets in Gaza, including 1,100 rocket launchers. Hamas militants, however, have fired more than 1,760 rockets at Israel.
Israel forces killed around 70 militants and captured 15, according to the same AP report quoting Israel military.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon flew to Qatar on Sunday to appease the armed conflict and explore long-term solution to the decades-old fighting between Israel and Palestine.
Hamas sought Qatar’s role in negotiations following its reject of an Egypt-backed truce last week.
