2014-07-18 08:34:00

Israel launches ground assault on Gaza


Israel today announced its first casualty since the start of a ground operation in Gaza, with one soldier and 14 Palestinian militants killed following a night of heavy fighting in the Hamas-ruled enclave.

Listen to Tracey McClure's report:



The ground invasion began late Thursday as Israel intensified its 11-day campaign against Gaza's Hamas rulers who’ve sent hundreds of rockets into Israel, many intercepted by Israel’s anti-missile batteries.  Gazan officials say more than 250 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed. Two Israelis have died.

The Israeli military says it targeted rocket launchers, tunnels and more than 100 other targets in strikes and that 50 rockets have been fired from Gaza at Israel since the ground operations began.

APPEALS FOR CEASEFIRE

Following news of the ground assault on Gaza, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- moon implored Israel to do more to stop Palestinian civilian deaths.  Jordan has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Yesterday, fighting resumed immediately after the end of a five hour truce to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The Catholic aid agency Caritas Jerusalem is offering health care and emergency relief in Gaza.  Director Fr. Raed Abusahliah told us that he greatly feared a ground invasion by Israel:

 “Invasion means complete destruction.  They don’t save any house; they will destroy whatever they see in front of them.  We saw this in previous wars unfortunately and this is also happening in these days.  There will be casualties from both sides.  So our appeal, our call is immediate ceasefire from both sides.  This is the first thing.  The second is that we say we have to eradicate the root cause of all this suffering which is the occupation.  In the (case of) Gaza , the blockade should be (lifted), crossings should be opened, food and humanitarian aid should enter and 1million 700 thousand people in Gaza should not remain in the biggest prison open (to the) heavens that you will find on this planet. You see, for this reason Hamas didn’t accept the truce which was suggested by the Egyptian government.  Because they want not only the ceasefire, which is very important and necessary, but they want the lift(ing) of the blockade.  The opening of the crossings from both sides - even through the Israeli..the Egyptian side.”

 








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